ULEZ checker for Japanese imports
Japanese-market cars were never tested to Euro standards, so the usual checkers often can’t answer for them. Their papers do say which Japanese emissions rules they meet: it’s the prefix on the model type, such as the DBA in DBA-ANH20W. Enter it and we’ll tell you what it means for London’s ULEZ and the other UK clean air zones.
DBA-MH22S · petrol
Factory specs: Suzuki Wagon R MH22S, from Japan’s official lists.
Likely to meet ULEZ standards
DBA- means: petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules, 75% below their limits. That is Euro 4 or better on paper, against the petrol Euro 4 the zones ask for.
- London ULEZShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £12.50 a day.
- Birmingham Clean Air ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £8 a day.
- Bristol Clean Air ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £9 a day.
- Glasgow Low Emission ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van).
- Edinburgh Low Emission ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van).
- Dundee Low Emission ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van).
- Aberdeen Low Emission ZoneShould be fine once the official checker agrees. If not: £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van).
- Oxford Zero Emission Zone£2 to £10 a day for any petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle, 7am to 7pm, every day.
- Bath Clean Air ZonePrivate cars aren’t charged here; vans are.
- Bradford Clean Air ZonePrivate cars aren’t charged here; vans are.
- Sheffield Clean Air ZonePrivate cars aren’t charged here; vans are.
- Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air ZonePrivate cars aren’t charged here; vans are.
- Portsmouth Clean Air ZonePrivate cars and vans aren’t charged here.
Guidance, not a guarantee: the zones decide from their own records, so check the registration on the TfL vehicle checker before you buy. How to prove a Japanese import complies.
Buying it? The free check adds this to the MOT history, import dates and mileage checks.
Are Japanese imports ULEZ compliant?
Most petrol imports built from about 2005 are, on paper, and most built before 2000 aren’t. London’s ULEZ, Birmingham, Bristol and the Scottish cities ask for petrol Euro 4 or diesel Euro 6. Japan had its own rules, and a car certified to Japan’s 2005 rules was held to lower NOx limits than Euro 4. Cars from the 1980s and 1990s were built to Japan’s 1978 limits, about three times the Euro 4 NOx figure.
Being clean enough isn’t the same as not being charged. The zones go by the DVLA record, and for many imports it has no Euro status, so the official checker can say a car isn’t compliant until you send proof. Always check the registration on the TfL vehicle checker before you buy.
Japanese emissions codes explained
The letters before the hyphen are the emissions code. Since 2005 it has three characters: the first is the rules and how far below them the car came, the second is the fuel (B petrol, A hybrid, D diesel), and the third is the vehicle type (A for a passenger car).
| Code | What it means | Compared with Euro | ULEZ outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
| E- | Petrol car built to Japan’s 1978 limits: most cars until about 1998 | Below Euro 4 | Likely charged |
| GF- | The 1978 limits plus the 1998 idle rules, about 1998 to 2000 | Below Euro 4 | Likely charged |
| GH- | Japan’s 2000 rules, no low-emission rating, about 2000 to 2005 | Close to Euro 4 on paper | Borderline |
| TA- LA- UA- | Japan’s 2000 rules, 25%, 50% or 75% below the limits | Around or below Euro 4 | Likely compliant |
| ZA- | Hybrid, 2000 rules, 75% below the limits (early Prius, Estima and Alphard hybrids) | Below Euro 4 | Likely compliant |
| ABA- CBA- DBA- | Petrol car to Japan’s 2005 rules: as they are, 50% below, or 75% below | Euro 4 or better | Likely compliant |
| DAA- CAA- | Hybrid to Japan’s 2005 rules, 75% or 50% below | Euro 4 or better | Likely compliant |
| EBD- HBD- | Kei van or truck to Japan’s 2007 rules | Euro 4 or better | Likely compliant |
| 3BA- to 6BA-, 6AA- | Petrol or hybrid to Japan’s 2018 rules (WLTC test), from as tested to 75% below | Euro 4 or better | Likely compliant |
| KD- KH- KG- KR- | Diesel to Japan’s 1990s and early-2000s rules | Well below Euro 6 | Likely charged |
| ADA- ADF- CDA- | Diesel to Japan’s 2005 rules | About Euro 5, short of Euro 6 | Likely charged |
| LDA- LDF- QDF- | Diesel to Japan’s 2009 rules | Euro 6 NOx limit on paper | Likely compliant |
| 3DA- | Diesel to Japan’s 2018 rules | Close to Euro 6 on paper | Likely compliant |
| ZAA- | Electric | Zero emission | Zero emission |
NOx limits for petrol cars: Japan 1978 0.25 g/km, Japan 2000 0.08, Japan 2005 0.05, against Euro 4’s 0.08. For diesels: Japan 2005 0.14 and Japan 2009 0.08, against Euro 6’s 0.08. Japan and Europe use different test cycles, so these compare the rules, not any one car. Sources: Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) code tables.
