Is the Audi A1 ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 209,406 MOT tests, around 80% of Audi A1s still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 12% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 8%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 76% petrol, 24% diesel. Every petrol A1 in the data (2010 onwards) is likely to be compliant. Diesel A1s are generally compliant from 2016, while diesel cars from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
- Likely compliant
- 80%
- Likely charged
- 12%
- Depends on the car
- 8%
- MOT tests analysed
- 209,406
Check a specific A1
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
A1 ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many A1s of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Likely compliant803 tested | – |
| 2020 | Likely compliant13,530 tested | – |
| 2019 | Likely compliant20,599 tested | – |
| 2018 | Likely compliant18,883 tested | Likely compliant1,084 tested |
| 2017 | Likely compliant20,324 tested | Likely compliant2,747 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant19,893 tested | Likely compliant5,698 tested |
| 2015 | Likely compliant15,822 tested | Check exact car8,093 tested |
| 2014 | Likely compliant15,170 tested | Check exact car7,860 tested |
| 2013 | Likely compliant12,927 tested | Likely charged9,359 tested |
| 2012 | Likely compliant10,434 tested | Likely charged8,172 tested |
| 2011 | Likely compliant9,708 tested | Likely charged6,832 tested |
| 2010 | Likely compliant829 tested | Likely charged611 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the A1
Cars that miss the standard pay £12.50 for each day they're driven in the zone. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
- Petrol (76% of A1s tested): every year in our data is likely to comply.
- Diesel (24% of A1s tested): likely compliant from 2016; 2013 and earlier are likely to be charged.
A1s from 2014 and 2015 sit on the boundary (8% of those tested): some were built to the required standard before it became compulsory. The Euro standard is sometimes on the V5C logbook, or Audi can confirm it. Our ULEZ calculator can help.
Thinking of buying one? Check how A1s fare at the MOT too: see the Audi A1 MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Audi A1 for London: what the MOT data shows
The Audi A1s in this data were first registered between 2010 and 2021. 2016 was the most common year, with 25,591 tests (12% of the total), and half were registered in 2015 or later.
A1s from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 80% of the time, at an average of 49,910 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 69% of the time with 80,718 miles on average, so a compliant car is usually the more reliable buy as well as the cheaper one to drive in London.
On a budget, the oldest diesel A1s likely to comply are from 2016. 5,698 of them were tested; 2016 cars passed first time 79% of the time and averaged 49,544 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the A1's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were suspension: "fractured or broken" (2.9% of tests) and "pin or bush excessively worn" (2.8%); tyres: "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm" (2.5%). The most frequent advisory was "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", on 15.7% of tests.
Overall, 78% of A1s passed first time, noticeably above the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 54,458 miles on average, fewer than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Audi models
About this data
Based on 209,406 first MOT tests of the Audi A1 carried out in 2023.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). First attempts on cars only; “pass rate” means passing first time. Averages cover all 32,735,164 cars tested (71% passed), and years with under 50 tests are hidden.
ULEZ results are estimates from fuel type and year of first registration. Transport for London makes the final decision.
Learn more about how our data works.
Frequently asked questions
What 209,406 MOT tests say about the Audi A1 and London's ULEZ.
Is the Audi A1 ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 80% of A1s on the road are likely compliant and 12% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
Which petrol A1 years are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol A1s first registered from 2010 are likely compliant. Some earlier cars meet Euro 4 too, so check the exact vehicle.
Is a diesel A1 ULEZ compliant?
Only if it meets Euro 6, which generally means first registered from September 2015. Diesel A1s from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
How can I check if a specific A1 is ULEZ compliant?
Enter its registration in our free ULEZ check, which uses the vehicle's DVLA record. Always confirm with TfL before relying on it.
Related guides
- ULEZ · 6 min readULEZ explained: which cars are compliant and what it costsSince August 2023 the ULEZ covers every London borough. Which cars comply, what the daily charge costs if yours doesn't, and what you can do about it.Read the guide
- MOT · 6 min readThe most common reasons cars fail their MOT (and how to avoid them)Lights alone failed 11.3% of cars at their 2023 MOT, more than any other area. The common failure areas, ranked, and the driveway checks that prevent them.Read the guide
- Buying a used car · 6 min readHow to check if a car has been clocked using MOT mileage historyWinding back an odometer takes minutes with a laptop, but every MOT logs the reading publicly. A step-by-step method, with worked examples, for spotting the gaps.Read the guide
Is your A1 ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.