Looking to rent a van in London? Understanding ULEZ is essential to avoid unexpected charges. Our complete guide helps you choose the right hire vehicle and stay compliant.
What is London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is Transport for London’s initiative to improve air quality by reducing polluting vehicles in the capital. The zone operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, covering all London boroughs whilst excluding the M25 motorway.
This emissions zone was launched in April 2019 and runs continuously every day except Christmas Day, impacting vehicle hire options.
The ULEZ aims to encourage the use of cleaner hire vehicles and reduce harmful emissions from transport across Greater London.
How Does ULEZ Affect Your Van Hire?
When you hire a van from Drivalia for use anywhere within the ULEZ area, you need to ensure your hire vehicle meets the required emissions standards to avoid the daily charge.
Non-compliant vehicles face a £12.50 daily charge when operating within the zone.
The charge applies to all cars and vans up to 3.5 tonnes, including minibus hire and specialist vehicles up to 5 tonnes. The daily charge runs from midnight to midnight, so crossing into the zone on two consecutive days means paying twice.
Good news for Drivalia customers: Our entire hire fleet meets current ULEZ emissions standards, so you won’t face any unexpected emission zone charges when you hire from us.
Which Drivalia Vehicles Are ULEZ Compliant?
All vehicles in our hire fleet meet the required ULEZ emissions standards. Our petrol vans meet Euro 4 standards whilst our diesel vans meet Euro 6 requirements, ensuring full compliance with Transport for London regulations.
We offer a complete range from small rental vans perfect for urban deliveries through to large Luton box vans with tail lifts for maximum cargo capacity that meet the ULEZ requirements.
Every van in our fleet remains under 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, ensuring no ULEZ charges apply whilst providing the cargo space you need for your London transport requirements.
Vehicle Emissions Standards Explained
For ULEZ compliance, petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 emissions standards, whilst diesel vehicles require Euro 6 certification.
Generally, petrol vehicles registered after 2005-2006 and diesel vehicles registered after September 2015 meet these requirements.
At Drivalia, we’ve invested specifically in vehicles that meet these standards, ensuring complete ULEZ compliance across our hire fleet. This means you can book any van from our range without worrying about emission zone charges.
Vehicles Over 3.5 Tonnes
An important exception applies to vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, which are exempt from ULEZ charges but may face separate Low Emission Zone (LEZ) requirements.
If you need a larger vehicle, you won’t pay ULEZ charges, but other emissions-related fees might apply.
Additional London Charges to Consider
The Congestion Charge represents another significant cost, requiring £15 daily for driving in Central London. This operates Monday to Friday from 7:00-18:00 and weekends from 12:00-18:00. Importantly, this charge applies in addition to any ULEZ charge.
From April 2025, additional charges will apply for using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels. Planning your route carefully can help minimise these costs, and our team can guide route planning.
How to Verify Van Compliance
At Drivalia, we guarantee all our hire vehicles meet ULEZ emissions standards, eliminating any guesswork.
For additional verification, Transport for London provides an online vehicle checker where you can enter any registration number to confirm compliance status.
When choosing any hire company, look for clear ULEZ compliance statements, Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4+ petrol certification, and transparent pricing without hidden emission zone fees.
Why Choose Drivalia for London Van Hire?
Drivalia provides a 100% ULEZ-compliant fleet with transparent hire fees. Unlike competitors who may charge additional fees for emission zone compliance, we include ULEZ compliance as standard across our entire range.
Our comprehensive fleet covers every requirement from small urban delivery vans to large Luton box vehicles. Each vehicle offers modern, reliable performance throughout Greater London whilst meeting current emissions standards.
Beyond compliance, we provide expert guidance to help you choose the most appropriate vehicle for your specific requirements, plus route planning advice to minimise your total transport costs.
Key Takeaways for Van Hire in London
ULEZ operates 24/7 across all London boroughs with a £12.50 daily charge for non-compliant vehicles. All Drivalia hire vehicles maintain full ULEZ compliance, eliminating unexpected charges and ensuring transparent pricing.
Remember that separate charges like the Congestion Charge may still apply in Central London, and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes face different LEZ requirements instead of ULEZ charges.
Always verify compliance before hiring from any company and ensure emissions standards are clearly stated in your hire agreement. Reliable companies should provide this information transparently.
Transport for London Resources
Transport for London offers several helpful tools, including the TfL Vehicle Checker for instant compliance verification, an interactive ULEZ Zone Map showing boundary locations, and an official Payment Portal for any charges that may apply.
Ready to hire a ULEZ-compliant van in London? Contact Drivalia today for transparent hire fees and a fully compliant hire fleet. No hidden emission zone charges, no surprises, just reliable UK van hire you can trust throughout Greater London.