The London Ultra Low Emissions Zone – or ULEZ – is an area covering all London boroughs that older diesel and petrol cars must pay a daily charge of £12.50 to enter. It applies 24/7. The ULEZ originally covered the same area as the London Congestion Charge zone, which has a separate charge of £11.50 and applies to any car producing more than 75g/km of CO2 that enters the area between 7am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
However, in October 2021 the ULEZ expanded to cover the whole area within London’s North and South circular roads – the A406 and the A205. A further expansion on 29th August 2023 made the ULEZ active across all London Boroughs – effectively almost everywhere within the M25. So how can you avoid paying the extra charge without resorting to buying or leasing a new car? The answer is to turn to the used market, and in this guide we have what our experts rate as some of the best ULEZ-compliant cars from £1,000 to £12,000.
Best ULEZ-Compliant Cars for all Budgets 2024
- What are the ULEZ Rules?
- Ford Focus Mk1 (1998-2004)
- Audi A2 1.4 SE (1998-2005)
- Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
- Fiat 500 (2007-2020)
- Volkswagen Golf Mk6 1.4 TSI SE (2009-2012)
- Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2020)
- Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI SE (2009-2017)
- Seat Arona (2017-present)
- Kia Sportage (2015-2021)
- Mazda MX-5 (2015-present)
- Skoda Octavia vRS (2013-2019)
- Nissan Qashqai (2013-2020)
- Lexus IS300h (2013-2020)
- Nissan Leaf (2017-present)
- MINI Cooper S (2013-present)
- BMW M135i (2011-2016)
- Volvo S90 (2016-present)
What are the ULEZ Rules?
Any petrol car that can meet Euro 4 emissions standards (which became a legal requirement on petrol cars built from 2006) is exempt from the ULEZ charge. Diesel cars, however, have to meet Euro 6 emissions ratings, which became obligatory for new cars in September 2015.
There’s also an intriguing loophole where all cars over 40 years old are classed as exemptions, so they count as compliant cars – and a 1960s classic would certainly make the London commute more interesting. Another irony is that the Euro 4 and above petrol rules mean you wouldn’t need to pay London’s ultra low emission ULEZ charge if you were to drive a thirsty V8 saloon, such as the joyous yet economically disastrous Vauxhall VXR8. However, we’ll be sticking to the more sensible everyday options with our selection of top ULEZ-compliant cars.
You can find out if a car you’re interested in is classed as a ULEZ compliant vehicle by using the Transport for London online vehicle checker – but first, why not check out our list below of low maintenance, low fuel cost, used cars that meet London ULEZ standards at any budget.
Ford Focus Mk1 (1998-2004)
Price from: £600
The first-generation Ford Focus was an absolute revelation when it appeared in 1998. Practical, good-looking, enormous fun to drive and with low running costs, it blew the competition away. Skip forward a couple of decades and the robust little Focus now makes a great choice for London drivers on shoestring budget. Every petrol model passes the ULEZ test, parts and servicing costs are affordable, and there are still plenty of used examples around.
Audi A2 1.4 SE (1998-2005)
Price from: £1,500
The Audi A2 is a gem of a used car and it's our budget premium option. At launch it was a rival to the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, being a small car with a premium badge and an innovative design. Some might not like the boxy shape, while others consider it a something of a cult modern classic, but it was designed to offer maximum interior space in a very compact car – ideal for city car commuting. It has a driving experience that is light and precise, plus it’s cheap to run thanks to its good fuel economy. The only downside is that bodywork can be expensive to repair if it’s damaged, as the aluminium panels (and aluminium spaceframe that it sits on) aren’t easy to fix. Just remember that A2s with the 1.4-litre diesel engine are classed non-compliant cars, so be sure to opt for the petrol model, and preferably the more reliable 1.4-litre version at that.
Ford Fiesta (2008-2017)
Price from: £1,800
When thinking about small, and affordable ULEZ-compliant superminis we could have picked from any number of perfectly worthy options, including the Renault Clio, Toyota Yaris, Suzuki Swift, or Hyundai i20. However, our top pick has to be a used Ford Fiesta from the car’s sixth generation. Not only is it a fantastically affordable option, but it’s also brilliant to drive, with a smooth ride and engaging handling. And to keep things simple, all petrol models are ULEZ compliant, so avoid the diesels and you’re good to go. Another thing that plays into the Fiesta’s favour is availability. Year after year, this generation of Ford’s supermini was the bestselling car in the UK, which translated to a huge number of cars hitting the used market too. This means buyers can afford to be picky and select exactly the colour and trim they desire.