Which UK zones charge cars?
London, Birmingham, Bristol and the four Scottish cities charge private cars that don’t meet the standard, and Oxford’s small zero emission zone charges anything with an exhaust. Bath, Bradford, Sheffield and Newcastle charge only vans, taxis, buses and lorries, which matters if your Hiace, Carry or Hijet is registered as a van. Rules checked 23 October 2026.
| Zone | Who pays | Charge | Official checker |
|---|---|---|---|
| London ULEZAll 32 London boroughs and the City | Petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £12.50 a day£180 penalty, £90 if paid within 14 days | TfL vehicle checker |
| Birmingham Clean Air ZoneInside the A4540 Middleway ring road | Class D: cars and vans, petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £8 a day | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Bristol Clean Air ZoneCentral Bristol | Class D: cars and vans, petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £9 a day | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Glasgow Low Emission ZoneGlasgow city centre | All vehicles: petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van) | Scottish Government LEZ vehicle checker |
| Edinburgh Low Emission ZoneEdinburgh city centre | All vehicles: petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van) | Scottish Government LEZ vehicle checker |
| Dundee Low Emission ZoneDundee city centre | All vehicles: petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van) | Scottish Government LEZ vehicle checker |
| Aberdeen Low Emission ZoneAberdeen city centre | All vehicles: petrol Euro 4, diesel Euro 6 | £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days and doubling for each repeat (up to £480 for a car or van) | Scottish Government LEZ vehicle checker |
| Oxford Zero Emission ZoneA few streets in central Oxford | Every vehicle that isn’t zero emission pays something | £2 to £10 a day for any petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicle | Oxfordshire County Council |
| Bath Clean Air ZoneCentral Bath | Class C: vans, taxis, buses and lorries; private cars are not charged | £9 a day for a van | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Bradford Clean Air ZoneInside the outer ring road and parts of Shipley | Class C: vans, taxis, buses and lorries; private cars are not charged | £9 a day for a van | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Sheffield Clean Air ZoneInside the inner ring road | Class C: vans, taxis, buses and lorries; private cars are not charged | £10 a day for a van | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air ZoneNewcastle city centre and the Tyne bridges | Class C: vans, taxis, buses and lorries; private cars are not charged | £12.50 a day for a van | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
| Portsmouth Clean Air ZoneSouth-west Portsea Island | Class B: buses, coaches, taxis and lorries only | — | gov.uk clean air zone checker |
Greater Manchester, Southampton and York have clean air plans but don’t charge private cars or vans. In Scotland a penalty is issued instead of a daily charge.
How to prove a Japanese import is ULEZ compliant
- 1Check the registration first. The TfL checker, the gov.uk checker for the English zones and the Scottish checker all read the DVLA record. If they say the car is compliant, nothing else is needed.
- 2Look at the V5C. The vehicle details include a Euro status. On many imports it’s blank. Once you have evidence, the DVLA can add it, and the zones then read the corrected record.
- 3Ask the maker, but don’t count on it. A Certificate of Conformity only exists for cars built to European specification, and the UK arms of Japanese makers usually can’t issue one for a Japanese-market car. Toyota UK says it doesn’t for imports. A letter from the maker giving the emissions figures is worth asking for.
