What vehicles are exempt? And why are old vehicles exempt?​

There are many vehicles that are exempt, such as disabled vehicles, electric vehicles, some special purpose vehicles, etc. But most questions we receive are about why ALL VEHICLES in the HISTORIC TAX CLASS (over 40 years old). people ask us why this is the case. Basically, the motoring organisations and the authorities did a deal a long time ago on historic and classic vehicles, making them MOT exempt, tax exempt, and subsequently - ULEZ exempt. This is because they don't expect them to be out every day choking up the roads sitting in traffic and they are looked after and driven responsibily by careful owners. It does not mean that older vehicles are cleaner. 

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The MOT test said my car passed emissions so why is my car non-compliant with ULEZ?

Don't confuse smoke with emissions.  The UK MOT test tests roadworthiness. If your vehicle is smoky it may fail. But this is usually because something happened to the engine or exhaust system or parts are old and causing smoke. A fail sheet will tell you nto get the vehicle fixed. but a PASS does not mean it's smoke free. It just means it complies with the MOT roadworthiness standards for the roads. It does not mean you can go in the ULEZ or ask TFL for an exemption. ULEZ is based on the vehicle and engine technology as made or designed - and specifically - the amounts of certain gases emitted per kilometer (G/Km).

 

However, the ULEZ operator will accept retro-fitted devices signed off by approved installers that lower a vehicle's original EURO class design and tech. Please ask TFL which systems are currently being approved by them and how to find them. We do not know. 

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Can Eurocert certify compliance for ULEZ?

We can and do supply the Eurocert for vehicles that states NOx and CO2 emissions. 

 

YOUR EUROCERT MAY BE ACCEPTED BY TFL (THE UK ULEZ OPERATOR) AS EVIDENCE OF ULEZ COMPLIANCE IF THE NOx IS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF EURO 4 (PETROL) OR EURO 6 (DIESEL). PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IT MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED ON ITS OWN BY TFL, OCCASIONALLY, THEY ASK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

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Buy the Eurocert Certificate of Emissions here

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Email us for a sample - a recently used Eurocert for ULEZ exemption

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What is the grey area around imported vehicles and advanced (for their time) car engines?

Vehicles that were imported, a long time ago or recently, may comply with the ULEZ but not have been classified on paper in relation to the EURO classification. This is because they will have - normally - been made for foreign (non-EU) markets and not subject to that classification. But many cars built in Japan, and Asia in the early noughties (pre 2005) can and do comply based on NOx emissions. Petrol cars that emit less than 0.08 G/Km of NOx do comply with EURO 4 (compliant by NOx emissions) and may comply with ULEZ and may be accepted as compliant by TFL. The problem is how do you prove it. Even if advanced Japanese engine and vehicle manufacturers published and continue to state NOx levels compliant with EURO 4, the TFL, since the end of 2022 will only seem to accept proof of this by a manufacturer's document. BEWARE IF TFL SAY TO YOU TO GET A COC FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR A VEHICLE MADE FOR A NON-EU MARKET AS THIS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. Eurocert documents are not currently accepted by TFL (the ULEZ) operator as proof or evidence of ULEZ compliance or exemption, so please do not buy for this purpose. Please contact us by phone or email to know more, or if in doubt.

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Another grey area is the date (year) cut off. If your V5C (UK logbook) states EURO 3 or does not state any EURO class or the NOx, might it still be a compliant car? The answer is yes. the dates used above (2005 and 2014) are DEADLINES, by when the manufacture had to be producing certain technology. But that does not mean, for example, a petrol AUDI or BMW, built in Europe for the EU market, in 2002 was not EURO 4 compliant in advance of the deadline. it may well be. again, the problem is how do you prove it. BEWARE IF TFL SAY TO YOU TO GET A COC FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR A VEHICLE MADE BEFORE THE CLASS DEADLINE. The COC, IF YOU CAN GET IT, WILL STILL STATE THE EURO CLASS IT WAS DESIGNATED WHEN LEAVING THE FACTORY, EVEN IF THE VEHICLE WAS EMITTING IN LINE WITH THE SUPERIOR CLASS, AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE. Of course, vehicles from outside the EU will not normally be eligible for a COC from the manufacturer nyway, sopp you may need to go to a private or indpeendent company like Eurocert. YOUR EUROCERT MAY BE ACCEPTED BY TFL (THE UK ULEZ OPERATOR) AS EVIDENCE OF ULEZ COMPLIANCE IF THE NOx IS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF EURO 4 (PETROL) OR EURO 6 (DIESEL). PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IT MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED ON ITS OWN BY TFL, OCCASIONALLY, THEY ASK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING EVIDENCE

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Can I buy a Eurocert certificate of Emissions for my personal interest?

Of course you can. You can click here and buy for your vehicle. People ask "Is my car polluting", "Is my car endangering the environment and is it clean", "The MOT test said my car passed the meissions test but I want to know what the actual rated and stated Emissions data is for my vehicle build, year and type". "I'm going abroad and would like to know my car's emissions and EC EURO CLASS, just for my reference". 

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But please do not buy the Eurocert document and then present it to agencies and governmental organsations, here or abroad, expecting it to be accepted as proof or evidence in complying with government laws and rules. Please contact us by phone or email to know more, or if in doubt.

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Buy the Eurocert Certificate of Emissions here

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Email us for a sample - a recently used Eurocert for ULEZ exemption

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.Can I get my vehicle tested for emissions for ULEZ?
 

Yes. TFL will accept a WLTP test from an authorised provider that states its present emissions (what gases and what quantities it is emitting as at now). This is slightly contradicting because it assesses by now, rather than what was assessed and classified at the time of production.

 

Testing is presently very expensive. It can cost thousands. This is because it will be tested under different driving conditions and to the modern WLTP standard which is quite complicated. The old (replaced) emissions testing system was NEDC. We do not carry out testing but we can arrange it and we can advise you where and how to get it done. Please contact us by phone or email to know more, or if in doubt.

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