Key information
Request reference number: MGLA130123-7448
Date of response:
Summary of request
Your request
- How much ULEZ tax is currently being receiving from the existing zone?
- Full breakdown of exactly where the currently received ULEZ tax is spent?
- Full breakdown of exactly where the tax from the proposed ULEZ Zone extension will be used on?
- How has the ULEZ tax amount been calculated?
- Provide proof of exactly how the ULEZ tax cleans the air considering the Congestion Charging tax initiative was supposed to stop people driving into Central London?
Our response
It is important to note that the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is not a tax. Only people who are driving older, more polluting vehicles need to pay the daily charge to drive within the zone and there are a number of options to avoid the charge, including walking, cycling, using public transport or switching to a compliant vehicle. 94 per cent of vehicles seen driving in the existing zone already meet the ULEZ standards, meaning their drivers do not need to pay the charge.
Where you have referenced the ULEZ tax we have responded with information about the daily charge for non-compliant vehicles.
- How much ULEZ tax is currently being receiving from the existing zone?
TfL publishes quarterly ULEZ factsheets that are available in the Finance, Operations and Performance section of its website at: Ultra Low Emission Zone - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk). These factsheets include the number of daily £12.50 charges paid and penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued per month. Prior to 30 January 2023, a ULEZ PCN was £160, reducing to £80 if paid within 14 days.
TfL publishes details of income from all road user charging schemes, including the ULEZ, in its Annual Report and Statement of Accounts, which is available on the TfL website at: Annual Report - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)
- Full breakdown of exactly where the currently received ULEZ tax is spent?
- Full breakdown of exactly where the tax from the proposed ULEZ Zone extension will be used on?
Any net revenue (from either daily charges or PCNs) received from the ULEZ is reinvested into running and improving London’s transport network, such as expanding bus routes in outer London. This will remain the case when the ULEZ expands London-wide.
TfL is the Mayor's transport authority and is responsible for implementing the Mayor's Transport Strategy, and for the day-to-day operational running of transport services, including road user charging schemes such as the ULEZ. You may wish to send a further request to TfL
- How has the ULEZ tax amount been calculated?
There were numerous consultations on the introduction and expansion of the ULEZ. These consultations included the proposals for charge levels. You can read these documents on TfL’s website: Ultra Low Emission Zone - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)
- Provide proof of exactly how the ULEZ tax cleans the air considering the Congestion Charing tax initiative was supposed to stop people driving into Central London?
The GLA regularly reports on the air quality impacts of the ULEZ. This reporting uses data from the city’s air quality monitoring network to analyse the long term trends in pollution concentrations as well as estimating the impacts of the scheme. The reports include a detailed description of the methods used evaluate the impact of the ULEZ and have been peer reviewed. You can read the most recent report on the GLA website and find links to the previous reports within: Expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone Six Month Report | London City Hall
We will shortly be publishing an updated report on the impacts of the existing inner London ULEZ after one full year of operation, which will contain an updated analysis of air quality monitoring trends using the data from the monitoring network.