Is the Kia Optima ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 11,539 MOT tests, around 80% of Kia Optimas still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 9% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 11%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 91% diesel, 8% hybrid (petrol). Diesel Optimas are generally compliant from 2016, while diesel cars from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged. Every hybrid (petrol) Optima in the data (2012 onwards) is likely to be compliant.
- Likely compliant
- 80%
- Likely charged
- 9%
- Depends on the car
- 11%
- MOT tests analysed
- 11,539
Check a specific Optima
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
Optima ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many Optimas of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Diesel | Hybrid (petrol) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Likely compliant104 tested | Likely compliant46 tested |
| 2019 | Likely compliant1,496 tested | Likely compliant163 tested |
| 2018 | Likely compliant2,541 tested | Likely compliant166 tested |
| 2017 | Likely compliant3,083 tested | Likely compliant241 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant1,018 tested | Likely compliant263 tested |
| 2015 | Check exact car620 tested | – |
| 2014 | Check exact car596 tested | – |
| 2013 | Likely charged342 tested | – |
| 2012 | Likely charged708 tested | Likely compliant1 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the Optima
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).
- Diesel (91% of Optimas tested): likely compliant from 2016; 2013 and earlier are likely to be charged.
- Hybrid (petrol) (8% of Optimas tested): every year in our data is likely to comply.
Optimas from 2014 and 2015 sit on the boundary (11% of those tested): some were built to the required standard before it became compulsory. The Euro standard is sometimes on the V5C logbook, or Kia can confirm it. Our ULEZ calculator can help.
Thinking of buying one? Check how Optimas fare at the MOT too: see the Kia Optima MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Kia Optima for London: what the MOT data shows
The Kia Optimas in this data were first registered between 2012 and 2020. 2017 was the most common year, with 3,328 tests (29% of the total), and half were registered in 2017 or later.
Optimas from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 82% of the time, at an average of 61,957 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 65% of the time with 94,683 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 Optimas likely to comply are from 2016. 1,018 of them were tested; 2016 cars passed first time 83% of the time and averaged 69,768 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the Optima's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were brakes: "less than 1.5 mm thick" (3.7% of tests); tyres: "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm" (2.6%); visibility: "does not clear the windscreen effectively" (2.3%). The most frequent advisory was "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", on 18.0% of tests.
Overall, 80% of Optimas passed first time, well above the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 66,939 miles on average, fewer than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Kia models
About this data
Based on 11,539 first MOT tests of the Kia Optima 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 11,539 MOT tests say about the Kia Optima and London's ULEZ.
Is the Kia Optima ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 80% of Optimas on the road are likely compliant and 9% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
Is a diesel Optima ULEZ compliant?
Only if it meets Euro 6, which generally means first registered from September 2015. Diesel Optimas from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
How can I check if a specific Optima 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 · 4 min readTyre tread depth and the MOT: the legal limit and how to check6.3% of cars failed their 2023 MOT on tyres. The 1.6mm legal limit, what testers look for beyond tread, and a one-minute check with a 20p coin.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 Optima ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.