Ford Fiesta Mk6 Review
Fiat 500 (2007-2020)
Price from: £2,000
In many ways, the Fiat 500 is the perfect city car, because it’s small, easy to drive, and simple to park, and yet it still has enough space for four people and some luggage. It also has style in abundance, with a retro design that looks as good today as when it first hit the streets in 2007. Avoid the rare diesel models and you’ll have a cheap ULEZ-compliant car for a modest outlay.
Fiat 500 Review
Volkswagen Golf Mk6 1.4 TSI SE (2009-2012)
Price from: £2,500
Cars don’t get more ubiquitous than the VW Golf, but its popularity is deserved. It’s a sweet, natural drive with a solid and roomy interior. Fun but comfortable, affordable yet classless, practical but not dowdy – that’s the Golf. Used ones are everywhere and make brilliant family cars. The Mk6 shown here arrived in 2009 and was replaced in 2013. Our pick would be the 1.4 TSI, which is quiet, frugal, and cheerfully willing, whether you go for the manual or dual-clutch ‘DSG’ automatic.
Volkswagen Golf Mk6 Review
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2020)
Price from: £5,500
As a big, seven-seat family car, the Grand C4 Picasso is undeniably impressive. It offers motorists oodles of space and practicality, a pillow-soft ride and its 1.6-litre eHDi engine made it one of the first Peugeot-Citroen models to meet the ULEZ-friendly Euro 6 emissions standards. It’s not perfect, though: the dashboard looks like it’s come straight out of a spaceship but it’s not that intuitive, and the gear selector is a bit fiddly on automatic models. That said, if you want comfortable, good-value family transport that’ll seat seven with ease but won't take up two parking spaces, it’s a fine choice.
Citroen Grand C4 Picasso Review
Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI SE (2009-2017)
Price from: £4,800
That’s right – it’s a tiny 1.2-litre engine in the moderately chunky Skoda Yeti. But don’t worry; this turbocharged motor is willing and punchy enough to make the boxy and cheerful-looking Yeti feel light on its feet in town traffic, and it’ll tackle a motorway happily, too. It’s actually quite good fun to drive. too. In fact, due to its small footprint, high body, great visibility, and versatile interior, we rate the Yeti as one of the best family cars of the last decade.
Skoda Yeti Review
Seat Arona (2017-present)
Price from: £10,000
Seat's Arona small SUV is based on the Ibiza supermini, so it doesn’t take up too much space on the road. There's plenty of room inside, though, along with a range of fizzy, fuel-efficient engines (especially the 1.0 TSI). It’s also fun to drive, which is not always the case when it comes to many of its competitors in the small crossover class. If you want a bit of an SUV vibe while zipping around the city without the physical – or carbon – footprint of a larger SUV, then the Arona should be high on your shortlist.
Seat Arona Review
Kia Sportage (2015-2021)
Price from: £7,000
You’re probably not going to impress the neighbours with the badge on the bonnet if you buy a Sportage. However, that’s far more their loss than yours, because this car – as with all modern Kias – is solidly built, well equipped and will provide you with robust yet comfortable family transport. There’s also the matter of a seven-year warranty, which is among the most generous around.
Kia Sportage Review
Mazda MX-5 (2015-present)
Piece from: £11,000
You perhaps wouldn’t think a two-seat sports car would make a good, ULEZ-friendly urban runaround, but then you'd be missing out on the charms of the diminutive Mazda MX-5. At this budget, you can easily bag a 1.5-litre, fourth-generation version of the iconic Japanese sports car, which tips the scales at barely more than 1,000kg, and can return a highly respectable 45mpg. If the opportunity arises to head out into the wilds of the British countryside, there are few more entertaining companions than an MX-5.
