What is lez charge for?

The London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) is an area of Greater London in which driving heavily polluting diesel-powered commercial vehicles attracts a fee.

Vehicles that do not meet certain strict emissions standards are charged, while other vehicles can enter the area without cost.

The London Low Emission zone (LEZ) was set up to encourage owners of the most polluting vehicles to either buy cleaner replacements; to modify their vehicles so they are less polluting; or to use alternative forms of transport.

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London's poor air quality has a direct impact on its residents' health. Lung disease and asthma are exacerbated by tiny particulates in the air. Much of this pollution comes from road vehicles. In 2007 Transport for London (TfL) estimated that each year there were 1,000 premature deaths and 1,000 hospital emissions because of poor air quality in the capital.

The LEZ scheme began in 2008 with particular emissions standards, which were further tightened in 2012.

All roads within Greater London, those at Heathrow and parts of the M1 and M4 are included within the LEZ charge zone. However, the M25 is not included (even where it passes within the Greater London Authority boundary).

Distinctive green and white signs mark the boundaries of the LEZ, which covers London's 33 boroughs.

LEZ charge zone costs are applicable to the following vehicles:

The charging day for the LEZ runs from midnight to midnight, so anyone driving a designated vehicle from, for example, 11pm to 1am will need to pay for two days.

The LEZ is enforced using the same automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology used for the London Congestion Charge. Hundreds of ANPR CCTV cameras are located across London. The data they collect is accessed by the DVLA, which compares number-plates to its vehicle database. It can therefore immediately detect any liable vehicle that has not paid the LEZ fee. This enables TfL to pursue unpaid LEZ fees.

Any LEZ-liable vehicle parked in the LEZ but not driven will not attract a fee.

Some vehicle types are exempt from the LEZ:

LEZ charges are dependant on the vehicle that is being driven.

LEZ charges for vehicles are based on the category type and weight of the vehicle and are payable as follows:

Or use the tool created by Tfl using your vehicle registration to check if your vehicle meets emissions and safety standards required to drive in London, or if you need to pay a daily charge.

The penalty payment (Penalty Charge Notice) for failing to pay the LEZ charges will be either £500, £1000 or £2000, depending on the vehicle's weight/type.

There is a 50% reduction if the fee is paid within 14 days of issue.

The LEZ should not be confused with the London Congestion Charge.

The Congestion Charge must be paid for most motor vehicles driven in the London Congestion Charge Zone between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and 12pm to 6pm at weekends, except Christmas Day (25 December) and the period after that, up to and including New Year's Day Bank Holiday.

At the same time, residents' discounts, which see those living within the London Low Emission Zone pay just 10 per cent of the charge, are being reinstated after previously being scrapped.

Similarly, the LEZ should not be confused with the ULEZ, or ultra-low emission zone.

The ULEZ charge applies to vehicles that do not meet certain emissions standards, including relevant cars, vans and motorcycles.

There are plans in 2023 to expand the ULEZ zone further to the edges of London's boroughs

Find out more about ULEZ

If you drive within the zone, you have to pay before midnight of the third charging day following the journey.

Fail to pay on time and you risk getting a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). To see if and what you need to pay, check your vehicle. Or find out about discounts and exemptions.

If you set up an account with us you can:

Use the sign in box on this page to create an account.

UK: 0343 222 2222 (TfL call charges) International: +44 (0)343 222 2222

If you’re wondering, “where is the low emission zone in London?”, the roads within Greater London at Heathrow including part of the M1 & M4 are within the LEZ emission zone. The M25 is not included but we advise you keep an eye out for any signs that signal a LEZ emission zone around this area. If you searched for “how to avoid low emission zone London”, You can see all the areas by checking out the LEZ zone, ULEZ zone and congestion charge map.

Like the LEZ emission zone charge this is also an initiative to lower pollution within central London. If you’re wondering, where is the new low emission zone in London,  the areas covered are now up to but not including the North and South Circular Roads (A406 and A205). This charge is applicable throughout every day of the year except for Christmas Day, unlike the LEZ emission zone that is still active.

Lorries, vans, or specialist vehicles that exceed 3.5 tonnes do not need to pay the ULEZ charge but will need to ensure that they meet the LEZ emission zone criteria.

The first key difference is that they operate individually from one another, they are both government-based tactics to fight against high emissions within London but the criteria, areas of coverage and days of operation differ.

The LEZ, unlike the ULEZ, is enforceable on all vehicles that don’t meet Euro 4 or Euro 6 criteria for both petrol and diesel vehicles.

If you found this page searching, "can I drive in London low emission zone?”, the answer is yes. However, you must meet a specific criterion with the vehicle you plan to drive within the zone. We advise you to check over the different criteria, so you know exactly where you stand within the LEZ & ULEZ parameters. This will allow you to avoid a penalty charge notice (PCN).