- 4Have it tested in a lab. An emissions test to the European procedure at an accredited test centre, such as UTAC Millbrook, measures what the car actually emits. Owners’ clubs have been quoted about £2,500 a test, so agree with TfL first that it will accept the report. An MOT emissions test doesn’t measure NOx, so it doesn’t count.
- 5Keep the Japanese papers. The auction sheet, export certificate and Japanese inspection papers show the model type and its emissions code. They don’t prove a Euro standard on their own, but the maker or the lab will want them.
- 6Or wait for it to become historic. In England, vehicles built more than 40 years ago can move into the historic vehicle tax class, which exempts them from ULEZ and the clean air zones. Scotland exempts vehicles 30 years old or more that haven’t been changed from original, so a modified car may not qualify.
ULEZ by model
From each model’s build years and fuel. Every guide has the full table and what to look for.
- Daihatsu CopenL880K · 2002–2012Depends on year
- Daihatsu Hijet Truck S500S500P · 2014–2026Likely compliant
- Honda Beat PP1PP1 · 1991–1996Likely charged
- Honda Civic SiR EKEK4 · 1995–2000Depends on year
- Honda Civic Type R EKEK9 · 1997–2000Depends on year
- Honda Civic Type R FD2FD2 · 2007–2010Depends on year
- Honda Integra DC2DC2 · 1993–2001Depends on year
- Honda Integra DC5DC5 · 2001–2006Borderline
- Honda N-BoxJF3 · 2017–2023Likely compliant
- Honda NSXNA1 · 1990–2005Depends on year
- Mazda Bongo Friendee SGSGLR · 1995–2005Depends on year
- Mazda Eunos Roadster NANA6CE · 1989–1993Likely charged
- Mazda RX-7 FCFC3S · 1985–1991Likely charged
- Mazda RX-7 FDFD3S · 1991–2002Depends on year
- Mitsubishi Delica D:5CV5W · 2007–2019Depends on year
- Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear L400PD8W · 1994–2007Depends on year
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV to VICP9A · 1998–2001Depends on year
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII to IXCT9A · 2001–2007Borderline
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XCZ4A · 2007–2015Depends on year
- Mitsubishi PajeroV46W · 1991–1999Likely charged
- Nissan 180SX S13RPS13 · 1991–1998Likely charged
- Nissan Elgrand E51E51 · 2002–2010Depends on year
- Nissan Elgrand E52TE52 · 2010–2026Likely compliant
- Nissan Figaro FK10FK10 · 1991–1991Likely charged
- Nissan LeafZE0 · 2010–2013Zero emission
- Nissan Serena C26C26 · 2010–2016Likely compliant
- Nissan Serena C27GC27 · 2016–2022Likely compliant
- Nissan Silvia S13S13 · 1988–1993Likely charged
- Nissan Silvia S14S14 · 1993–1998Likely charged
- Nissan Silvia S15S15 · 1999–2002Depends on year
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R32BNR32 · 1989–1994Likely charged
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R33BCNR33 · 1995–1998Likely charged
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R34BNR34 · 1999–2002Depends on year
- Nissan Skyline R32HCR32 · 1989–1993Likely charged
- Nissan Skyline R33ECR33 · 1993–1998Likely charged
- Nissan Skyline R34ER34 · 1998–2001Depends on year
- Nissan Skyline V35CPV35 · 2003–2007Borderline
- Nissan Stagea WC34WGNC34 · 1996–2001Depends on year
- Subaru Impreza WRX GCGC8 · 1992–2000Depends on year
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI GDGDB · 2000–2007Borderline
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI GRGRB · 2007–2014Depends on year
- Suzuki Cappuccino EAEA11R · 1991–1995Likely charged
- Suzuki Carry DA16TDA16T · 2013–2026Likely compliant
- Suzuki Jimny JB23JB23W · 1998–2018Depends on year
- Suzuki Jimny JB64JB64W · 2018–2026Likely compliant
