Q1) What proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport?
Q2) Are road traffic emissions forecast to fall?
Q3) What is the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)?
Q4) How much CO2 does the average new UK car produce ?
Q5) What are the average CO2 emissions of new cars by fuel type?
Q6) What are alternatively-fuelled vehicles?
Q7) What is the proportion of the new car market by fuel type?
Q8) What is the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric?
Q9) Is the number of diesel cars falling?
Q10) Is the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be banned in the future?
Q12) How many cars are powered by petrol, diesel and alternative fuels?
Q16) How many Electric Vehicle Chargers are there in the UK?
Q17) Is there an even regional distribution of Electric Vehicle Chargers?
Q18) Where can I find information on the availability of electric vehicle charge points?
Q19) Where can I search for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and tax bands for new and used cars?
Q20) How can I cut my vehicle’s fuel consumption - and hence CO2 emissions - when driving my car?
Q21) Can the UK’s climate change goals be achieved without drivers travelling less overall?
Q23) How is the vehicle tax rate for a car assessed?
Q24) How many licensed cars in Great Britain are in each CO2 emission band?
Q25) What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone that operates in London?
Q27) Have any other cities introduced Clean Air Zones?
Q28) How can I check if I will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone?
Q29) How much petrol and diesel is sold each year?
Q30) When was E10 petrol introduced in the UK and will my car be able to run on it?
Q31) Are the manufacturers' official fuel economy figures accurate?
Q32) How many front gardens have been concreted over to provide parking for cars?
Q1) What proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transport?
A1) In 2024, total UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that the UK reports internationally were estimated to be 373 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a decrease of 3 per cent (11 MtCO2e) from 2023 and a 53 per cent decrease (417 MtCO2e) from 1990. When broken down by gas, UK emissions are dominated by carbon dioxide, which is estimated to have accounted for around 78 per cent of GHG emissions in the UK in 2024.
The domestic transport sector consists of emissions from road vehicles, domestic aviation and shipping (including military), fishing vessels, and railways. It does not include emissions from international aviation or shipping. In 2024, domestic transport accounted for around 30 per cent of all territorial UK GHG emissions, almost entirely through carbon dioxide emissions. The main source of emissions from this sector is the use of petrol and diesel in road vehicles. Road vehicles accounted for 90 per cent of domestic transport emissions in 2024.
Domestic transport emissions remained at a similar level in 2024 to 2023, with a small 0.2 per cent increase between the two years. Emissions from road transport increased by 0.3 per cent, largely due to an increase in emissions from light duty vehicles. (There were also increases of 5 per cent in emissions from both waterborne travel and railways and of 4 per cent from civil aviation, but large falls of 24 per cent in military aviation emissions and 18 per cent from military shipping). Emissions from domestic transport remained 10 per cent lower than in 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic, with emissions from each of road, rail, aviation and waterborne transport all having remained lower in 2024 than they were in 2019.
Road vehicles are the most significant source of GHG emissions in the domestic transport sector and accounted for 90 per cent of the UK’s GHG emissions in 2024. Cars and taxis accounted for the largest proportion (54 per cent) of domestic transport GHG emissions and both HGVs and light vans respectively contributed to about 17 per cent of domestic transport GHG emissions.
Motor vehicle traffic volumes have generally increased since 1990, other than a 3 per cent fall seen between 2007 and 2010 following a recession and a large 21 per cent fall between 2019 and 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Motor vehicle traffic continued to recover in 2024, increasing 2 per cent when compared to 2023.
With lower petrol consumption outweighing an increase in diesel consumption and improvements in fuel efficiency of both petrol and diesel cars, the volume of emissions from passenger cars has generally been in decline since 2005 although decreases were partially offset by an increase in emissions from light duty vehicles prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions of carbon dioxide are closely related to the amount of fuel used, whilst nitrous oxide and methane emissions are influenced more by the vehicle type and age.
