London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) will see its biggest ever expansion this summer, and in some cases will expand as far as the M25.

The zone is currently limited to the area within London’s North and South Circular roads, but Mayor Sadiq Khan has decided to expand it to cover the whole of the capital, claiming this will boost air quality.

As parts of the M25 are within London, many Essex drivers are wondering whether travelling on the major motorway will also require paying the £12.50 charge, if their vehicle does not meet the emissions standards.

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After the expansion on August 29, the ULEZ will encompass most areas inside the M25, as it is expanding to all 33 boroughs of Greater London.

ULEZ will stretch as far east as Rainham while some areas such as Chigwell won’t be affected.

As the expansion map above shows, in some places, such as Upminster, it will border the M25, but it will not cover the M25.

What is the ULEZ expansion? 

The ULEZ expansion is an area in London where it is required to pay a charge for driving in a vehicle that does not comply with minimum emissions standards. 

Those that do not meet the standards are then charged a daily fee of £12.50 for entering the area.

Whether or not a vehicle is liable for the charge depends on how much nitrogen dioxide (NO2) it emits.

Which cars are ULEZ compliant?

Whether or not a vehicle is liable for the charge depends on how much nitrogen dioxide (NO2) it emits.

The change comes as NO2 can damage the lungs and make existing conditions such as asthma and lung and heart disease much worst. 

In order for diesel cars to avoid the charge they must generally have been registered after September 2015, whilst most petrol models registered from 2005 are also exempt.

To fully check if your car meets standards, you can head to the TfL website and check.