ULEZ - Motorbike and Scooter Guide 2023
To help clear London's air and improve health, the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanding across all London boroughs from 29 August 2023.
Poor air quality is impacting the health of Londoners, and it's mainly caused by polluting vehicles. The latest data from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (LAEI, 2019) shows that, although improvements are being made, road transport is the single biggest contributor of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter emissions in Greater London.
Londoners are developing life-changing illnesses such as cancer, asthma and lung disease, and there is a higher risk of dementia in older people. Air pollution even contributes to the premature death of thousands of Londoners every year. It's not just a central London problem. In fact, the greatest number of deaths related to air pollution occur in outer London areas. That's why the ULEZ is expanding across all London boroughs (see map above).
9 out of 10 cars seen driving in outer London already meet the ULEZ emissions standards. To see if your vehicle meets the emissions standards, use the vehicle checker, use the vehicle checker.
If you drive anywhere within the ULEZ, including the expanded area from 29 August 2023, and your vehicle does not meet the emissions standards, you could face a daily charge of £12.50.
This includes residents of the ULEZ. However, you don't need to pay the ULEZ charge if you are parked inside the zone and don't drive.
Any money received from the scheme is reinvested into running and improving London's transport network, such as expanding bus routes in outer London.
There are also plans to add more cities to the scheme.
How much is the ULEZ fee, and do scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles have to pay for ULEZ?
The ULEZ charges a £12.50 daily fee for those riding scooters, mopeds, motorcycles, cars, vans, and minibuses within the zone that do not meet the predetermined emissions limits.
The ULEZ policy is in place 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Those who refuse to pay the fee can expect a penalty charge of £180, though this can be reduced to £80 if the fine is paid within 14 days.
The ULEZ fee effects:
- Diesel cars and vans that don’t meet Euro 6 standard
- Petrol cars and vans that don’t meet Euro 4 standard
- Scooters, mopeds, and motorbikes that don’t meet Euro 3 Standard
How do I pay the fee for the ULEZ?
You can easily pay by phone, online, via the official app, or sign up for the automatic scheme Auto Pay.
Which scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles are exempt from ULEZ?
If you own a scooter, moped or motorbike that meets the Euro 3 standard or was manufactured after July 2007, it’s likely that you won’t be required to pay the fee.
There are other exceptions, too. TFL has outlined that all electric scooters, mopeds and motorcycles are exempt from ULEZ as they do not emit harmful pollutants into the air as diesel and petrol vehicles do. Any bikes that are over 40 years old or registered with the resident’s Congestion Charge discount will also not be changed.
How can I check if my bike is excluded from ULEZ?
You can arrange a ULEZ scooter, moped, or motorcycle check through an official testing station. Alternatively, you see if your vehicle complies here through TFL’s online system.
How does the ULEZ system know when to charge fees?
Across the zone and its entry points, there are a number of cameras positioned to automatically read number plates and cross-reference registrations with DVLA records. For most vehicles, such as cars and vans, this sends details of your vehicle’s NOx emissions, while the charge for vehicles such as motorbikes is determined by the date of registration.
Are there any ways to avoid the ULEZ charge?
If you are someone who commutes to work within the zone 5 days a week, you could potentially be paying around £3000 per year in ULEZ fees. This is a staggering amount, but luckily there are a few available options you can choose to eliminate any existing and future emissions-based fees.
These include:
- Upgrading to a second-hand vehicle that meets ULEZ standards.
- Walking or cycling to your location wherever possible, or using public transport.
- Alternatively, you can swap out your current petrol bike for an electric moped or motorbike, which can also save you money on fuel costs. For example, if you are riding an average of 5 days and 100 miles a week into London, or around 20 miles per day, you can expect a cost difference of:
Weekly ULEZ Charges |
Petrol |
Electric |
Mileage Costs |
£4.50 |
|
ULEZ Charge |
£62.50 |
£0.00 |
To give you an idea of how this pans out over a year of daily commuting or riding within the ULEZ zone.
ULEZ Charges |
Petrol |
Electric |
Weekly (5 Days) |
£62.50 |
£0.00 |
Monthly |
£270 |
£0.00 |
Yearly |
£3,250 |
£0.00 |
Looking to avoid ULEZ fees? Trade in your petrol scooter and upgrade to an eScooter, eMoped, or eMotorbike and start saving on ULEZ fees today!