Failure to pay ULEZ can lead to a £180 penalty for an ordinary car, reduced to £90 for prompt payment under the notice. For a foreign plate, first check whether TfL recognises the correct emissions details.

When a car does not pay ULEZ

The basic threshold is Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel; motorcycles use Euro 3. ULEZ covers London’s boroughs, operates continuously except on 25 December and excludes the M25 itself.

A compliant car does not pay ULEZ, but this does not settle Congestion Charge or relevant tunnel tolls.

Does every foreign car need the same registration?

TfL asks for evidence where it treats a compliant foreign vehicle as non-compliant or lacks enough data. Other registration grounds concern exemptions and discounts. Start with the vehicle checker rather than assuming every overseas car follows one identical process.

Use TfL’s non-UK vehicle page. Provide the registration certificate and requested evidence, retain the application and wait for the assessment email, then recheck the vehicle record.

A pending application is not accepted compliance

TfL describes processing of up to ten working days. If travelling before acceptance, follow its instructions for paying the applicable charges; after confirmation, a refund can be requested under TfL’s rules. Alternatively, delay entry or park outside.

Do not transfer a registration grace period from another city to London.

Charge and penalty are different

The ULEZ charge for an affected ordinary car is £12.50 per calendar day. Normal retrospective payment is due by midnight on the third day after travel. The ULEZ Penalty Charge Notice is £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days as specified in the notice.

A day runs from midnight to midnight, not for 24 hours from the first journey. Driving across midnight can require two daily payments. Paying the ordinary charge later does not itself cancel an already incurred penalty.

LEZ and travel outside London

LEZ is a separate scheme for heavier vehicles and certain other categories. Its charges and penalties cannot be replaced with passenger-car ULEZ amounts. Check category and weight for a motorhome, large van or bus.

TfL registration is not a universal UK permit. See the English CAZ and Scottish LEZ guide.