Source: 2024 UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Final Figures
Latest figures show that in 2025, total UK net territorial greenhouse gas emissions are provisionally estimated to be 367 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e), a decrease of 2 per cent (7 MtCO2e) from 2024 and 54 per cent (424 MtCO2e) from 1990. Carbon dioxide made up around 78 per cent of GHG emissions in the UK in 2025.
The domestic transport sector consists of emissions from road vehicles, domestic aviation and shipping (including military), fishing vessels, and railways. It does not include emissions from international aviation or shipping. In 2025, domestic transport accounted for 31 per cent of all emissions, with carbon dioxide accounting for 98 per cent of emissions for this sector. The main source of emissions from this sector is the use of petrol and diesel in road vehicles.
Domestic transport sector emissions increased by 2 per cent between 2024 and 2025, largely due to increased petrol and diesel use in road transport.
Between 1990 and 2025, domestic transport sector emissions have decreased by 9 per cent. Primarily as a result of a continual growth in vehicle kilometres travelled on roads, domestic transport emissions grew to a peak in 2007, 9 per cent higher than in 1990. Since then, up until the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions from this sector had fallen to around 1990 levels, driven mainly by improvements in new car fuel efficiency[and lower traffic growth following the 2008/2009 recession. Domestic transport sector emissions continue to remain below levels seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, domestic transport sector emissions are estimated to be 8 per cent lower than in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
Source: 2025 UK greenhouse gas emissions: provisional figures
Q2) Are road traffic emissions forecast to fall?
A2) Yes. Despite traffic levels in England and Wales being forecast to rise by between 8 and 54 per cent between 2025 and 2060, road traffic emissions are forecast to fall.
Within these forecasts, seven different plausible scenarios have been constructed that reflect the uncertainty in the key drivers of road traffic demand. Carbon Dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions are projected to fall significantly in all scenarios. This is largely driven by the anticipated uptake of Electric Vehicles (EVs). The three ambitious EV uptake scenarios are the Technology, Mode-balanced Decarbonisation and Vehicle-led Decarbonisation scenarios. They all assume delivery of the ambition to phase out petrol and diesel cars and van sales by 2035, and the implementation of vehicle decarbonisation policies such as zero emission vehicle mandates. The Core, Low Economy, High Economy, Behavioural Change and Regional Scenarios are based on existing firm and funded policies only. The smallest reduction in CO2e emissions is a reduction of 38 per cent in the High Economy Scenario, which assumes high rates of growth in population, GDP and employment levels. The largest reduction is 98 per cent in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario, which assumes a high and fast uptake of EVs and an increased share of public transport relative to the Core Scenario.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and particulate (PM10) emissions follow broadly similar trends with NOx reducing by between 61 per cent (in the High Economy Scenario) and 98 per cent (in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario) between 2025 and 2060. For PM10, the range is a reduction of between 49 per cent (in the High Economy Scenario) and 98 per cent (in the Mode-balanced Decarbonisation Scenario) over the same period.
Source: National Road Traffic Projections 2022
Q3) What is the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP)?
A3) The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) is a laboratory test developed by the European Union which aims to provide a closer representation of ‘real-world’ fuel consumption and CO2 figures from passenger cars, as well as their pollutant emissions. The old lab test – called the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) – was designed in the 1980s and due to evolutions in technology and driving conditions had become outdated.
Full details about the new testing procedure can be viewed here.
Q4) How much CO2 does the average new UK car produce ?
A4) In the United Kingdom, the average CO2 emissions for cars registered for the first time in 2025 was 92.1 grams CO2/km using the WLTP measure. This is down about 10 per cent compared with the 2024 figure of 102.5 grams CO2/km.
Source: Green Fleet Index
Q5) What are the average CO2 emissions of new cars by fuel type?
