UK cities with clean air zone schemes and how much they cost drivers
As we continue to face climate change worries and threats of global warming becoming an unfixable issue, authorities are introducing different schemes to help combat the problem.
For many cities across the UK, this involves schemes which charge drivers for using vehicles that don’t meet green emission standards.
Arguably the most well known scheme is London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which was first introduced in April 2019 to help combat the capital’s poor air quality.
It initially included parts of Central London, but from August this year it will expand across all boroughs and operate for 24 hours a day.
Vehicles found to exceed the minimum emission standards could expect to pay a daily charge.
However, ULEZ isn’t the only type of initiative in place which targets high emission vehicles. There are also Clean Air Zones (CAZ) across the country.
Which cities have one in place and how much can they charge drivers?
What are the different categories of clean air zones?
The clear air zones (CAZ) are designed to encourage road users to opt for vehicles that meet a standard of emissions.
There are four different types of clean air zone, ranging from Category A to D.
- A – Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles
- B – Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles
- C – Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses
- D – Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, cars, the local authority has the option to include motorcycles.
Which cities currently have a clean air zone in place?
- Bath has a Class C CAZ
- Birmingham has a Class D CAZ
- Bradford has a Class C CAZ
- Bristol has a Class D CAZ
- Portsmouth has a Class B CAZ
- Sheffield has a Class C CAZ
- Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) has a Class C CAZ.
Greater Manchester does not currently have a CAZ but they are in the discussion phase of introducing one.
Glasgow is the first city in Scotland to introduce a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) – which came into effect on June 1 this year.
What are the Clean Air Zone charges across the UK?
Bath
Launched in March 2021, the daily charge to enter Bath’s Clean Air Zone is £9 for taxis, minibuses, vans, pick-up trucks, and some campervans and four-by-fours.
The price is a whopping £100 for coaches, buses, and HGVs.
Private HGVs like horsebox vans and motorhomes can have the £100 reduced to £9 if the vehicle is registered with the council.
Birmingham
Birmingham’s CAZ operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and includes a chunk of the city centre within the A4540 Middleway.
Driving a vehicle not compliant with the zone’s emission standards will incur a daily charge of £8.
This charge rises to £50 a day for coaches, buses, and HGVs.
Bradford
Bradford’s Clean Air Zone charge applies to taxis, lorries and vans that do not meet emission standards, but drivers of private cars and motorbikes do not need to pay.
The fees for commercial vehicles entering the CAZ area from £7 to £50 and those that do not pay can be fined £120 on top of the original fee.
Bristol
Introduced in November 2022, Bristol’s CAZ operates 24 hours a day and includes large sections of the city centre.
Cars, taxis, and vans are charged £9 for entering the zone while HGVs, coaches and buses not meeting the CAZ pollution criteria will have to pay £100 each day.
There’s a £120 fine if you don’t pay, reduced to £60 if paid within a week.
Portsmouth
Introduced in November 2021, Portsmouth’s CAZ sees non-compliant private hire vehicles and taxis paying £10 a day, while buses, coaches and lorries face a £50 fee.
Private cars, motorcycles and vans are not included in the daily charges.
Sheffield
Launched in February 2023, Sheffield’s CAZ doesn’t apply to private cars and motorcycles, but all other non-compliant vehicles will have to pay.
Vans, LGVs and taxis will be charged at a rate of £10 per day; coaches, buses and HGVs will be charged £50 per day.
Tyneside
The Newcastle and Gateshead Tyneside zone was introduced in January 2023.
Privately-owned cars do not have to pay charges. However, drivers of non-compliant buses, coaches, taxis, and HGVs must pay daily charges ranging from £12.50 to £50 if they travel through the city centre.
Glasgow
Glasgow launched a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) within the city centre on June 1. It was the first scheme to be introduced in Scotland and it operates 24 hours a day all year round.
Drivers entering the LEZ with a non-compliant car will be fined £60.
This fine will double for each subsequent breach detected, with a fine cap of £480 for cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs), and £960 for buses and HGVs.
Emergency vehicles, blue-badge holders, mopeds and motorbikes will be exempt, and locals living in the zone have one year to comply with the area’s new regulations.
MORE : How to save on buying a car as London’s ULEZ expansion closes in
MORE : What is the difference between low emission zones and ULEZ?
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