Mazda MX-5 Mk4 Review
Skoda Octavia vRS (2013-2019)
Price from: £11,000
The Skoda Octavia vRS mixes sensible family motoring with performance car fun in the most beguiling way, especially in spacious estate form. It comes with a punchy, fuel-efficient turbodiesel or a more powerful but peaky 2.0-litre turbo petrol, but either flavour makes for a cracking fast family car. You can find older and much cheaper examples of the Octavia vRS at lower price points, but it's worth bearing in mind that petrol examples are relatively rare, and the diesel models are only ULEZ-friendly from 2016 onwards.
Skoda Octavia Review
Nissan Qashqai (2013-2020)
Price from: £6,500
The original Nissan Qashqai was a real game-changer for family motoring. It took the best elements of everyday family hatchbacks (fuel efficiency, compact dimensions, decent interior space) and combined them with a spot of off-roader glamour (a high driving position and good view of the road ahead, plus chunky styling). This is as true now as it was in 2007, and the Qashqai has remained massively popular. We’re looking at the smart and sleek second-generation models here, and only petrol engines if you’re thinking of a pre-2016 car. That’s no great drama, though, as the Qashqai’s turbocharged 1.2 petrol is revvy and lively enough. The more popular diesels are ULEZ-compliant if you go for a post-2016 model.
Nissan Qashqai Mk2 Review
Lexus IS300h (2013-2020)
Price from: £10,000
The Lexus IS300h was something of an also-ran behind more popular compact executive rivals such as the BMW 3 Series, Audi A3 and the Mercedes C-Class when it was launched, but as a used buy, it makes a huge amount of sense. It’s cheaper and typically better equipped than the aforementioned competition, has a stellar reputation for reliability, and we reckon it looks cool, too. The hybrid powertrain can be noisy if you accelerate hard, but the flip side is that it’s quieter than a diesel when it slips into pure electric mode around town. It’s an ideal cut-price executive urban commuter, and of course it’s ULEZ exempt and better for local air quality than equivalent diesels.
Lexus IS300h Review
Nissan Leaf (2017-present)
Price from: £8,000
With a range of 168 miles, a Nissan Leaf electric car is not the ideal tool for schleps from Land’s End to John O’Groats, but it’s perfect for darting around the city. This is partly because stop-start traffic helps to maximise the range of electric cars because they gather energy through regenerative braking, and partly because the Leaf’s clever one-pedal driving mode makes congested urban roads a doddle to negotiate. It's also a zero-emissions vehicle, so you can rest easy knowing you're doing your bit to combat air pollution.
Nissan Leaf Mk2 Review
MINI Cooper S (2013-present)
Price from: £8,000
With 189bhp available from its 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, the MINI Cooper S is no longer in the premier league of hot hatches – that’s the preserve of 300bhp-plus cars such as the Honda Civic Type R or the Volkswagen Golf R. However, if it’s a sense of fun you’re after, the cheeky MINI easily outpunches much faster and more expensive rivals. It’s also smaller than most other hot hatchbacks, which means it’s ideal for slipping through tight gaps in city traffic.
MINI Cooper Review
BMW M135i (2011-2016)
Price from: £11,000
The BMW M135i does it all. Being a modern petrol car, it's free from ULEZ charges, but its main appeal lies in its smooth turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine that delivers rampant sports car pace, while its sweet rear-wheel-drive set-up is bags of fun. It’ll do 35mpg quite easily and it's available with a slick eight-speed automatic gearbox that makes town driving a doddle. It’ll even accommodate kids and a dog. It’s worth trying to find one with the optional adaptive dampers if you want the smoothest ride, and make sure the engine has been regularly serviced, as it's not without its foibles. Find a well maintained example and this is a true delight, whether you’re a purist after a proper track-to-city all-in-one solution, or if you'd just like a faster car with a premium finish and room for the family.
BMW 1 Series Review
Volvo S90 (2016-2023)
Price from: £12,000
Sure, it’s not your normal large luxury car, but by going a little left-field and stepping away from the BMW, Audi and Mercedes premium-brand norm into a Volvo S90, you’ll be treated to a luxury car experience with an elegant Scandinavian twist. The S90's interior is more conservative than those of the Mercedes E-Class or the BMW 5 Series. Yet there are still classy-looking slices of wood and metal trim, as well as deeply comfortable leather seats. Many models feature excellent sound systems and, being a Volvo, it’s brimming with clever safety equipment.
Volvo S90 Review