Khan’s Ulez Scheme Rakes in £180 Million from London Drivers as Costs Soar

Sadiq Khan’s controversial Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) scheme has generated a staggering £180 million from London motorists in 2025 alone, according to new figures. This massive revenue comes from daily charges and hefty fines, hitting ordinary drivers in their pockets while the scheme itself cost £100 million to operate.

Ulez: A Cash Cow for City Hall

The Ulez scheme, significantly expanded across Greater London in August 2023, has become the UK’s “biggest and most lucrative scheme,” as described by What Car?, which commissioned the report. Transport for London (TfL) collected £123 million from daily charges paid by owners of non-compliant vehicles, with an additional £57 million generated from fines, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Drivers whose vehicles do not meet strict emissions standards face a £12.50 daily charge. Failure to pay can lead to fines up to £180, reduced to £90 if settled within 14 days. Petrol cars generally need to be registered from 2006 onwards (Euro 4 standards), while diesel cars require Euro 6 standards, typically meaning registration from September 2015. Fully electric cars are automatically compliant.

Millions from Motorists, Millions on Operations

The data reveals that many motorists are still caught out by the rules, with £103.4 million generated purely from fines across the UK’s low-emission zones, often from drivers entering “perhaps unwittingly,” What Car? reported. While London dominates, other cities like Birmingham (£30.7 million) and Bristol (£22.4 million) are also collecting significant sums.

However, the cost of running these schemes is equally staggering. Low Emission Zones across the UK cost over £121 million a year to operate, with London’s Ulez alone reportedly costing £100 million in 2025. TfL has yet to provide a detailed explanation for these huge running costs, though the recent expansion is believed to be a major factor.

• Ulez scheme generated £180 million in 2025 from London drivers.
• £123 million came from daily charges, £57 million from fines.
• The scheme cost £100 million to operate in 2025, according to What Car?.
• Drivers of non-compliant vehicles face a £12.50 daily charge or fines up to £180.
• Across the UK, low-emission zones collected over £250 million, costing £121 million to run.
• Money raised is supposed to be reinvested into transport and environmental projects.

What This Means for Britain

This massive revenue from Ulez charges directly impacts the wallets of ordinary Londoners and those who need to travel into the capital for work or family. Many feel they are being penalised for owning older, but still perfectly functional, vehicles.

The £100 million operating cost for London’s Ulez raises serious questions about efficiency and value for money. Hard-working taxpayers are funding a scheme that appears to be as expensive to run as it is lucrative.

While the stated aim is to improve air quality, the focus on revenue generation and high operating costs makes it feel like a stealth tax. This puts an additional burden on families already struggling with the cost of living crisis.

The requirement for newer vehicles disproportionately affects lower-income households and small businesses. They often cannot afford to upgrade their cars to meet the stringent emissions standards.

This policy highlights how green agendas are often implemented in ways that punish ordinary people. Meanwhile, the political class continues to make decisions that hit the public’s finances.

The lack of transparency from Transport for London regarding the scheme’s running costs is deeply concerning. Drivers deserve to know exactly where their money is going.

Share if you believe ordinary drivers are being unfairly targeted by these schemes.

This article is a factual summary of reporting by GB News. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.

Source: GB News | Breaking Brexit News