ULEZ Expansion: Who is exempt from paying ULEZ charge?

The expansion took place on August 29, 2023 and meant that everyone who drives a vehicle that does not meet emission standards will have to pay a daily fee of £12.50. 

Put in place by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the ULEZ was created to help battle the region's air pollution and to help improve the health of residents. 

Although there is a charge in place, some drivers can be exempt or receive discounted fees if they meet certain criteria. 

Who is exempt from paying the ULEZ charge?

Transport for London (TfL) shared: "Some drivers and vehicles qualify for at least a temporary 100% discount from the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge (ULEZ). Others are entirely exempt."

Below is a full breakdown of who is exempt from paying the ULEZ charge.

Disabled vehicle owners

Anyone with a blue badge will be offered a grace period if their vehicle does not meet emissions standards.

If you are disabled and have a vehicle registered with the DVLA as having a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicle' tax class, you will be part of a grace period. 

This grace period will mean you do not have to pay the ULEZ charge until October 24, 2027. 

If you are disabled and not registered for the above-mentioned tax class, you will need to apply for the grace period with TfL, you can do that via this link.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles

Drives of wheelchair-accessible vehicles that do not meet ULEZ standards are eligible for a grace period, but you need to meet the following criteria as stated by TfL:

• A permanently fitted foldable ramp or a powered lift allows the wheelchair user to enter the vehicle
• An electric or hydraulic hoist to lift a person or wheelchair into the vehicle
• A swivel seat on either the passenger or driver side of the vehicle
• An accelerator ring permanently fitted to the steering wheel of the vehicle

You can apply for one wheelchair-accessible vehicle for the grace period, meaning you will not need to pay until October 25, 2027. 

Expanding the ULEZ was not an easy decision, but it will save lives.

The easy decision would have been to kick the can down the road.

But were we to do that, thousands more people would die prematurely.

London deserves better than the dangerous, polluted air we have today. pic.twitter.com/mBzq0iUnDM

— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 29, 2023

Disabled Benefits

Anyone receiving certain disability benefits will be entitled to a grace period and to claim the grace period you need to be receiving one of the following benefits or criteria.

• Standard or enhanced mobility rate of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Higher mobility rate of Disability Living Allowance
• Higher mobility rate of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Standard or enhanced rate of Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
• Be a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be accompanied by bulky medical equipment
• Be a parent or guardian of a child under the age of 3 with a medical condition that means the child always needs to be near a vehicle in case they need emergency medical treatment
• Have a terminal illness, which means you cannot walk or find walking very difficult
• Be registered blind (severely sight impaired)

You need to apply via an RUC account, which you can do here.

NHS patient 

If you have been clinically assessed as too ill to travel for an appointment on public transport, you can claim back any ULEZ charges from your hospital. 

Check to see if you are exempt. (Image: PA)

Taxis

All taxis that are London licenses are exempt from the ULEZ charges, however, this is subject to a 12-year age limit. 

Business and charity

TfL has offered a short-term grace period for business and charity, with small businesses (under 50 employees), micro-businesses (up to 10 employees) as well as charities and sole traders with a registered address in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London able to apply. 

You need to meet the following requirements to claim the grace period:

• Ordered a newly manufactured light van or minibus that meets the ULEZ emissions standards or
• Booked their light van or minibus, that does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards, to be retrofitted by a Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) approved fitter to meet the ULEZ emissions standards

You can find out more information via the TfL website. 

Minibuses for community transport

Not-for-profit organisations that operate minibuses can apply for a temporary 100% discount until October 26, 2025.

Classic cars

Anyone whose vehicle was built more than 40 years ago can be exempt from paying the charge if they meet the historic vehicle tax class.