Guide
Clean air zones and moving day: what does a van pay?
A van that misses the emissions standard pays £12.50 a day for London's ULEZ and £8 to £12.50 a day in the English clean air zones that charge vans, while any van in central London pays the £18 Congestion Charge in 2026. Firms usually pass these charges on, so ask whether your quote includes them.
How much is the ULEZ for a van?
A van that does not meet the ULEZ standards pays £12.50 a day, according to TfL. The zone runs 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas Day. It applies to vans and specialist vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.
The charging day runs from midnight to midnight, so a move that starts in the evening and finishes after midnight can count as two days. Unpaid charges bring a penalty of £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days (TfL).
Does a van pay the London Congestion Charge?
Yes. Every van driven in the central London zone during charging hours pays the Congestion Charge, which TfL lists at £18 a day if paid in advance or on the day, or £21 if paid by midnight of the third day after travel. It applies from 7am to 6pm on weekdays and from noon to 6pm at weekends and on bank holidays, with no charge between Christmas Day and the New Year's Day bank holiday.
The old 100% cleaner vehicle discount has ended. From 2 January 2026, electric vans registered for Auto Pay pay £9 instead of £18. A non-compliant van moving within central London on a weekday can owe both charges, £30.50 in all.
Which English clean air zones charge vans?
Six English zones charge non-compliant vans. Birmingham (class D) charges £8 a day. Bristol (class D) charges £9 for light goods vehicles under 3.5 tonnes, Bath (class C) £9, Bradford (class C) £9, Sheffield (class C) £10 and the Tyneside zone covering Newcastle and Gateshead (class C) £12.50.
Portsmouth's zone is class B, which does not charge vans. Oxford's zero emission zone is a separate scheme running from 7am to 7pm, charging £4 a day for a Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 diesel vehicle and £10 for others.
GOV.UK says a clean air zone charge must be paid by 11:59pm on the sixth day after entering. Bath, Bradford and Tyneside set a penalty of £120, cut to £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the charge. Our clean air zones page lists every zone and its van rate.
How do Scotland's low emission zones work?
Scotland's low emission zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen do not sell a daily pass. A non-compliant vehicle simply may not enter, and a penalty follows if it does. Mygov.scot (updated 26 June 2026) puts the first penalty at £60, halved to £30 if paid within 14 days.
Each further breach in the same zone within 90 days doubles the penalty, up to £480 for cars and light goods vehicles. The zones run 24 hours a day, including Christmas Day. Dundee began enforcement on 30 May 2024 and Edinburgh on 1 June 2024. Ask whether the van meets the standard before booking a job inside a Scottish zone.
Which vans meet the emissions standards?
Euro 6 diesel vans and Euro 4 petrol vans meet the standard in London, the English clean air zones and the Scottish zones. TfL says all new diesel vans sold from September 2016 should meet Euro 6, and petrol vans registered from January 2006 should meet Euro 4. Electric vans meet every standard.
Registration dates are a guide only, so check the van itself. TfL runs a vehicle checker for London, and GOV.UK runs one for the English clean air zones. Ask the firm for the van's registration and check it before moving day.
Who pays the charge on moving day?
The customer usually pays in the end, because firms tend to pass road charges on. Fantastic Services says congestion and clean air charges are usually charged separately (September 2026). Arrangements vary between firms and platforms.
Ask whether the quote includes the ULEZ, Congestion Charge or local zone fee, and for how many days. If the van is compliant, there is nothing to pay except the Congestion Charge in central London.
Common questions
How much is ULEZ for a van in 2026?
£12.50 a day for a van that does not meet the standards, according to TfL. Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol vans do not pay.
How much is the Congestion Charge in 2026?
£18 a day if paid in advance or on the day, or £21 if paid by midnight of the third day after travel (TfL). Electric vans on Auto Pay pay £9.
Do vans pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
Yes, if they are non-compliant. Birmingham's class D zone charges £8 a day for cars, taxis and vans that miss the standards.
Is there a daily charge in Glasgow's low emission zone?
No. Scottish zones work by penalty: £60 for a first breach, halved if paid within 14 days, doubling for repeat breaches up to £480 for vans.