A5) Using the WLTP measure, the average CO2 emissions for new car registrations in 2025 by fuel type were as follows:-
- petrol cars had emissions of 141.8 grams CO2/km, down from 143 grams CO2/km compared to 2024
- diesel cars had emissions of 178.5 grams CO2/km, up from 173 grams CO2/km compared to 2024
- non-plug-in hybrid electric cars had emissions of 126.1 grams CO2/km, down from 127 grams CO2/km compared to 2024
- plug-in hybrid electric cars had emissions of 22.9 grams CO2/km, down from 28 grams CO2/km compared to 2024
Source: Green Fleet Index
Q6) What are alternatively-fuelled vehicles?
A6) The internal combustion engine (ICE) has dominated road transport over the past century but with a need to tackle climate change and end our reliance on fossil fuels, there is an environmental and an economic imperative to do things differently.
Alternatively-fuelled vehicles (AFVs) are any vehicles that run on something other than just petrol or diesel. They include:-
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)
These vehicles are wholly driven by an electric motor, powered by a battery that can be plugged in to the mains. There is no combustion engine and hence zero emissions at the tailpipe.
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
These vehicles are powered by a traditional ICE – either petrol or diesel – as well as an electric battery. The battery is charged using excess energy from the ICE, as well as by reclaiming the car’s kinetic energy when it brakes.
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
Plug-in Hybrid vehicles combine both a plug-in battery pack and an electric motor with a traditional ICE. Both the electric motor and the ICE can drive the wheels and at any time, it can be running on the battery alone, on the ICE alone, or on a combination of the two.
Range Extended Electric Vehicles (REEVs)
These are battery electric vehicles that run on electricity but employ an auxiliary power unit (known as a range extender). The range extender (typically a small petrol ICE) drives an electric generator which will recharge a car’s battery. The range extender does not drive the vehicle’s wheels.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs)
Fuel cells are devices that convert chemical energy (in this case compressed hydrogen) directly into electrical energy. This produces electricity to power the vehicle. In most hydrogen fuel cell cars, a high-power fuel cell and motor combination provide propulsion in place of an ICE.
Other Gas-Fuelled Vehicles
Various other gases can be used in an alternative ICE to provide motive power. These include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas in compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) forms.
Biodiesel and Bioethanol Vehicles
These are vehicles that run on biofuels – either biodiesel (made from vegetable or animal oil) or bioethanol (an alcohol made from plants). Bioethanol can be blended with petrol and used to power petrol engines with no modification. Similarly, biodiesel can be blended with diesel to run diesel cars.
Q7) What is the proportion of the new car market by fuel type?
A7) The 2025 new car registration figures show that electrified vehicles constituted just under half of the new cars that were registered. Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) volumes rose by 7.2 per cent to achieve a 13.9 per cent market share, while plug-in hybrids were the fastest growing powertrain, with volumes increasing 34.7 per cent to take 11.1 per cent of registrations.
Meanwhile, almost half a million (473,348) new battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered during 2025 – more than in the whole of 2021 and 2022 combined. This volume, which is likely to place the UK as the second biggest electric vehicle market in Europe by volume, saw BEV market share rise to reach 23.4 per cent. Despite this strong uplift the market share of BEVs was still short of the 28 per cent demanded by the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate.
In 2000, petrol-fuelled cars represented over 85 per cent of the total market. That level has fallen in recent years. Petrol-fuelled cars share of the new car market registrations stood at 46.4 per cent in 2025, down from 52.2 per cent in 2024.
Diesel share of the new car market has fallen in each of the past eleven years. Diesel volumes fell 15.6 per cent in 2025 and their market share declined from 6.3 per cent in 2024 to 5.1 per cent in 2025.
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – New Car Registrations
The latest figures for new car registrations can be viewed here.
Q8) What is the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric?
A8) Details of both the percentage and number of new cars sold that are battery electric by quarter can be seen in the chart in our Green Fleet Index.
Q9) Is the number of diesel cars falling?
A9) Yes. In December 2025 there were 10.1 million licensed diesel cars on the roads in the United Kingdom. This compares with 10.7 million a year earlier. The number of licensed diesel cars peaked in September 2018 and has been falling ever since.
