Your Guide To Clean Air Zones

In a bid to reduce emissions in congested areas of the UK, Clean Air Zones (CAZ) and Low Emission Zones (LEZ) are cropping up in many cities across the country. We’re here to explain what it means for an area to operate a Clean Air Zones or Low Emission Zone, which vehicles are compliant, and what it will cost you if yours isn’t. First introduced in London and now present in many other large cities across the UK, expect to see more zones like this pop up in different areas of the country in 2023 and beyond.  

What is a Clean Air Zone? 

A Clean Air Zone is an area, which could be as big as an entire city or isolated to one road only, in which highly polluting vehicles will need to pay in order to travel. Designed to improve air quality in areas that see high numbers of vehicles such as taxis, buses and lorries kicking out a lot of harmful emissions. 

If your vehicle doesn’t meet the Clean Air Zone standards, you will be charged per day for every day that you travel within it, meaning things could get a little pricey if this applies to you. 

These zones usually operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but there are some exceptions, such as Christmas Day, so always check the zone information before you travel. 

What types of Clean Air Zones are there? 

In order to crack down on the appropriate type of vehicle for the area, there are different types of Clean Air Zones, which have been categorised by class. 

What are the Clean Air Zone emissions standards?

In order for a vehicle to be compliant with emission standards, and therefore exempt from paying the daily charges, they need to meet the following:

• Euro 3 for motorcycles (including mopeds, motorised tricycles and quadricycles)
• Euro 4 for petrol cars, vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles
• Euro 6 for diesel cars, vans and minibuses and other specialist vehicles

Where are the Clean Air Zones in the UK? 

If you’re local to us here in West London, you’ll no doubt be familiar with ULEZ, the Ultra Low Emission Zone, which was the first Clean Air Zone of its kind. This sparked other city councils to take up the initiative - a list of participating areas is as follows: 

Bath - Class C

In Bath’s city centre, a Class C Clean Air Zone is in operation. This Postcode Checker on the official Bath & North East Somerset Council website will help you determine if you’re going to be travelling within the zone when you visit. 

For vehicles that do not comply with CAZ standards, there will be a charge of between £9 to £100 a day.

Birmingham - Class D

Birmingham’s Class D CAZ covers all the roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, but not the actual Middleway itself. Before travelling within Birmingham, you can check to see if you will be in or around the Clean Air Zone by searching the address on the official Birmingham City Council website. 

For non-compliant vehicles, it will cost £8 per day for cars, taxis and LGVs, or £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs to enter the Birmingham Clean Air Zone.

Bristol - Class D

A newcomer to the Clean Air Zone scene, Bristol now operates a Class D CAZ. The zone includes the main routes into the city - such as Cumberland Basin and Portway. The cost of travelling within the zone for private vehicles and taxis starts at £9 a day, and goes up to £100 for buses, coaches and HGVs. It’s worth checking before you travel into Bristol on the Bristol City Council website. 

Bradford - Class C

Another area that has recently become a CAZ is Bradford, which now operates Class C. The good news for those that drive passenger cars, vans or motorcycles is that it doesn’t affect them just yet. However, HGVs, coaches and buses will be charged £50 to enter the zone, minibuses will need to pay £9, and for non-compliant taxis/private hire vehicles, it costs £7 to enter. 

Head to the Bradford Council website to keep up to date with the charges.

London - Class D 

Operating an Ultra Low Emission Zone is the city of London - and it’s expanding later this year. Currently, the Ultra Low Emission Zone covers Central London within the North and South circular roads. However, on Tuesday 29th August 2023, the area will expand to cover Greater London. 

For further information about ULEZ, its expansion, and the charges associated with it, you should head to the TFL website. 

Newcastle & Gateshead - Class C

New for 2023, Newcastle and Gateshead now operate a Class C CAZ. The zone covers the city centre and routes over the River Tyne, but instead of affecting passenger cars or motorbikes, it currently means that taxis and private hire vehicles have to pay £12.50 per day, and buses, coaches and HGVs need to pay £50 a day.

For further information, head to the Newcastle City Council website.

Portsmouth - Class B

As an early adopter of the CAZ initiative, Portsmouth currently operates a Class B CAZ, covering around 3 KM squared of the South West area of the city. There’s an official Cleaner Air Portsmouth website set up, so that you can research your Portsmouth trip to double-check whether you’ll be travelling within the CAZ. 

Sheffield - Class C

In Sheffield, the city centre and inner ring road of Sheffield currently operates a Class C CAZ, though this doesn’t currently affect passenger car drivers or motorcyclists. Buses, coaches and HGVs are charged £50 per day, and LGVs and motorhomes are charged £10 per day. Take a look at the Sheffield City Council website for more information.

Also taking part in a low emission zone scheme are the areas of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, which operate a Scottish LEZ, which is similar to Class D. 

Clean Air Zone charges are subject to change and exemptions, so we’d always recommend researching the area via the local council’s website to ensure your vehicle is compliant, and what you’ll have to pay if it’s not.