There could be more than 250,000 taxed cars on Surrey’s roads that do not meet ULEZ compliance standards. Drivers are set to be liable to a £12.50 daily charge if they enter an expanded ULEZ zone that reaches Surrey’s border from August.

According to Transport for London “petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA 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 after September 2015.”

In Surrey, recorded information held by the DVLA shows there were 71,892 petrol engine cars first registered before January 1, 2005, with a further 50,655 classed as SORN.

The figures are worse for non-compliant diesel cars, with 190,026 licensed and 23,011 with SORNs (Statutory Off Road Notifications) that were first registered before September 1, 2015.

Combined, that means there are 261,918 non-ULEZ compliant taxed cars registered to Surrey postcodes and a further 73,666 off-road.

The figures were from a snapshot census of the DVLA vehicle record which is taken quarterly and is up to date to February 2023.

A map showing the London Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission and Low Emission zones. An expanded ULEZ would cover the area currently under LEZ reaching the Surrey border. (Click on image to enlarge.)

In February, ​​Surrey County Council joined forces with four London boroughs to launch a High Court legal challenge against Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s decision to expand the zone.

In April a judge ruled there was a case to be heard on two grounds – the legal basis for the scheme and the rollout of the scrappage scheme. It is expected to be heard in July.

Among the things Surrey County Council is calling on the Mayor of London to provide is more data on the impact to residents, extending car scrappage and the Zone 6 Oyster Card scheme and to provide corridors to NHS facilities that are on the border,

Key workers, who regularly have to travel to London, should also be exempt, the county argues.