The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is the most important single environmental rule affecting London private hire drivers. Since the August 2023 expansion, ULEZ covers all London boroughs and operates 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day.
Vehicle standards
- Petrol cars and small vans: generally compliant if Euro 4 or newer.
- Diesel cars and small vans: generally compliant if Euro 6 or newer.
- Motorcycles and similar: generally compliant if Euro 3 or newer.
Use TfL's free vehicle checker to confirm your specific vehicle. Compliance is decided by the vehicle's emissions standard, not its registration year alone.
Daily charge for non-compliant vehicles
If your vehicle does not meet ULEZ standards, you must pay the daily ULEZ charge to drive anywhere in the zone. Miss the payment and you'll face a Penalty Charge Notice. Auto Pay handles ULEZ as well as the Congestion Charge.
Why it matters for PHV operators
Non-compliance erodes your earnings fast. A non-compliant car driven five days a week racks up serious daily fees. Most full-time PHV drivers either own a compliant vehicle, lease one through their operator, or transition to electric.
Going electric
Battery electric vehicles are zero-emission and currently outside the ULEZ daily charge. Charging access varies by borough — check public charging coverage on your usual routes before committing.
Practise the rules
Take the ULEZ practice quiz and pair with Congestion Charge practice. Related reading: Congestion Charge for private hire drivers.
Disclaimer: UK Test Hub is independent and not affiliated with TfL. Always confirm vehicle compliance on tfl.gov.uk.