If you plan to hire a van from us, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and we can advise you on which vehicles you must be aware of if driving within the LEZ & ULEZ boundaries and save you the time of finding out for yourself as it can be quite confusing.

The congestion charge is separate from LEZ & ULEZ and is a £15 daily charge if you drive within the set parameters between 07:00am – 18:00pm (Mon-Fri) or between 12:00pm – 18:00pm (Sat-Sun), including bank holidays. There is no congestion charge on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day unlike the LEZ charge that is still active. If you’re looking for where to park in London to avoid congestion charge, and to see the exact areas in which the congestion charge London is applicable please checkout the congestion charging zone map.

ULEZ is £12.50 daily charge to drive within a ULEZ zone if your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ standards. The LEZ penalty charge is £100 for vans, specialist diesel vehicles (over 1.205 tonnes unladen weights up to 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight), alongside HGV’s, lorries, and specialist heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. It is also a £100 charge for buses and coaches over 5 tonnes that don’t meet Euro VI standards including minibuses.

If your vehicle is a HGV, lorry, van, or specialist heavy vehicle over 3.5 tonnes or a minibus/bus or coach over 5 tonnes which doesn’t meet Euro IV standards, this will be a £300 charge.

The TFL pay to drive in London app is the most efficient way to pay your charge. If you would like to challenge a PCN please checkout this resource on how to challenge a penalty charge notice.

For further information on congestion charge London payments and to find out about setting up an auto pay, checkout this resource from Transport for London.

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The Greater London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) focuses on reducing particulate matter emitted from diesel-engine vehicles (including hgvs, buses and coaches) throughout the 32 London boroughs and the Corporation of London

The LEZ operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and has various compliance stages dependent on vehicle weight and Euro standard. If you don’t comply with the compliance standards then you need to pay a daily access fee or face penalty charges. Cars are not included in the LEZ.

View a map of the London LEZ Transport for London (TfL) have a tool on their website to enter a street name or postcode where you can then see its location in relation to charging zones, which can be found here.

The London Low Emission Zone requirements impact the following vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes GVW: HGVs, lorries, vans, motor caravans, motorised horseboxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, refuse collection vehicles, road sweepers, concrete mixers, fire engines, tippers, removal lorries and other specialist vehicles.

The Minimum emissions standard is: Euro VI/6 (NOx and PM), there is no charge for compliant vehicles, however, there will be a £100.00 daily charge for vehicles that only meet euro IV/4 or V/5 (PM only). There will be a £300.00 daily charge for vehicles that do not meet Euro IV/4. (PM only).

Vans and other specialist vehicles including 4x4 light utility vehicles, motorised horse boxes, breakdown and recovery vehicles and dual-purpose vehicles exceeding 1.205 tonnes unladen weight (ULW) and not exceeding 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) will require a minimum emissions standard of Euro 3 (PM) or pay a daily charge of £100.00.

TfL’s website offers guidance on where the LEZ operates, charging times, a postcode and map search, exemptions and discounts and further advice for operators.

In a bid to further tackle harmful emissions and to improve air quality in central London, The Mayor of London along with Transport for London (TfL) introduced an Ultra-Low Emission Zone which was launched on 8 April 2019.

The ULEZ operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week (except Christmas Day) in the same area as the current central London congestion charging zone. The scheme will apply to cars and motorcycles as well as vans, minibuses and HGVs. The ULEZ standards apply in addition to the congestion charge and the existing Low Emission Zone requirements.

From 25th October 2021, the ULEZ will expand to cover central London to create a single, larger zone up to, but not including the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205).

The list of exemptions is limited and extend to:

A full list can be found at the TfL website here.

If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria and is registered in the UK, it is automatically exempt and you don't need to register with TfL. If your vehicle meets any of the above criteria but is registered outside the UK, you are also exempt, but will need to register with TfL.

Vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ standards will be required to pay a daily charge to drive within the zone. Charges will depend on the vehicle type.

It is possible that a vehicle which is subject to the ULEZ and/or LEZ emissions standards and is driven during congestion charging hours would have to pay all three daily charges.

TfL may issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you drive within the ULEZ without meeting emissions standards or paying the appropriate daily charge. Failure to pay the daily access charge for a non-compliant HGV will result in a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £1,000 (reducible to £500 if paid within 14 days). For large vans, minibuses and other relevant vehicles between 1.205 and 3.5 tonnes the penalty is £160 (reducible to £80 if paid within 14 days). Failure to pay a PCN within 28 days will result in the fine increasing to £1,500 or £240 (depending on vehicle size).