Is the Volkswagen Transporter ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 295,320 MOT tests, around 31% of Volkswagen Transporters still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 57% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 12%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 97% diesel. Diesel Transporters are generally compliant from 2016, while diesel cars from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
- Likely compliant
- 31%
- Likely charged
- 57%
- Depends on the car
- 12%
- MOT tests analysed
- 295,320
Check a specific Transporter
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
Transporter ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many Transporters of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Diesel | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Likely compliant506 tested | – |
| 2020 | Likely compliant13,964 tested | Likely compliant9 tested |
| 2019 | Likely compliant17,978 tested | Likely compliant539 tested |
| 2018 | Likely compliant18,985 tested | Likely compliant523 tested |
| 2017 | Likely compliant19,566 tested | Likely compliant90 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant19,725 tested | Likely compliant35 tested |
| 2015 | Check exact car17,849 tested | Likely compliant32 tested |
| 2014 | Check exact car15,866 tested | Likely compliant21 tested |
| 2013 | Likely charged14,331 tested | Likely compliant29 tested |
| 2012 | Likely charged12,363 tested | Likely compliant54 tested |
| 2011 | Likely charged12,021 tested | Likely compliant54 tested |
| 2010 | Likely charged10,762 tested | Likely compliant64 tested |
| 2009 | Likely charged9,133 tested | Likely compliant37 tested |
| 2008 | Likely charged12,671 tested | Likely compliant74 tested |
| 2007 | Likely charged13,474 tested | Likely compliant68 tested |
| 2006 | Likely charged11,458 tested | Likely compliant63 tested |
| 2005 | Likely charged10,190 tested | Check Euro standard40 tested |
| 2004 | Likely charged9,288 tested | Check Euro standard29 tested |
| 2003 | Likely charged7,090 tested | Check Euro standard21 tested |
| 2002 | Likely charged6,528 tested | Check Euro standard55 tested |
| 2001 | Likely charged6,546 tested | Check Euro standard98 tested |
| 2000 | Likely charged4,784 tested | Likely charged78 tested |
| 1999 | Likely charged4,084 tested | Likely charged177 tested |
| 1998 | Likely charged3,764 tested | Likely charged184 tested |
| 1997 | Likely charged2,920 tested | Likely charged258 tested |
| 1996 | Likely charged2,402 tested | Likely charged242 tested |
| 1995 | Likely charged1,937 tested | Likely charged241 tested |
| 1994 | Likely charged1,627 tested | Likely charged277 tested |
| 1993 | Likely charged833 tested | Likely charged259 tested |
| 1992 | Likely charged618 tested | Likely charged519 tested |
| 1991 | Likely charged428 tested | Likely charged432 tested |
| 1990 | Likely charged415 tested | Likely charged763 tested |
| 1989 | Likely charged451 tested | Likely charged749 tested |
| 1988 | Likely charged316 tested | Likely charged577 tested |
| 1987 | Likely charged207 tested | Likely charged468 tested |
| 1986 | Likely charged209 tested | Likely charged605 tested |
| 1985 | Likely charged153 tested | Likely charged437 tested |
| 1984 | Likely charged115 tested | Likely charged457 tested |
| 1983 | Likely charged75 tested | Likely charged292 tested |
| 1982 | Likely charged39 tested | Likely charged114 tested |
| 1981 | Likely charged16 tested | Likely charged76 tested |
| 1980 | – | Likely charged50 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the Transporter
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 (97% of Transporters tested): likely compliant from 2016; 2013 and earlier are likely to be charged.
- Petrol (3% of Transporters tested): likely compliant from 2006; 2000 and earlier are likely to be charged.
Transporters from 2014 and 2015 sit on the boundary (12% of those tested): some were built to the required standard before it became compulsory. The Euro standard is sometimes on the V5C logbook, or Volkswagen can confirm it. Our ULEZ calculator can help.
Thinking of buying one? Check how Transporters fare at the MOT too: see the Volkswagen Transporter MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Volkswagen Transporter for London: what the MOT data shows
The Volkswagen Transporters in this data were first registered between 1980 and 2021. 2016 was the most common year, with 19,761 tests (7% of the total), and half were registered in 2012 or later.
Transporters from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 80% of the time, at an average of 58,498 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 60% of the time with 146,624 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 Transporters likely to comply are from 2016. 19,725 of them were tested; 2016 cars passed first time 77% of the time and averaged 77,904 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the Transporter's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were lights and electrics: "not working" (6.2% of tests); suspension: "fractured or broken" (3.2%) and "ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (2.7%). The most frequent advisory was "tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm", on 13.6% of tests.
Overall, 68% of Transporters passed first time, slightly below the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 112,600 miles on average, more than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Volkswagen models
About this data
Based on 295,320 first MOT tests of the Volkswagen Transporter 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 295,320 MOT tests say about the Volkswagen Transporter and London's ULEZ.
Is the Volkswagen Transporter ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 31% of Transporters on the road are likely compliant and 57% 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 Transporter years are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol Transporters first registered from 2006 are likely compliant. Some earlier cars meet Euro 4 too, so check the exact vehicle.
Is a diesel Transporter ULEZ compliant?
Only if it meets Euro 6, which generally means first registered from September 2015. Diesel Transporters from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
How can I check if a specific Transporter 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 readPre-MOT checklist: 20 things to check yourself before the testTwenty quick checks, grouped by area, that you can do on your driveway in under half an hour. No tools beyond a coin and a helper needed for most.Read the guide
- Buying a used car · 7 min readHow to read a car's MOT history before buying a used carThe MOT history is the only part of a used car's story the seller didn't write. A 10-minute method for reading it before you go to see the car.Read the guide
Is your Transporter ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.