The proportion of diesel cars amongst the car parc on the UK’s roads has also now fallen for the past seven years. After holding a record share of 40.1 per cent in 2018, it has subsequently fallen to 29.4 per cent in December 2025.
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
The number of new diesel cars registered in 2025 also fell compared to the previous year. 103,906 new diesel cars were registered in 2025, down 15.6 per cent on the 123,104 sold in 2024.
Source: Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – New Car Registrations
Q10) Is the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be banned in the future?
A10) Yes. In April 2025, the government confirmed its intention to phase out new petrol and diesel car sales by 2030. However, some small and micro-volume manufacturers – such as McLaren and Aston Martin – were exempted from the 2030 phase out.
Vans with an internal combustion engine will also be allowed to be sold until 2035, alongside full hybrids and plug-in hybrid vans.
The government also announced that it would allow hybrid cars – like the Toyota Prius and Nissan e-Power – to be sold until 2035 to help ease the transition and give industry more time to prepare.
However, car makers will still have to sell a growing proportion of battery-powered vehicles each year. The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate requires that in 2025, 28 per cent of all cars sold by each of the big auto manufacturers must be zero emission, with the proportion rising to 80 per cent in 2030 and 100 per cent in 2035.
Firms have been given greater freedom on how to meet these targets, with increasing flexibility of the mandate for manufacturers up to 2030, so that more cars can be sold in later years when demand is higher.
The government’s response to the consultation that was held on the ZEV Mandate can be viewed here.
Q11) What is involved in switching to an electric car and will it save me money if I switch from a current petrol or diesel car?
A11) There are a number of organisations that can advise on this matter. These include The Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England, a non-profit member association that represents current and prospective electric vehicle drivers across England.
A Beginners Guide to Going Electric, produced by Electrifying.com and the Department for Transport can be viewed here. The guide helps drivers understand what is involved in switching to an electric car and provides practical advice and top tips.
A free app called EV8 Switch calculates how much money UK drivers could save by switching to an electric vehicle compared to their current petrol or diesel vehicle, along with details on the carbon dioxide (CO2) savings and air quality improvements they could achieve.
Q12) How many cars are powered by petrol, diesel and alternative fuels?
A12) Of the 32.9 million cars licensed in Great Britain at the end of 2024, 18.6 million were petrol powered (down 0.1 million compared to the previous year), 10.1 million were diesel powered (down 0.6 million compared to the previous year) and 4.2 million alternatively-fuelled (up 1.1 million compared to the previous year).
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
Q13) And of the alternatively-fuelled cars, how many are hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars?
A13) The vast majority of alternatively-fuelled cars licensed at the end of 2024 in Great Britain were either hybrid electric cars, plug-in hybrid electric cars or battery electric cars. A small number were range extended electric cars or gas powered.
At the end of 2024, there were 2,089,482 hybrid electric (petrol) cars registered; 108,507 hybrid electric (diesel) cars; 656,087 plug-in hybrids (petrol); 10,303 plug-in hybrids (diesel); 1,266,421 battery cars; 9,479 range extended cars; 107 fuel cell cars; 25,831 gas powered cars; and 226 others.
Source: Department for Transport table VEH1103
Q14) What is the current proportion of the UK car fleet composition that is zero emissions at the tailpipe (fully battery electric or hydrogen)?
A14) The current proportion of the UK car fleet composition that is zero emissions at the tailpipe (fully battery electric or hydrogen) can be seen in the chart in our Green Fleet Index.
The columns to the left of the chart show the present and the historic composition of the car fleet. The column to the right is the predicted minimum fleet composition of 35 per cent zero emissions at the tailpipe cars which is required to meet RAC Foundation estimates of climate target car carbon goals in 2030.
Q15) How many plug-in battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars are on the roads in the UK and what are the top 10 vehicles by make and model?
A15) The latest data on plug-in vehicles on the UK’s roads can be viewed here.
Q16) How many Electric Vehicle Chargers are there in the UK?
