If you live in London or drive into it, the first question about any import is often whether it will be charged for the ULEZ. Imports have a reputation for falling foul of it, usually because the paperwork does not say what the car is. In most cases the car itself is fine. It is the evidence that needs sorting, and that is a solvable problem.
What the ULEZ checks
Transport for London's Ultra Low Emission Zone sets a minimum emissions standard. For cars, TfL asks for Euro 4 on a petrol car and Euro 6 on a diesel. A car that does not meet it pays a daily charge to drive in the zone.
TfL is clear that the ULEZ is enforced on the car's declared emissions, not its age. That matters for imports. A car can be the right age and still be charged if TfL has nothing on record to show which standard it was built to.
As a rough guide, TfL says compliant petrol cars are generally those first registered after 2005, although compliant cars have been sold since 2001. Compliant diesel cars are generally those first registered after September 2015.
Where and when it applies
The zone covers every London borough and the City of London. The M25 itself is not in it. It runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.
The charge is £12.50 a day, and a day runs from midnight to midnight, so a late drive that crosses midnight counts as two days. Miss the payment and the penalty is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. The ULEZ charge sits on top of the Congestion Charge where that applies.
Why imports get caught out
TfL's checker leans on the details held for each vehicle. For most cars sold new in Britain, the Euro standard is already on record. An import arrives with whatever its home country recorded, and that is not always a Euro figure.
When we register an import, the DVLA's V55/5 application asks for the car's Euro status, taken from the Certificate of Conformity if it shows one. The DVLA's own guide says this box does not need filling in when the car is registered on an IVA certificate. So a car that came through IVA can end up on the road with no Euro standard on its V5C at all.
That is the usual story with Japanese and American imports. They were built for their home markets and approved here through IVA rather than a European certificate, so there is often no Euro number in the file. Cars from the EU with a Certificate of Conformity tend to be simpler, because the Euro standard is printed on it. Our guide to the Certificate of Conformity explains what that document holds.
Proving your car is compliant
Start with TfL's vehicle checker on tfl.gov.uk once the car has its UK registration. If it shows as compliant, there is nothing more to do. If it shows as non-compliant, or TfL does not recognise it, you can send evidence and ask TfL to update its record.
In its published answers to freedom of information requests, TfL says it puts the onus on the motorist to show the car meets the standard. Where there is no evidence, the car is treated as non-compliant and the charge applies. TfL has said it will accept:
- The registration document (the V5C, or the foreign equivalent)
- A Certificate of Conformity showing the Euro standard
- Or a letter from the manufacturer's homologation or technical department
TfL says a manufacturer's letter must be on headed paper, signed by a named person, and give the registration, the VIN, the Euro standard, the fuel type and the NOx and particulate figures. It has also said an emissions certificate from an independent test centre can be used. Ask TfL which evidence it wants for your car before paying for anything.
Evidence to gather for TfL
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Check before you buy, not after. If ULEZ matters to you, ask the seller what evidence exists for the car's emissions standard before you commit. A diesel that was never built to Euro 6 cannot be made compliant with paperwork, however good the paperwork is.
Classic imports
TfL exempts two kinds of historic vehicle. Any vehicle built before 1 January 1973 is exempt. So is a vehicle over 40 years old that has been registered with the DVLA in the historic vehicle tax class.
For a classic import, that makes registration the important step. Once the car is on the DVLA system in the historic class, it should not be charged. Our guide to importing a classic car covers the dating evidence and the 40-year rules, and road tax for imported cars explains how the historic class works for tax.
TfL also says a historic vehicle registered outside the UK is exempt, but it must be registered with TfL before it is driven in the zone.
Clean Air Zones outside London
Several English cities run Clean Air Zones. They are not all the same. Each zone has a class, and only Class D zones charge private cars. GOV.UK lists the current zones as:
- Bath: Class C
- Birmingham: Class D
- Bradford: Class C
- Bristol: Class D
- Portsmouth: Class B
- Sheffield: Class C
- Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead): Class C
So for a private car, Birmingham and Bristol are the two that matter on that list. The standard for cars is the same as the ULEZ: Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel. You can check a car on GOV.UK's Clean Air Zone checker, and a charge must be paid by 11.59pm on the sixth day after you drive in.
| Feature | London ULEZ | Class D Clean Air Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | Transport for London | The local council |
| Car standard | Euro 4 petrol, Euro 6 diesel | Euro 4 petrol, Euro 6 diesel |
| Cars charged | Yes, across all London boroughs | Yes, in Class D zones only |
| Check a car | TfL vehicle checker | GOV.UK Clean Air Zone checker |
| Charging day | Midnight to midnight | Midnight to midnight |
A new plate means a new record
If you later put a private number on the car, GOV.UK reminds you to update any accounts for the ULEZ, the Congestion Charge and Clean Air Zones. The cameras read the plate, so an account under the old number will not cover you. Our guide to number plates for imported cars covers private plates in more detail.
Where we fit in
We cannot change what a car was built to. What we can do is make sure the registration goes in with the fullest record the paperwork allows. Where a Certificate of Conformity exists, its figures go onto the V55/5, and we can source a CoC if one is missing. For newer cars from Japan or the USA, our guides to importing from Japan and converting an American car cover the testing side, and the IVA guide explains what the test checks, emissions included.
Questions people ask
Are imported cars ULEZ compliant?
Many are. TfL enforces the ULEZ on declared emissions, not age, so the question is whether there is evidence of the Euro standard. Petrol cars need Euro 4 and diesel cars need Euro 6.
Why does TfL say my Japanese import is not compliant?
Often because there is no Euro standard on record. Cars registered on an IVA certificate may have no Euro status on the V5C. TfL will look at evidence such as a Certificate of Conformity, a manufacturer letter or an independent emissions certificate.
How much is the ULEZ charge?
TfL charges £12.50 a day, midnight to midnight. The penalty for not paying is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days.
Are classic imports exempt from ULEZ?
Vehicles built before 1 January 1973 are exempt, as are vehicles over 40 years old registered with the DVLA in the historic vehicle tax class. A historic vehicle registered abroad must be registered with TfL before driving in the zone.
Do Clean Air Zones charge private cars?
Only Class D zones. On the GOV.UK list, those are Birmingham and Bristol. The car standard is the same as London: Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel.
Weighing up an import and want to know where it stands before it ships? Tell us about it on the quote form.
