London's bigger ULEZ kicks in this week

LONDON’S ULTRA LOW Emission Zone has been expanded to the North and South Circular ring road, affecting hundreds of thousands of motorists who drive in and around the capital.

A daily toll of £12.50 applies to anyone driving in the expanded zone in a non-compliant vehicle. Previously, the zone covered a much smaller area focused on the centre of London.

The ULEZ was introduced by London mayor Sadiq Khan in 2019 to improve local air quality. Although that has improved in recent years, toxic air pollution remains the biggest environmental risk to the health of Londoners, says Transport for London.

The implementation of the central London ULEZ led to a 44% drop in roadside nitrogen dioxide levels, but while central areas have seen some improvements, other parts of the city still exceed the legal pollution limit.

Road signs at every entry point along the new boundary will indicate the start of the ULEZ and sit next to existing congestion charge signs.

Cars, vans, buses, coaches, lorries and motorbikes are all subject to the new rules, but the charge will only apply to models that don’t adhere to certain emissions standards.

Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 standards, which became mandatory for all cars registered after January 2006. Diesel models must comply with Euro 6, mandatory for all cars registered after September 2015.