ULEZ and the Congestion Charge: what period picture cars pay on a London shoot

London is full of period stories, and period stories need period cars. But older cars and London's road-user charges don't always mix. The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the Congestion Charge are separate schemes with separate rules, and the exemptions don't line up. Here's what Transport for London's published rules say, and how they affect the cars you cast.

TfL lists two categories of historic vehicle that are exempt from ULEZ:

1. All vehicles built before 1 January 1973.
2. Vehicles over 40 years old that have been registered with the DVLA in the historic vehicle tax class.

The first category is straightforward: a 1960s Mini, a 1950s cab or a 1968 Rover is exempt by age. The second depends on the car's paperwork, not just its age. GOV.UK explains that a vehicle built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax from 1 April 2026 if it's moved into the historic tax class, which the keeper has to apply for. So a 1980s car may or may not be ULEZ-exempt depending on whether its owner has registered it as historic.

Vehicles registered outside the UK that meet these criteria are also exempt, but they need to be registered with TfL before entering the zone.

What this means for casting: cars built before 1973 are the simplest choice for a London shoot. For 1973 to mid-1980s cars, check the tax class on each car before the shoot day. Later cars need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay the daily charge.

This is the bit that catches productions out. TfL's list of Congestion Charge exemptions covers emergency service vehicles with an "ambulance" or "fire engine" taxation class, NHS vehicles that are exempt from vehicle tax, vehicles with a "disabled" taxation class and a few other categories. Historic vehicles are not on the list. A classic car that's ULEZ-exempt may still be liable for the Congestion Charge if it's driven in the zone during charging hours.

A few specifics that matter for picture vehicles:

• Taxis: TfL says taxis are exempt from the Congestion Charge "when actively licensed" with London Taxi and Private Hire, and the exemption ends when the licence is surrendered, expires or is revoked. A retired cab used as a picture car isn't necessarily licensed, so check before assuming it's exempt. Browse taxis for film to see the cabs in the catalogue, or read about black cab hire for filming.
• Emergency vehicles: the exemption depends on the DVLA taxation class being "ambulance" or "fire engine". A replica or ex-service vehicle in a different tax class doesn't qualify automatically.
• Buses and 9+ seat vehicles: vehicles registered with the DVLA in the "buses" tax classes are automatically exempt, and other vehicles with nine or more seats can apply for a 100% discount.
• Motorbikes and mopeds: two-wheelers are exempt from the Congestion Charge.

TfL's ULEZ now covers all London boroughs, while the Congestion Charge zone covers only central London. That means a shoot in outer London may involve ULEZ questions but not the Congestion Charge, while a central London location may involve both. Check each location against TfL's maps before you finalise the car list.

How the car arrives matters too. If a picture car is delivered on a low loader, the transporter is the vehicle being driven, so its own ULEZ status (and, for heavier vehicles, the London-wide Low Emission Zone) is what counts. TfL publishes the standards for each scheme. We plan delivery around the location and confirm on the quote how charges are handled.

Sometimes the most accurate car for the scene isn't the simplest one to bring into London. A 1979 saloon may suit the story better than a 1971 one, but it may also bring a daily charge or a paperwork check. There's rarely a single right answer. Weigh how visible the car is, whether the audience would notice the difference and how many days it's needed. For a featured hero car, accuracy usually wins. For background vehicles parked deep in shot, a slightly older car that's exempt by age can be a sensible swap, as long as it still fits the period.

• What year was each car built, and is it in the historic tax class?
• Will the car be driven into the zone, or delivered on a transporter?
• Does the car need to move between locations during the day?
• Who pays any ULEZ or Congestion Charge, and how will it be shown on the quote?
• If a cab, bus or emergency vehicle is involved, what is its current licence and tax class?

1. List each car's build year and tax class. Ask your supplier, because both affect ULEZ.
2. Map the route and location against the ULEZ (London-wide) and the Congestion Charge zone (central London).
3. Check charging hours for the Congestion Charge on TfL's website for your shoot dates.
4. Agree who pays any charges, and put it in writing on the quote.
5. Don't assume taxis, buses or emergency vehicles are exempt. Check the specific vehicle's licence and tax class.
6. Consider a pre-1973 alternative if a later car would create charges or paperwork you'd rather avoid.

Many London period stories can be cast largely from pre-1973 cars. Browse 1960s cars, read period cars for film, or see picture car hire in London for parking suspensions, permits and logistics.

Charges and exemptions change. Always check TfL's current rules for your shoot dates.