A16) As of 1 April 2026, there were 119,080 public Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers and 92,141 public charging devices, an average of 1.29 EV chargers for every charging device.
3,028 EV chargers were added to the public network in the first quarter of 2026. This was similar to the equivalent period in 2025.
Of these EV chargers:-
- 50 per cent of EV chargers were rated standard (3kW to less than 8kW)
- 27 per cent were rated standard plus (8kW to less than 50kW)
- 12 per cent were rated rapid (50kW to less than 150kW)
- 11 per cent were rated ultra-rapid (150kW and above)
NOTE: A charging device is a physical unit at a charging location which contains charging equipment. An EV charger is an independent part of a charging device which controls the charge session enabling one EV vehicle to charge at a time. One charging device can have one or more EV chargers.
Source: Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: April 2026
Q17) Is there an even regional distribution of Electric Vehicle Chargers?
A17) No, there is an uneven geographical distribution in Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers across the UK although regional variation is lower for rapid and above chargers than for total chargers.
London has many more public chargers per capita than any other part of the UK, with 340 chargers per 100,000. In comparison, the average provision in the UK was 171.9 per 100,000. However, London has the second‑lowest per capita rated rapid or above, as much of its public charging infrastructure comprises standard on‑street chargers.
Northern Ireland has the lowest level of EV chargers in the UK, with 59.4 devices per 100,000, followed by the North West with 108.3 EV chargers per 100,000.
17.2 per cent of EV chargers were in rural areas, similar to the proportion of the population of England and Wales that live in rural areas (17.5 per cent). 82.8 per cent of EV chargers were in urban areas, similar to the proportion of the population of England and Wales that live in urban areas (82.5 per cent).
Details of the number of EV chargers per 100,000 of population by UK country and region are shown in the publication below.
Source: Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: April 2026
Q18) Where can I find information on the availability of electric vehicle charge points?
A18) There are a number of websites that that help electric vehicle drivers locate and navigate to their nearest electric vehicle charging point.
One such site is Zapmap which is a UK-wide map of electric vehicle charging points. Drivers can use the site to search and filter for electric vehicle charging points, as well as plan electric routes with the smart route planner.
In addition, many local authorities and public venues provide information on electric vehicle charging points within their area or at their venue on their website.
Q19) Where can I search for fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and tax bands for new and used cars?
A19) Use the Vehicle Certification Agency database here,
You can search for new and used cars to find:-
- fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (by make and model)
- vehicle tax information (by make, model, registration date and current tax tables)
- the cost of tax for all vehicle types
For new cars only you can also search:-
- by tax band, including Band A (exempt from tax)
- by fuel economy
- for annual fuel running costs
- by company car taxation, based on CO2 bands
- by alternative fuel types
As well as using less fuel and paying less car tax, more efficient cars also emit lower CO2 emissions. Car showrooms display environmental labels showing the running costs, tailpipe emissions, fuel economy and VED rates of new cars. The labels make it easy to compare different cars and show a rating from band A (green) to band M (red), with A having the lowest CO2 emissions and M the highest.
An example environmental label can be viewed here.
Q20) How can I cut my vehicle’s fuel consumption - and hence CO2 emissions - when driving my car?
A20) There are a few easy things that you can do when you drive and look after your car to help reduce the amount of fuel you burn and so cut down on CO2 emissions. The key is to reduce the amount of work your engine has to do, because the greater the workload, the more fuel is burned – so the higher the CO2 emissions. By following the smarter driving tips below you could cut your CO2 emissions by up to 15 per cent – equivalent to an annual fuel saving of up to one month per year.
Before you set off:-
- Check your tyres are at the correct pressure
- Clear out any extra weight
- Have your vehicle serviced regularly
- Remove any unused roof racks and roof boxes
- Plan your route to avoid stop/start traffic conditions
While driving:-
- Drive at an appropriate speed
- Speed up and slow down smoothly
- Change gears at lower revs
- Avoid leaving your engine running
- Don’t use air conditioning unless you really need it
Q21) Can the UK’s climate change goals be achieved without drivers travelling less overall?
