Motorbikes, ULEZ & the London Congestion Charge

Motorbikes get a meaningfully easier ride through London's emission and congestion zones than cars do. The congestion charge doesn't apply to motorcycles at all, and ULEZ only applies to older bikes that don't meet Euro 3 emissions. This guide covers the current rules, what each zone costs, what to do if your bike isn't compliant, and the situations that catch riders out.

New to riding in the capital? You can book CBT training in over 30 London locations and be road-legal on a 125cc within a day.

Are motorbikes exempt from the London congestion charge?

Yes. Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters are exempt from the London congestion charge in all cases. You don't need to register, pay, or display anything. Riding through the zone is free regardless of the time of day, day of the week, or which bike you're on. The exemption applies to two-wheeled vehicles by class, not by emissions, so it covers every motorbike from a 50cc moped to a litre superbike.

For context, the congestion charge itself is £15 a day for cars, charged between 07:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00-18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, across central London. None of that applies if you're on two wheels.

Are motorbikes exempt from ULEZ?

Some are, some aren't. The rule is emissions-based: motorbikes that meet the Euro 3 emissions standard are exempt; motorbikes that don't have to pay the £12.50 ULEZ daily charge to ride within the zone. Euro 3 became compulsory for all new motorbikes registered in the UK from 1 July 2007, so the vast majority of bikes from that date onwards qualify automatically.

The zone now covers all London boroughs (the August 2023 expansion took it out to the boundary of greater London), so unless you ride exclusively on the M25 or outside the M25, the ULEZ rules apply to almost any London ride.

Classic motorbikes over 40 years old that are exempt from road tax are also exempt from ULEZ, regardless of emissions. This is the "rolling 40-year" rule. As bikes age past the 40-year threshold each year, more of them qualify automatically.

What does ULEZ cost if my bike isn't compliant?

The ULEZ daily charge for non-compliant motorbikes is £12.50. That covers a 24-hour window across all London boroughs inside the zone. If you ride into the zone at 11pm and leave at 1am, that's two charging days, not one.

Penalty charges if you don't pay are significantly higher, typically £180, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. TfL catches non-compliant vehicles through ANPR cameras at the zone boundary, so the assumption should always be that you'll be caught if you ride through without paying.

For most riders on bikes from 2008 onwards, none of this applies. The charge only kicks in for older bikes, and once you've checked your specific reg plate with TfL you'll know definitively whether you need to pay or not

125cc and Euro 4+: the commuter sweet spot

For new riders or commuters looking for the cheapest legal route into London, a Euro 4 (or newer) 125cc scooter or motorbike is the sweet spot. It's ULEZ-exempt, congestion-charge-exempt, and only requires a CBT certificate to ride on public roads. Most popular commuter 125s sold in the UK from 2017 onwards are Euro 4 or Euro 5 compliant by default.

If you're choosing your first bike specifically for London commuting, the practical filters are: ULEZ-compliant (any 2008 onwards bike will do, but check), 125cc maximum if you only have a CBT, and enough storage for whatever you'd carry on the tube. Our guide to the best motorcycles and scooters for commuting covers the current 2025 picks, all of which are ULEZ-compliant.

Electric motorbikes and the London zones

Fully electric motorbikes are exempt from ULEZ, exempt from the congestion charge, and exempt from most borough motorcycle parking charges where they apply (Westminster's Solo motorcycle bays are free for EV bikes, for example, though Camden's are still paid at a discount). For anyone whose riding pattern is mostly within London, electric is the most financially efficient option available.

The trade-offs are range (most current electric motorbikes manage 80-100 miles on a charge), charging infrastructure (still patchy outside the M25), and upfront cost (electric bikes carry a premium over equivalent petrol). For a London-only commute, those constraints rarely bite. For a London commuter who also wants weekend rides into the Surrey Hills or the South Downs, they sometimes do.

What happens at the zone boundary?

The ULEZ boundary now sits at the edge of greater London. If you live or park outside the boundary and ride in, you're entering the zone the moment you cross. There's no separate central London charging zone for ULEZ. It's one continuous area covering all 33 boroughs.

For non-compliant bikes, this means you can save the daily charge by parking outside the zone and continuing by tube or bus, but for most commuters this defeats the point of riding. The more common pattern is to ride a compliant bike all the way in. 

FAQs: Motorbikes, ULEZ & the London congestion charge

Do motorbikes pay the London congestion charge?

No. Motorbikes, mopeds and scooters are fully exempt from the London congestion charge. The £15 daily charge that applies to cars and other vehicles does not apply to two-wheeled vehicles, regardless of the bike's emissions or your time of travel.

Do motorbikes pay ULEZ?

Most don't. Motorbikes registered after 1 July 2007 generally meet the Euro 3 emissions standard and are ULEZ-exempt. Older motorbikes pay the £12.50 daily ULEZ charge unless they qualify under the 40-year classic vehicle exemption.

How do I check if my bike is ULEZ-compliant?

Use the official TfL vehicle checker at tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle. It takes about 30 seconds and tells you definitively whether your specific reg plate qualifies.

What's the ULEZ fine if I don't pay?

A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), typically £180 for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, reduced to £90 if paid within 14 days. TfL uses ANPR cameras at the zone boundary so non-compliant vehicles are reliably detected.

Are electric motorbikes free to use in the London zones?

Yes. Fully electric motorbikes are exempt from ULEZ and the congestion charge, and most boroughs that charge for motorcycle parking offer a discount or free use for electric bikes in Solo Motorcycle Only bays.

Does the congestion charge apply at weekends?

The congestion charge applies 07:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00-18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. For motorbikes, none of this matters. The exemption applies all day, every day.