Is the Volkswagen up! ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 121,465 MOT tests, around 100% of Volkswagen up!s still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 0% are likely to be charged.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 100% petrol. Every petrol up! in the data (2012 onwards) is likely to be compliant.
- Likely compliant
- 100%
- Likely charged
- 0%
- Depends on the car
- 0%
- MOT tests analysed
- 121,465
Check a specific up!
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
up! ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many up!s of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Likely compliant107 tested |
| 2020 | Likely compliant3,337 tested |
| 2019 | Likely compliant8,299 tested |
| 2018 | Likely compliant12,893 tested |
| 2017 | Likely compliant13,215 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant12,813 tested |
| 2015 | Likely compliant16,219 tested |
| 2014 | Likely compliant20,821 tested |
| 2013 | Likely compliant19,708 tested |
| 2012 | Likely compliant13,827 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the up!
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).
- Petrol (100% of up!s tested): every year in our data is likely to comply.
Thinking of buying one? Check how up!s fare at the MOT too: see the Volkswagen up! MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Volkswagen up! for London: what the MOT data shows
The Volkswagen up!s in this data were first registered between 2012 and 2021. 2014 was the most common year, with 20,904 tests (17% of the total), and half were registered in 2015 or later.
Almost every up! in the data is from a year likely to comply, so age and condition matter more than ULEZ when choosing one. The newest (2021) passed first time 93% of the time at 15,312 miles on average, and the oldest (2012) passed 77% at 63,062 miles.
Whichever year you choose, check the up!'s weak spots. The most common MOT failures were visibility: "does not clear the windscreen effectively" (2.4% of tests); lights and electrics: "not working" (2.0%); brakes: "excessively binding" (1.6%). The most frequent advisory was "has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure", on 13.4% of tests.
Overall, 82% of up!s passed first time, well above the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 42,614 miles on average, fewer than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Volkswagen models
About this data
Based on 121,465 first MOT tests of the Volkswagen up! 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 121,465 MOT tests say about the Volkswagen up! and London's ULEZ.
Is the Volkswagen up! ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 100% of up!s on the road are likely compliant and 0% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006).
Which petrol up! years are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol up!s first registered from 2012 are likely compliant. Some earlier cars meet Euro 4 too, so check the exact vehicle.
How can I check if a specific up! 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
- MOT · 5 min readMOT retest rules: when it's free, partial or full priceFix a failed MOT within a day or two and the retest is often free; wait too long and you pay for a full test again. The three retest types explained.Read the guide
Is your up! ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.