A21) Yes. The reduction in total carbon emissions from cars necessary to meet the UK’s climate change goals could be achieved without drivers travelling less overall but this would require big changes in other areas.
The Climate Change Committee’s Balanced Net Zero Pathway plots a course to net zero that’s compliant with its Sixth Carbon Budget (2033-2037). This requires annual CO2 emissions from cars to fall from about 57 million tonnes in 2021 to around 34 million tonnes by 2030.This is a reduction of 40 per cent.
Modelling by the RAC Foundation in 2023 indicates that this reduction might be achieved by many possible scenarios. However, if the driving patterns of tens of millions of car owners are to go unchanged, then three other key factors will determine whether the required cuts in carbon emissions are likely to be met:-
- The take up of plug-in battery-electric cars,
- The proportion of car-driven miles accounted for by these battery-electric vehicles, and,
- The rate of departure of petrol and diesel cars from the UK’s vehicle fleet.
Further details can be viewed here.
Source: Is it necessary to reduce car mileage to meet our carbon emission goals?
Q22) What is the estimated percentage of total car miles driven by wholly zero-emissions-at-the-tailpipe cars in the UK?
A22) The Green Fleet Index is the estimated percentage of total car miles driven by wholly zero-emissions-at-the-tailpipe cars in the UK. It is calculated every quarter. After each quarter-end the index is updated using the latest DVLA vehicle records to determine zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road and the last two years of MOT test records to determine miles driven by age of car and fuel type.
Combined, this indicates how many of the miles covered by UK cars are driven by zero tailpipe emissions cars. It shows progress towards what RAC Foundation research indicates is the minimum proportion of zero tailpipe emission car mileage necessary by the end of 2030 to meet targets for carbon reduction from cars.
The Index can be viewed here.
Q23) How is the vehicle tax rate for a car assessed?
A23) Car vehicle tax rates are based on either engine size or fuel type and CO2 emissions, depending on when the vehicle was registered. (Other types of vehicle have their own rates).
1) For cars registered before 1 March 2001, the rate of vehicle tax is based on engine size.
2) For cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017, the rate of vehicle tax is based on fuel types and CO2 emissions. The lower a car’s emissions, the lower the vehicle tax payable on it.
3) For cars registered after 1 April 2017, the rate of vehicle tax is based on a vehicle’s CO2 emissions in the first year of registration.
Full details can be viewed here.
Q24) How many licensed cars in Great Britain are in each CO2 emission band?
A24) Prior to 2011, over 90 per cent of cars registered for the first time each year had emissions above 110 g CO2/km. This percentage had dropped to 59 per cent by 2015, following increases in new ultra low emission vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles registrations. A market shift to registering larger cars (eg SUVs) began to reverse this trend between 2015 and 2019 but there was a marked shift back towards lower emission vehicles in the last two quarters of 2019.
The number, and percentages, of vehicles in each CO2 emission band can be viewed in Department for Transport table VEH0206.
Q25) What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone that operates in London?
A25) The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an area that extends across all London boroughs where the most polluting vehicles must pay a charge in order to use the roads.
Most vehicles within the expanded zone now need to meet the ULEZ emissions standards or pay a daily charge to travel within the area of the ULEZ. Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after 2005, although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001. Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA as new after September 2015.
If your vehicle does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and is not exempt, there is a daily charge of £12.50 to drive within the zone. This charge applies to cars, motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles (up to and including 3.5 tonnes) and minibuses (up to and including 5 tonnes). The charge is in addition to the Congestion Charge.
Full details of the ULEZ can be viewed here.
Q26) How can I check if my vehicle meets the ULEZ standard in London or whether I need to pay the charge?
A26) Use the checker that can be found here.
Q27) Have any other cities introduced Clean Air Zones?
A27) Yes. There are now a number of clean air schemes operating in UK towns and cities aimed at reducing harmful emissions from road transport which contribute to poor air quality. The majority of these schemes are Clean Air Zones (CAZs) which have restrictions on the type and age of vehicles that are allowed to enter them. You might need to pay to drive in a CAZ if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards.
