Private hire vehicle rules in London: the ZEC requirement and the age limit

Two rules decide whether a car can be licensed as a London private hire vehicle (PHV) in the first place: the zero emission capable (ZEC) requirement, which applies to vehicles being licensed for the first time, and an age limit for vehicles that are already licensed. This guide sets out what TfL's pages say, where they disagree and what we could not confirm. The vehicle owner is responsible for making sure a vehicle meets the rules, so read TfL's own pages before you buy or renew.

The ZEC requirement for new licences

TfL's PHV licence page says that since 1 January 2023 all PHVs licensed for the first time must be ZEC and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard. Its emissions page says the changes apply only to vehicles being licensed as a PHV for the first time in London. TfL's Notice 150/22 says the requirement was confirmed after a public consultation in 2015 and introduced in steps so that owners had time to comply.

TfL's emissions page says that to count as ZEC a vehicle must do one of these:

• Emit no more than 50 g/km of CO2 and be capable of running with no exhaust emissions for at least 10 miles (16.093 km); or
• Emit no more than 75 g/km of CO2 and be capable of running with no exhaust emissions for at least 20 miles (32.187 km).

If a combustion engine is part of the specification, as in a hybrid, the vehicle must also meet Euro 6 as a minimum. TfL says fully electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles meet the requirement.

Checking a vehicle before you buy

TfL advises checking before any purchase, because it can refuse to inspect or license a vehicle that does not qualify, and owners request an inspection at their own risk and cost. Its checklist is:

1. Is it fully electric or hydrogen? If so, it meets the requirement.
2. Check the V5C. It must show at least Euro 6. A stated CO2 figure over 75 g/km fails.
3. Check the manufacturer's specification for the electric-only range, which must match the CO2 band above.
4. If the V5C lacks the details, get a manufacturer's certificate of conformity (CoC), which TfL needs at the inspection.

TfL says that when you present a vehicle you must provide evidence it meets the ZEC criteria, and that if you cannot provide it within 21 days the application will be refused. The documents TfL lists are the V5C (for CO2 and Euro standard), the CoC (for range, CO2 and Euro standard) and a confirmation email from TfL that the vehicle has been exempted from the Congestion Charge through the Cleaner Vehicle Discount register. TfL also refers to a list on the OZEV website. If you believe a vehicle qualifies but is not on that list, TfL gives an email address on its emissions page to send evidence to.

The 10 year age limit

TfL's emissions page says vehicles already licensed by TfL must be no older than 10 years at the time of re-licensing. TfL's vehicle policy (version 1.0, 20 December 2021, the version linked from its licence page) adds that a PHV's age is counted from its first registration with the DVLA. In practice, check the first registration date on the V5C and work out the date your vehicle reaches 10 years before it is due for renewal.

TfL's licence page says all taxis and PHVs must be within certain age limits to comply with air quality standards, and that a few exemptions let some vehicles be licensed for an additional period. The exemption must be applied for while the vehicle is still within the age limit: if it is already older, an application cannot be made. The policy lists these categories:

• Alternative fuel conversions (LPG, CNG or biomethane, converted from diesel, with Euro 5 evidence).
• Historic, classic and niche vehicles, case by case.
• Vehicles used for specialist needs transport.
• Wheelchair accessible vehicles.
• Vehicles used by Blue Badge driver guides.
• Case by case: disabled drivers with substantial adaptations, and specialist adaptations.

The policy says exemptions normally allow a vehicle to be licensed for up to five more years, which makes the limit 15 years. TfL's licence page links four exemption forms (alternative fuel, disabled driver adaptations, specialist needs and wheelchair accessible vehicles). Those forms are the place to read the exact criteria.

How ULEZ fits in

Licensing and the ULEZ charge are separate systems. TfL's emissions page says PHVs in the ULEZ must meet the emissions standards or pay the daily charge, unless they are registered by TfL as wheelchair accessible. It gives the standards as Euro 4 for petrol and Euro 6 for diesel. A vehicle licensed under the ZEC rule must be at least Euro 6 if it has an engine, so on those figures it would meet the ULEZ standard, but that is our reading, not a TfL statement. For the current charge and how to check a vehicle, see our ULEZ guide and the Congestion Charge and ULEZ cost tool. Congestion Charge rules are separate again: see the Congestion Charge guide.

Where TfL's pages disagree or are unclear

• Wheelchair accessible PHVs and the ULEZ grace period. TfL's emissions page says these vehicles are exempt from the charge until 26 October 2025. TfL's ULEZ discounts page says a grace period until 24 October 2027, only when carrying out a booking for a TfL-licensed operator. The 24 October 2027 date is the current one: the TfL board paper on the London-wide ULEZ (22 February 2023) records this grace period as extended from 26 October 2025 to 24 October 2027, and the emissions page has not been updated (checked 8 Oct 2026).
• What counts as "licensed for the first time". TfL's pages do not say how the rule applies to a vehicle that was previously licensed and then left London licensing, or that changes owner. Ask TfL before you buy such a vehicle.
• The Cleaner Vehicle Discount evidence route. TfL's emissions page still lists a Congestion Charge Cleaner Vehicle Discount confirmation as acceptable evidence. We have not checked whether that route is unchanged, so rely on the V5C and CoC.
• Policy date. The vehicle policy TfL links is dated December 2021. We did not find a newer version, but we cannot rule one out.

Before you buy or renew

Work out the cost of the car with the running-cost comparison and plan the inspection date with the licence reminder calendar. Vehicle licensing fees are on TfL's vehicle licence page. Other vehicle requirements are in our vehicle licence and insurance guide and the signage guide. If you are self-employed, see how vehicle costs are claimed in our Making Tax Digital guide.