The current position of emission zones in the UK
The position regarding ‘emission zones’ designed to improve air quality in the UK can be confusing, which isn't helped by the different acronyms used.
- Clean Air Zone: CAZ
- Zero Emission Zone: ZEZ
- Low Emission Zone: LEZ
- Ultra Low Emission Zone: ULEZ
Compliance, fees and exclusions
The following guide is written at a high level; please use the links available to verify the position. Where reference is made to fees or fines in Scotland fines for pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesels, these relate to engine standards created to reduce vehicle pollution.
- Petrol cars that meet the ULEZ standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA after 2005 (Euro 4), although cars that meet the standards have been available since 2001.
- Diesel cars that meet the standards are generally those first registered with the DVLA after September 2015 (Euro 6).
It's important to note that exclusions in emission zones exist for Blue Badge holders and classic cars, for example, but there is no universal standard. Always check the zone individually using the links provided for this information.
Clean Air Zones (CAZ)
There are 4 types of clean air zones, Class 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.
There are eight CAZs currently (albeit Manchester is under review):
- Bath has a Class C clean air zone.
- Birmingham has a Class D clean air zone.
- Bradford has a Class C clean air zone.
- Bristol has a Class D clean air zone.
- Portsmouth has a Class B clean air zone.
- Sheffield has a Class C clean air zone.
- Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) has a Class C clean air zone.
Future clean air zones:
8. Greater Manchester (under review).
To check if you need to pay in a CAZ, the Government has a useful website to help people to:
- Find out if they need to pay for their vehicle
- Pay the daily charge
- View maps of clean air zones.
The position in brief;
Bath (CAZ) – Class C chargeable CAZ for the most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis that drive in the Clean Air Zone. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.
Birmingham (CAZ) - Class D CAZ - pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel cars are charged £8 to drive in the zone, which covers an area of the city centre within the A4540 Middleway; non-compliant buses and lorries pay £50.
Bradford (CAZ) – Class C chargeable CAZ for the most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis that drive in the Clean Air Zone. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.
Bristol (CAZ) - Class D CAZ - pre-Euro 4 petrol pre-Euro 6 diesels have to pay £9 to enter the zone. Non-compliant taxis and light vans face the same charge, while HGVs and buses pay £100.
Greater Manchester (CAZ) – The CAZ is under review and the linked website notes; ‘Our new investment-led plan does not include a charging-Clean Air Zone’.
Portsmouth (CAZ) – fees only apply to non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, buses and coaches – it can in include larger motor homes.
Sheffield (CAZ) - Class C chargeable CAZ for the most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis that drive in the Clean Air Zone. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.
Tyneside (Newcastle & Gateshead (CAZ) - Class C chargeable CAZ for the most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis that drive in the Clean Air Zone.
Zero Emission Zone
Oxford (ZEZ) – covering nine streets in the city centre, Oxford’s ZEZ levies charges on all private cars, including hybrids but excluding Battery Electric Vehicles. Fees vary subject to pollution standards.
Low Emission Zones – LEZ
LEZs exist in Scotland, Glasgow’s LEZ is live, while enforcement in Dundee will begin on 30 May 2024. Enforcement in Aberdeen and Edinburgh will begin on 1 June 2024.
As opposed to the daily fees charged for non-complaint vehicles, seen in some other ‘clean air zones,’ Scotland’s LEZs charge a £60 daily fine, which doubles for every subsequent transgression up to a maximum of £480 a day. As a general rule, diesel cars registered before September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered before 2006 are not allowed in the LEZ. Motorbikes and mopeds are not included in the current LEZ schemes, and no restrictions apply
Ultra Low Emission Zone – London
London’s ULEZ was expanded on 29th August 2023 across all London boroughs. pre-Euro 4 petrol pre-Euro 6 diesels have to pay a daily fee of £12.50 to enter the zone.
Chris Rowthorn, Director of Motor Sales Operations
