EVs remain exempt from ULEZ and most UK clean air zone charges. But the London Congestion Charge exemption ended in December 2025 and there is a discount available if you register your vehicle. Here is what EV drivers need to know.
London ULEZ
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covers all London boroughs and operates 24 hours a day.
Vehicles that do not meet strict emissions standards pay a daily charge. Fully electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions and are exempt from ULEZ charges.
This exemption is not currently time-limited for the ULEZ it is a permanent feature of the scheme's structure, since the ULEZ targets emissions and EVs produce none at the tailpipe.
The London Congestion Charge
The Congestion Charge covers a smaller zone in central London and operates during set hours. It was designed to reduce traffic, not specifically emissions. The full exemption for EVs ended on 25 December 2025.
From 2 January 2026, all vehicles including EVs are subject to the standard daily charge. The standard rate increased to £18 per day from January 2026. EV drivers who register for Auto Pay with Transport for London receive a 25% discount from the standard rate.
To register and receive the discount, visit tfl.gov.uk. If you drive in central London regularly, registering immediately after purchase is a straightforward step that saves money every time you use the zone.
Other UK cities
Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Tyneside, and other cities operate Clean Air Zones targeting older, high-emission petrol and diesel vehicles.
Fully electric vehicles are exempt from all current CAZ charging schemes in these cities. The schemes are designed around emission standards, EVs meet those standards by definition. For the specific rules in your city, check your local council's guidance.
What may change
As more EVs come onto UK roads and clean air goals evolve into broader road-use management objectives, the exemption position for EVs in future schemes may shift as the London Congestion Charge demonstrates.
The direction of policy is towards EVs paying more of the same charges as petrol and diesel vehicles over time, while retaining lower per-mile costs due to charging versus fuel.
