The T-Charge will be replaced by the new ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) which will cover a wider area and will be more strict – and expensive. ULEZ will start from April 8th 2019, and it will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, with the same area as the current Congestion Charging Zone (CCZ).

The introduction of the ULEZ will help reduce exhaust NOx and PM emissions, helping to improve air quality and making central London a safer and more pleasant place to live, work and visit. The ULEZ charge will be £12.50 for most vehicle types – including cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3.5 tonnes. This will be in addition to the weekday Congestion Charge and the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) charge, and will replace the T-Charge Penalty. The penalty charge is £160, reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days.

A daily charge runs from 00:01 – midnight. If you drive within the ULEZ area across two days (for example, before midnight and after midnight), you will be liable to pay two daily charges if your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ standards.

The vehicles included are:

• Smaller vans (weighing up to and including 1.205 tonnes unladen weight)
• Larger vans; 4×4 light utility vehicles, motorised horseboxes, pickups (over 1.205 tonnes unladen weight; including 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight)
• Ambulance and motorcaravans (2.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes)
• Minibuses (more than 8 passenger seats, not over 5 tonnes)

Minimum emission standards:

• Petrol: Euro 4
• Diesel: Euro 6

Euro Standards – which first appeared in 1992 – are a range of emissions controls that set limits for air polluting nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from engines. New vehicles and road vehicle engines must show that they meet these limits to be approved for sale.

• Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
• Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles
• Euro VI (NOx and PM) for lorries, buses and coaches and other specialist heavy vehicles (NOx and PM)
• Euro 3 became mandatory for all new motorcycles in 2007
• Euro 4 became mandatory for all new cars in 2005 and light vans in 2006
• Euro 6 became mandatory for all new heavy duty engines for goods, vehicles and buses from January 2014, September 2015 for cars and light vans, and September 2016 for larger vans up to and including 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight

The ULEZ will be enforced based on the declared emissions of the vehicle rather than the age, however:

• All new diesel vans sold from September 2016 should meet the Euro 6 standard
• All petrol vans registered with the DVLA from January 2006 meet the Euro 4 standard

From October 2021 the ULEZ will expand to the North and South Circular Roads. All vans, minibuses, etc. with the expanded zone will need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge.