Annabelle Clarke

PR Manager

Annabelle Clarke | Author

Eduardo Rodrigues

Content Writer

Claudia Tuñón

Isobel Coughlan

Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Alastair Shephard

Tyre pressure monitoring is a great system to have, it allows you to be confident your tyres are at the correct pressure without needing to manually check each one. However, you may sometimes find the system mistakenly warning you of low tyre pressure, especially in the cold! 

This blog post will explain why this is, other causes of your tyre pressure light illuminating and what you can do to mitigate this. 

What is a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and how does it work? 

As the name suggests, most tyre pressure monitoring systems or TPMS reads the air pressure in your tyres constantly and communicates this to a module in the car wirelessly. 

When the sensors detect a pressure that is lower than it should be, an alert will be shown to the driver in the form of a small light, a message on the dash screen, an audible tone or a combination of the three. 

There are two different types of TPMS, which work in different ways: 

Direct TPMS works as described above, using a small electronic pressure sensor mounted inside the tyre, attached to the wheel, it reads the internal tyre air pressure and sends this to a control module inside the car. 

A less sophisticated but easily implemented version of TPMS is the indirect variety, this does not use any extra sensors inside the wheel or module inside the car. Indirect TPMS uses the car's existing wheel speed sensors - also used by the 

 and stability control systems - to measure the number of rotations each wheel does. 

If one wheel is rotating slightly faster than the others, the system knows that the tyre is low on air pressure, this is down to the fact that lower air pressure effectively decreases the diameter of the wheel, causing it to rotate faster at any given speed. 

How does cold weather cause a low tyre pressure light? 

Due to the high thermal expansion of air, cold temperatures cause a drop in volume and therefore pressure in your tyres; up to 2 PSI per 10°C. If you put 35 PSI in your tyres on a 25°C day, it will drop to 30 PSI at 0°C. This could be enough to trigger a low-pressure warning in your TPMS system. 

If your TPMS alert comes on, even in cold weather, the first thing to check is your tyre pressure. This can be done quite simply with a pressure tester, available from many motoring stores in the UK such as this one in 

If your tyre pressures are low, you should inflate them as per your car's manual, many cars also list the recommended pressures on a sticker in the driver's side door frame too. 

What to do when the tyre pressure light comes on 

If your tyre pressure light comes on, you should check your tyre pressure as soon as possible. 

If the tyre pressures are low, inflate to the correct PSI, accounting for how many people and luggage you will be carrying, as stated in the car's manual. We’d recommend purchasing an old style foot pump and using that to add some air pressure, that way you won't need to seek out and drive to the nearest petrol station. 

If your tyre light is still lit, there is likely to be a problem with the system. One common cause is the batteries in the sensors depleting. Many tyre shops can replace these for a small fee when changing tyres. 

Can I ignore the low tyre pressure light if it's cold? 

No, we don't recommend ever ignoring a warning light on the dash, it’s always best to at least do a quick visual inspection of your tyres if the light is illuminated. 

To help with the issue, re-check your tyre pressures and re-inflate if needed when a cold spell arrives. If the light continues to come on, it may be time to take the car to a garage to check your pressure monitoring system. 

Other causes for a tyre pressure light on the dashboard 

Unfortunately, punctures are something we’re all likely to experience as car drivers, screws, nails, pieces of glass and more can often be found on the road. If a screw or nail is still inside the tyre, it may cause a slow puncture, and remain undetected until your tyre pressure light warns you. 

If your tyre is deflating slowly, say over a few days, you should be able to drive a short distance after re-inflating it. But be sure not to leave it too long or drive too far. 

Tyres and valves can’t seal perfectly, expect to need to re-inflate your tyres every 5-6 months due to normal air leakage, but 

them at least once a month. Low tyre pressures can affect how your car handles and brakes, as well as causing reduced fuel economy. 

A faulty or incorrect tyre pressure monitoring system 

As TPM systems age, the sensors deteriorate and their batteries deplete. This will generally cause the tyre pressure light to illuminate, alerting the driver of a fault with the system. 

Another cause can be if the TPMS parameters are incorrectly set, as the correct tyre pressure varies from model to model and depending on the amount of luggage or people are being carried, the TPMS can be adjusted to accommodate. 

If your tyre pressure warning light is illuminated and you don’t know what to do let 

Split the cost of repairs up to £5,000 and choose from 1,000s of trusted repairers nationwide. 

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Why Does My Tyre Pressure Light Come On In The Cold?

If you live or work inside the M25 you’ll be acutely aware of the ultra-low emission zone now operating in every London borough. This has been in force in its current guise since August 2023 and affects millions of people daily. 

If you cannot circumvent the restrictions by way of public transport and need to replace your car, this blog post is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the cheapest cars to buy that are ULEZ-compliant. 

The ultra-low emission zone is an area now spanning the entirety of Greater London, that restricts the entry of vehicles depending on their emissions output. Cars that do not comply can still enter but will face a charge of £12.50 per day.

Criteria for what cars are “ULEZ free” is based on the Euro emissions standards, these are rules made by the EU to force manufacturers to improve the emissions of their vehicles. 

ULEZ requires all petrol cars to be built to Euro 4 or higher - any car from 2006 will be compliant, and Diesel cars need to be Euro 6, this was only introduced in 2015. 

Many cars were built to the Euro standards before required, meaning your car - even if it’s older than the years stated above - may still be compliant. 

To check if your car is ULEZ compliant, or to read more about the ULEZ rules, our 

If you need a cheap runabout that is ULEZ-compliant, these cars will be a good bet. Be aware though, that any car for £1,000 in today's market may well need extra work in the near future. 

As one of the most popular cars on the road, the Fiesta was clearly a hit with drivers, it has a simple but reliable 1.4-litre petrol engine, and just enough creature comforts to get by: electric windows, AC and a radio with aux input! 

£1,000 will get you a 2005 age car, formally known as the Mark 5 Fiesta. It’s sure to not win any motoring awards in 2023, but it will get you around in relative comfort and with great reliability. 

The Micra is another one of those cars that we see every day but don't necessarily notice, a reliable and long-lasting vehicle that blends into the traffic. If you’re looking for cheap transport, though, the Micra should definitely be on your radar. 

Its 1.2 litre 16 valve engine is a peach, never requiring a 

 change as it uses a dependable chain. Inside, the features are a little limited, with electric windows and and a radio being the main plus points, but some models did come with AC, cruise control and automatic wipers.

For £2,000 you can pick up a relatively nice example of the Fiesta’s big brother - the Ford Focus. Still with a petrol engine, this time a 1.6 litre unit. The focus will easily fit 5 people and luggage and would be a better car for longer distance driving. 

The model in question is a Zetec S trim from 2009, with Xenon headlights, cruise control and electric windows. The 1.6-litre petrol engine will be ULEZ compliant and produce just enough power to get around town, but be effective on the motorway too.

Famed for their reliability, Toyotas are usually a safe bet on the used or new market. The Auris is a mid-sized hatchback, similar to that of the Focus. 

The 1.6 petrol engine is ULEZ compliant and very economical. £1,990 gets you a 2008 model with just 81,000 miles on the clock. Alloy wheels, air conditioning and a multifunction steering wheel make this a nice package for daily commuting into London.

£5,000 can buy a surprising amount of cars on the used market and is the first price bracket we would suggest considering a diesel. As the ULEZ rules are more strict on diesel cars, they usually need to be post-2015 cars. 

The second time a focus has appeared on our list, but this one is fitted with Ford’s 1.5 turbo diesel engine, allowing seriously impressive MPG figures. When doing motorway miles, the Focus’ efficient engine can hit over 80 miles to the gallon! 

Despite the car in question being a relatively low spec, it still has air conditioning, electric windows and more. Another benefit of the small diesel engine is the road tax (VED) - which is free, so too is driving into the ULEZ as it’s euro 6 compliant.

If one of your priorities is style and design, the Megane is a great choice, it’s a practical, useful hatchback with great French style both inside and out. The 1.6 VVT engine is great, too. Achieving good MPG figures of just over 51 MPG. 

Along with being stylish, the Megane comes with a decent amount of tech too, with air conditioning, an infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity and cruise control. With it being a petrol it’s also ULEZ compliant. 

£4,700 can get you a tidy 2016 manual car, with just under 90,000 miles on the clock, a car with plenty of life left in it!

£10,000 is a very good budget for a car on the used market, opening up options for most manufacturers, types of cars and engines. It would even be possible to get an electric car on this budget. 

As the next size up from the Focus, the Mondeo has much more room for passengers and luggage alike. The longer wheelbase makes the car a great motorway cruiser, feeling stable and relaxing at 70 mph. 

£10,000 gets you a 2015 2.0 diesel car, both ULEZ compliant and reasonably fuel efficient. The interior too is of a higher quality and finish, befitting the higher price point. It comes with a large touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control and AC as standard.

If a luxury SUV would be preferred over the hatchbacks and saloons previously listed, the Volvo XC60 is a good option, with a powerful (and ULEZ compliant) 2.0 diesel engine and huge amounts of Swedish luxury this would certainly be a premium option. 

The XC60 comes with a 5” sat nav infotainment system, cruise control, AC, lane departure and more. Further to that its impeccable NCAP safety rating will offer peace of mind when on the road. 

£10,000 gets you a 2016 model, with just over 100,000 miles on the clock, making it a sensible but attractive option for those looking for a bigger car. 

So, we’ve given some great options for each of the three categories, bare in mind these only showcase what's available, we’d recommend using Autotrader’s filters to search for your perfect ULEZ-compliant car. 

If you need any other information on what ULEZ entails, or for more suggestions on ULEZ-compliant cars such as SUVs, check out our 

has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Cheapest ULEZ-Compliant Cars

The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary in east Cambodia protects almost 300,000 hectares of forest. Previously known as the Seima Biodiversity Conservation Area from 2002-09 and the Seima Protection Forest from 2009-16, the protected area is home to a wide range of biodiversity, forests, mountains, and indigenous communities.

For the Bunong people who live there, the forest is a key source of income and plays a large role in their spiritual beliefs. 

The region is also home to two geographically distinct areas of natural significance. The Annamite Mountains are notable for their vast evergreen forests and high levels of local species and the Mekong dry forest is crucial for local wildlife typical of the region to survive.

84 globally threatened species can be found in the project area, including Asian Elephants, primates, wild cattle, and birds such as the Giant Ibis and Green Peafowl. The world’s largest population of black-shanked douc and yellow-cheeked crested gibbon lives in the area.

However, local biodiversity and forest-dependent communities are increasingly under threat from unstainable resource extraction such as logging, hunting, and fishing.

The conservation work by the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary has had a huge impact on reducing emissions and protecting local wildlife and communities. Through their work, more than 20 million tonnes of CO2e emissions have been prevented from being released into the atmosphere and 25,000 hectares of forest saved from destruction. Shielding areas from deforestation prevents the release of emissions held within the forests’ biomass and soil.

The project also gives back to local communities, creating employment opportunities and supporting education and training programmes. An ecotourism venture has been established that supports these communities. 

Through a Cash for Communities Programme, that shares the revenue of carbon credit sales, the sanctuary has distributed almost $1 million. Funds go directly to the people of the region, who decide where funds should be allocated. The initiative has supported activities such as developing healthcare, education and building wells and bridges.

The Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the many climate-positive projects Bumper is contributing to through its partnership with 

Protecting Local Communities and Wildlife in Cambodia

Protegemos las comunidades locales y la fauna salvaje de Camboya

We've partnered with Volt to power our open banking payment option with real-time payments for vehicle deposits, repairs, parts, services and outright vehicle purchases. Open banking allows drivers to make secure, account-to-account payments. 

This next phase of open banking addresses friction caused by slow settlement times for dealers. With greater oversight of the transactions via payment notifications, dealers significantly reduce the risk of customer non-payment. The update also includes the option to make instant refunds to customers. 

The collaboration marks a significant rise in the use of open banking for Bumper with more drivers opting for the method at the point of sale. 

For dealers, open banking presents a huge cost-saving opportunity, with transaction fees a fraction of traditional payment methods. As of January 2024, open banking has saved 152 Bumper dealerships an estimated £200,000 in transaction fees. Moreover, open banking reduces the risk of fraudulent payments – customers are required to authenticate the payment within their banking app. 

The news comes at a time of exceptional growth in the used car market with more sold in 2023 than any other post-pandemic year. This rebound is reflected in the £3 million in payments processed through the Bumper-Volt integration since its launch in January 2024. 

Currently available in the UK, the integration will accelerate the rollout of Bumper’s open banking offering across other European territories.

Richard Drury, VP of Partnerships at Volt, said: “For car dealerships, the payments process has been a major challenge, and our solution is a real asset in alleviating those challenges many dealership owners are facing today. We’ve created a perfect solution for Bumper, with the initial results and quick adoption proving that it resonates with both buyers and sellers. There’s huge potential for real-time payments to take off in the automotive industry, so this partnership was a no-brainer for Volt.” 

Jack Allman, CCO and Co-Founder at Bumper, said, "The move to Volt as Bumper's Open Banking payment provider will have a huge impact on functionality for our partnered dealerships and their customers, providing them with a frictionless account-to-account payment experience. 

"This new partnership enhances our open banking infrastructure with increased functionality including settlement accounts, real-time notifications and refunds. These developments will increase operational efficiency and automation across all users, whether they work in accounts, sales or service. 

“Additionally, Volt’s global payment network facilitates Bumper to roll out our Open Banking product across Europe in the near future. We're incredibly excited to have launched this next phase of our Open Banking platform and can't wait to see the increased value this new iteration will bring to our partners." 

Bumper Partners with Volt to Empower Dealers with Open Banking

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as a car failing to start on a cold winter’s morning when you need it, and you can bet your life savings on it being exactly when you have somewhere important to go to. 

Thankfully, there are a few common causes for a car not starting in the cold and luckily there are a few things you can do to head them off. We’ll explain the most common causes of non-starting engines on cold days, and how to prevent them. 

The most common reason for a car not starting in the cold is an old or worn-out battery. As the temperature drops so does battery performance, a particularly cold morning is often just enough to prevent the car from starting. 

Can an old battery cause starting problems in the cold? 

The most common cause of an engine not starting in winter is a bad battery. If your battery is a few years old or damaged through non-use, the drop in temperature can be just enough to prevent the engine from turning over. 

It’s entirely possible that your battery is dead enough to not be able to start the engine, but still have enough power to turn on your lights or radio. 

An engine takes quite a lot of torque to turn it over fast enough to start the combustion cycle, this torque comes from the starter motor, using power from the battery. Dashboard, interior, and even headlights all need a comparatively small amount of energy. 

Yes, but we are unlikely to see this happen in the UK. Diesel will turn to gel at -12°C, and petrol will take -60°C to freeze. 

However, whilst diesel needs over ten degrees below freezing to gel, any water that has made its way into the tank will freeze readily as normal. This can cause problems if it freezes in fuel lines. 

Water can make its way into the fuel system of your car, usually via condensation inside the fuel tank. If this happens, and the water freezes, no fuel will be getting to the engine until the blockage defrosts. 

If your diesel engine is spinning as fast as normal, but refusing to fire, there could be an issue with your glow plugs. 

Diesel engines use glow plugs to warm the cylinders before the fuel is injected, this helps initiate combustion. 

Old and worn-out glow plugs will have reduced effectiveness, meaning the engine takes a lot longer to start. Check for a glow plug light on your dash when turning over.

6 Tips To Make Sure Your Car Starts In Cold Weather 

As bad batteries are the most common cause for starting issues in the winter, listen out for how fast your engine turns over when trying to start, especially as the weather begins to change at the end of Autumn. 

Battery monitors can be bought relatively cheaply and will tell you how healthy the cells are at any time. Once a battery is below 40% health, especially if it's 8 years or more old, it would probably be worth getting a replacement. 

For information on what battery you should buy, we have a 

Lights, heater fans, and radios all draw current, turning these off whilst trying to start the car will allow as much power to be delivered to the starter as possible. 

Remember that some cars turn the heated windscreen or rear window on automatically in cold weather - so check this and turn them off if necessary. 

If you are very concerned about battery issues, a jump start will allow you to drive to a garage to have your battery replaced, as soon as it becomes an issue. Jump starters can be bought for around £50, and will start a car with a dead battery 1 to 2 times per charge. 

These are safer and a lot more convenient than jump-starting from another car. 

Whilst not possible for many, keeping your car inside a garage, even one not connected to a heated home, will help it stave off the worst of the cold weather. 

5. Keep your tank full and check the fuel cap 

Any water that makes its way into your fuel system will do so through condensation inside the fuel tank. When you open the fuel cap, humid air will fill the space not occupied by fuel. Keeping your tank at least half full will reduce the amount of vapour that can enter your tank. 

Similarly, a badly sealed fuel cap will allow humid air in, inspect the seal to be intact and free from rips, tears, or holes. 

If very cold weather is predicted, say below -12°C, and you have a diesel car, it would likely be beneficial to add a ‘diesel antifreeze’ to your fuel. This additive allows the fuel to experience -40°C before gelling. 

If your diesel car has a traditional key to start and not a push-button, you can give it a fighting chance by allowing the glow plugs to fully warm up before starting. 

If this problem persists, and this trick helps, you should look to have your glow plugs replaced as soon as possible. 

So, that’s all you need to know about winter starting issues, thankfully here in the UK we don't have extremely cold winters, with the average temperature being around 2°C. Comparing that to somewhere like Canada, at -15°C average, we should consider ourselves lucky! 

If you’re unsure what the problem is find a trusted repairer on the Bumper network. 

With Bumper, you can split your bill into interest-free monthly payments at 1000s of reliable service partners nationwide. 

Car Won’t Start in Cold? Causes & Fixes

We’re thrilled to announce the last Dealership of the Month for 2023 is Lookers BMW and MINI Stafford.

The site managed an outstanding end to 2023, increasing the number of drivers using Bumper’s PayLater to split their bill into interest-free instalments by 50%.

Service advisor Kacey led the way in December helping 17 customers to drive away with their bills split with Bumper, closely followed by Andrea, known to the team as Queenie, with 14 PayLaters under her belt.

Driven by Aftersales Manager Lee Tucket, Lookers BMW and MINI Stafford use PayLater via the RTC integration. The team offer the monthly instalment option across both their aftersales and service departments.

Lee said, “Bumper's PayLater has been a huge success for us at Lookers BMW and MINI Stafford. By using flexible payment methods positioned at the right time, we've afforded our customers the opportunity to make what could be a large, unexpected cost much more achievable. This has had a significant impact in boosting our customer satisfaction levels and red work conversion.”

The Bumper-Lookers partnership has also had a positive impact on customer feedback. Mohammed visited the site in January and said, “Went for an MOT test, I was informed the rear tyre needed replacement but also both the front two. I saw I could have interest-free over 3 months, easy to apply and accepted. Saved shelling out in one go and spread over 3 months, great option. I will definitely do that again next time.”

Congratulations to Lee, Kacey, Andrea, Steven, Ashley and the whole team at Lookers BMW & MINI Stafford.

Lookers BMW & MINI Stafford Win Dealership of the Month 

According to Public Health England, air pollution is the largest environmental threat to health in the UK, and long-term exposure to air pollution is responsible for around 30,000 deaths per year. In direct response to this, many local councils across the UK have introduced clean air zones - to improve the air quality inside their cities. 

These zones, termed CAZ (clean air zones) or LEZ (low emissions zones), have restrictions on what vehicles can drive freely through them, charging non-compliant vehicles varying amounts, ranging from £2 to £12.50 per day. 

To alleviate the air pollution problem in the UK’s major cities, many low emissions zones have been created. The aim of these zones is to reduce the number of high-emissions cars entering a city, by making drivers pay a daily fee. 

s congestion charge, the zones often began as a small area in the very heart of the city, which slowly expanded over the years, allowing residents and visitors to adapt to the new restrictions. 

As it would not be possible to entirely ban cars that do not meet the zones’ criteria, a fee is usually charged per day of travel. For example, to drive into London’s ULEZ with a non-compliant car will cost £12.50 per day. 

What Cars Have to Pay in Low Emission Zones? 

The restriction criteria in all of the UK’s zones are based on the Euro emissions standards. These were initially devised by the EU to improve the standard to which cars are manufactured, the Euro status of a car is determined by how polluting it is. 

Any car sold in the EU must meet the current Euro standard, the most important ones when discussing ULEZ are Euro 4 for petrol cars (introduced in 2006) and Euro 6 for diesel-engined cars (introduced in 2015). 

The capital’s low emissions zone is by far the biggest and most far-reaching, affecting around 9 million residents and even more visitors every day, in August 2023 it expanded to include every London borough. 

To enter the ULEZ zone without paying, your vehicle must meet Euro 6 standards for Diesels, and Euro 4 for Petrol cars. As a general rule, if your petrol car was built after 2006, or your diesel car was built after 2015, you should be good to go. EVs and almost all hybrids are exempt. 

If your car doesn’t meet the above criteria, you’ll need to pay the daily charge. It is £12.50 per day for cars and other passenger vehicles. For HGVs and buses, it's £100 per day. 

The ULEZ charge period resets at midnight, so if you enter at 23:30 and leave in the early hours, you’ll need to pay twice. 

The TFL website allows you to enter your car registration number and date of travel for pre or post-payment. Payment can be made up to 3 days after entering the zone. 

Alternatively, you can sign your car up for automatic billing, this is recommended if you aren't sure if you'll enter a zone on your journey, as you will get billed automatically instead of receiving a fine. 

Introduced in 2021, the Clean Air Zone operates inside Birmingham's famous A4540 Middleway ring road. Its charging criteria are the same as the ULEZ - your vehicle must meet Euro 6 standards (2015+) for Diesels, and Euro 4 (2006+) for Petrol cars. 

To be 100% sure before you drive into Birmingham, use the gov.uk 

The Birmingham CAZ costs £9 for non-compliant petrol and diesel cars. This is operated 24/7 on every day of the year. Larger vehicles such as buses and HGVs pay £50. 

Just as the ULEZ, the charging period runs from midnight to midnight, meaning you’ll have to pay £18 if your journey extends past midnight. 

The general gov.uk clean air zone portal is the best tool for checking and paying CAZ charges. It allows you to pay up to 6 days before and after the journey. 

To check if your car will be charged, and pay the Birmingham CAZ fee, use the 

The historical city of Bath has operated a clean air zone since 2021. It only affects commercial vehicles though, such as vans, taxis and HGVs. Normal passenger cars, diesel or petrol, are not charged. 

A map of the Bath CAZ can be viewed on the council 

Quite a large portion of Portsmouth’s city centre is covered by the Clean Air Zone, which was introduced in November 2021. It is not charged to passenger vehicles, but only to taxis and HGVs. 

Taxis are charged £10 per day and HGVs £50. To view the full map check the 

Bradford, like Bath and Portsmouth, does not charge private passenger vehicles for entering its CAZ. 

Taxis are required to pay £7 and HGVs and buses £50 per day. To check where the CAZ in Bradford extends, check out the interactive map on the 

 has a relatively small Clean Air Zone. However, it does charge all vehicles that don’t meet the criteria. 

As with most other zones that charge passenger cars, diesel-engine cars need to meet Euro 6, and Petrol Euro 4. 

For passenger cars, it’s £9 per day, whilst HGVs and buses pay £100. To check if your vehicle will be chargeable, and to pay the fee, use the 

Launched in February 2023, the clean air zone spans a fairly sizable chunk of 

. Its rules are the same as most, charging cars Petrol and Diesel cars from post-2006 and post-2016 respectively. 

Sheffield.gov has some useful advice on how to avoid getting fined, including an online checker and interactive map. From here you can input a postcode to see if your journey will require CAZ approval. 

How much is the fee for Sheffield’s CAZ? 

Sheffield's clean air zone is free for passenger cars currently, but plans have been made to introduce a fee based on the same requirements as other CAZ and ULEZ zones shortly. 

HGV and commercial vehicles currently need to pay £10 per day, though. 

The Tyneside CAZ covers a fairly small area in the centre of Newcastle, and as with many of the other CAZ areas around the country, it is not yet charging passenger cars to enter it. 

Commercial vehicles, on the other hand, are required to pay £12.50 per day, the highest charge outside of London for such car types. 

So we’ve rounded up all of the current clean air and ultra-low emission zones in the country, but make sure to keep up to date with your local council’s news, as there are many more planned, including: 

Low Emissions Zones Across the UK 

A van is not just a method of transport, a van is a vital tool that enables thousands of people in the UK to earn a living. 

Whether that’s for transporting goods, carrying tools or working from, there is one thing in common, if you regularly work in London, you’ll want to be aware of the ULEZ rules to avoid paying expensive ULEZ charges on your van. 

In this blog, we’ll go through the ULEZ rules and conditions, and discuss what makes your van compliant or not. 

Since August 2023, the Ultra Low Emission Zone comprises every 

 and limits what vehicles can drive freely around the city. If your car or van doesn’t meet the rules, you’ll have to pay a daily charge. 

To drive into the ULEZ zone will cost £12.50 per day in a non-compliant vehicle. This charge is applicable every day excluding Christmas Day, and operates on a 24-hour schedule. 

This schedule means that if you enter the zone at 11:45 PM, and leave half an hour later, you will need to pay two ULEZ charges totalling £25.00. 

If you forget to pay the ULEZ charge and one of the cameras reads your number plate, you will receive a £180 fine. This is reduced by half if paid within 14 days, though. 

To avoid a ULEZ fine, we’d suggest that you sign up for TFL’s auto payment system, where charges are automatically deducted from your payment card any time you enter a zone, meaning you will never be fined for ULEZ or congestion charge zones. 

How do you know if your van is ULEZ-compliant? 

To check if your van is compliant by registration, use TFL’s online checker, by entering the registration number 

Compliance is based on the emissions of your vehicle, with the purpose being that more polluting cars are charged whereas low or zero emissions are not, to improve the air quality in the capital. 

The Euro 6 emissions standard is the most recent, introduced in 2015 it mandates any diesel-engined car or van to produce no more than 80mg/km of NOx (Nitrogen Oxides). Petrol-engined vehicles can produce 50mg/km and only need to meet Euro 4 - introduced in 2005. 

As there have been very few full-size petrol vans made in the last 20 years, almost any van made before 2015 will not be compliant. 

Can I Modify My Van to be ULEZ Compliant? 

Yes, quite possibly. The CVRAS (Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme) tests and approves systems to be fitted to older vans to meet the ULEZ rules, and there are a number of systems available for pre-Euro 6 vans. 

To check what's out there for your van, head to the 

If your van does not meet the ULEZ criteria, or you're looking for a new van anyway, and want to make sure it's compliant, we’ve compiled a list of vans below, sorted into various categories. 

ULEZ Compliant Small Vans and Car-derived Vans 

Thankfully, as many car-derived vans are available with a petrol engine, there is quite a bit of choice in this category. 

The Nemo is a reasonably small van, with a respectable load capacity of 610kg and a ULEZ-compliant 1.4-litre petrol engine. They also come as standard with remote central locking, a radio with AUX input and electric windows. 

We found a 2009 one for sale for just £3,995 + VAT, with very low mileage and great service history. 

Another small van, the Fiat Fiorino shares its running gear with the Punto of the same age, giving a van that's pretty good on fuel, but most importantly fully ULEZ compliant as it uses a petrol engine rather than diesel. 