- Toyota Alphard 20 seriesANH20 · 2008–2015Likely compliant
- Toyota Alphard 30 seriesAGH30 · 2015–2023Likely compliant
- Toyota Alphard Hybrid 30 seriesAYH30 · 2015–2023Likely compliant
- Toyota AquaNHP10 · 2011–2021Likely compliant
- Toyota Celsior UCF30UCF30 · 2000–2006Borderline
- Toyota Crown S180GRS180 · 2003–2008Depends on year
- Toyota Estima 50 seriesACR50 · 2006–2019Depends on year
- Toyota Hiace H200KDH200 · 2004–2026Depends on year
- Toyota Mark II X100JZX100 · 1996–2001Depends on year
- Toyota Mark II X110JZX110 · 2000–2004Borderline
- Toyota Mark II X90JZX90 · 1992–1996Likely charged
- Toyota Mark X X120GRX120 · 2004–2009Depends on year
- Toyota Mark X X130GRX130 · 2009–2019Likely compliant
- Toyota MR2 SW20SW20 · 1989–1999Likely charged
- Toyota PriusZVW30 · 2009–2015Likely compliant
- Toyota PriusZVW50 · 2015–2023Likely compliant
- Toyota Soarer Z30JZZ30 · 1991–2000Depends on year
- Toyota Supra A70MA70 · 1986–1993Likely charged
- Toyota Supra A80JZA80 · 1993–2002Depends on year
- Toyota Voxy 80 seriesZRR80 · 2014–2022Likely compliant
Questions
Are Japanese imports ULEZ compliant?
Many are, on paper. Petrol cars built to Japan’s 2005 rules (codes ABA, CBA and DBA, roughly 2005 onwards) were held to lower NOx limits than Euro 4, which is what ULEZ asks of petrol cars. Cars built to Japan’s 1978 limits (E- and GF- codes, most cars before 2000) are unlikely to comply. Imports often have no Euro status on the DVLA record, so check the registration on TfL’s checker before you buy.
What does DBA mean on a Japanese car?
DBA is a Japanese emissions code: a petrol passenger car certified to Japan’s 2005 emissions rules with emissions 75% below their limits. CBA is 50% below and ABA meets the rules as they are. All three compare well with Euro 4.
Is a car with a GH- or GF- code ULEZ compliant?
GF- cars (about 1998 to 2000) were built to Japan’s 1978 limits and are unlikely to meet Euro 4. GH- cars were built to Japan’s 2000 rules, which are close to Euro 4 on paper, so they might pass a lab test, but expect to need proof. TA-, LA- and UA- cars came in 25%, 50% and 75% below the 2000 limits and have a better chance.
Can I get a Certificate of Conformity for a JDM car?
Usually not. A Certificate of Conformity confirms a car meets European type approval, and Japanese-market cars weren’t built to it. The UK arms of the Japanese makers generally can’t issue one for an import. The alternatives are a letter from the maker with the emissions figures, or a lab emissions test at an accredited centre.
Is a 1990s JDM car exempt from ULEZ?
Not just for being old. In England a car must be in the historic vehicle tax class, which opens at 40 years old, so in 2026 cars built in 1985 or earlier. Scotland’s low emission zones exempt cars 30 years old or more that haven’t been changed from original.
Do Scotland’s low emission zones apply to imports?
Yes. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen apply to all vehicles, including private cars, with the same petrol Euro 4 and diesel Euro 6 standards. A car that doesn’t comply gets a £60 penalty, halved if paid within 14 days, and it doubles for each repeat.
Is a Japanese import diesel ULEZ compliant?
Only the newer ones are likely to be. ULEZ asks for diesel Euro 6. Diesels built to Japan’s 2009 rules (LDA- codes, roughly 2010 onwards) meet the same NOx limit on paper; older diesels such as the Delica L400, Pajero and early Hiace do not.
This page is guidance, not a guarantee. Only TfL and the councils decide whether a vehicle is charged. Spotted something out of date? Email [email protected].