In England, schemes are currently operating in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead).
The Government confirmed in January 2025 that Greater Manchester will not now introduce a CAZ and instead approved an investment-led scheme to improve air quality.
In Scotland, Low Emission Zones (LEZs) are currently operating in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Full details of the LEZs in Scotland can be viewed here.
Q28) How can I check if I will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone?
A28) Use the service here to find out if there will be a daily charge to drive your vehicle in a Clean Air Zone in England.
For Scotland, use the service here to find out if there will be a daily charge to drive your vehicle in a Low Emission Zone.
Q29) How much petrol and diesel is sold each year?
A29) Sales of petrol reached a peak of 32.8 billion litres in 1990, equivalent to a 72 per cent market share of transport fuels. Sales subsequently fell every year (with the exception of 1998) until 2018 but in 2019, sales rose for the first time since 1998 (to 16.9 billion litres compared to 16.6 billion litres in 2018).
Petrol sales during 2020 were, of course, affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK with 13.1 billion litres of petrol sold. However, sales have subsequently increased every year since 2021 as restrictions on travel were removed and sales in 2024 now stand at 17.8 billion litres of petrol. This is above the 2019 level, the last full year before travel restrictions were introduced.
Until recently, barring a short decline in 2009, diesel has seen an average annual growth rate of 4 per cent in the last three decades. In 2018, diesel sales in the UK set a new record of 30.5 billion litres.
As with petrol sales, diesel sales were also affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the UK in 2020 with 25.0 billion litres of diesel fuel sold. However, sales increased in 2021 to 27.2 billion litres of diesel fuel and further increased in 2022 to 29.6 billion litres. However, in the last 2 years sales of diesel have fallen and the 2024 figure now stands at 28.2 billion litres.
The volume of petrol and diesel consumed in the UK year-by-year since 1990 can be viewed here.
Q30) When was E10 petrol introduced in the UK and will my car be able to run on it?
A30) E10 petrol was released to the public in September 2021.
E10 has up to 10 per cent ethanol compared with a maximum of 5 per cent in E5, meaning that standard grade petrol at the pumps has a higher bio-fuel content than the current E5. However, the new fuel has a lower energy content than E5 meaning drivers will do slightly fewer miles per gallon. The move is designed to help cut carbon emissions from fossil fuels.
There are about nineteen million petrol cars in the country, the vast majority of which are compatible with E10. You can check online if your car, van, motorcycle or moped can use E10 petrol. In any cases of doubt, drivers should check with their vehicle’s manufacturer.
Q31) Are the manufacturers' official fuel economy figures accurate?
A31) Experts have long questioned the validity of the official fuel economy figures which are measured in the laboratory and routinely quoted by car manufacturers. While a standardised test allows comparisons to be made between vehicles there has been concern that what is recorded in the laboratory is often at odds with what happens on the road where worse results are often recorded, particularly for smaller cars. For example, in November 2017, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) concluded that the average gap between official fuel consumption figures and actual fuel use for new cars in the EU had reached 42 per cent.
The new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) will provide a far more realistic representation of conditions encountered on the road than the old testing procedures and should provide more accurate figures. But the new test will not cover all possible variations and factors such as driving behaviour, traffic and weather conditions will mean that there will still be a difference between fuel economy figures measured in laboratory conditions and the real world.
Q32) How many front gardens have been concreted over to provide parking for cars?
A32) Figures analysed by the RAC Foundation show around 80 per cent of Britain’s 26 million dwellings were built with a front plot. Almost a third of these plots have been turned into hardstanding. This means seven million front gardens now contain concrete and cars rather than flowers and grass, a total roughly equivalent to 100 Hyde Parks or 72 Oylmpic Parks.
Houses built between 1919 and 1964 are most likely to have a front garden and hence it is these properties that are most likely to have seen the change.