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Clean Air Zones in the UK

6 Feb 2023
6 min read

Find out what cities have implemented CAZ schemes to cut vehicle pollution

With the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London being such a hot topic of conversation for many motorists in the UK due to the 2023 expansion, it has thrown similar low and zero emission zones across the country into the spotlight. 

Clean Air Zones are popping up in major cities across the UK in a bid to not only cut the amount of traffic travelling through and within these densely populated areas, but to also improve the air quality for the people who live and work there too.

In this article dedicated to Clean Air Zones in the UK, here at Octane Finance, we explain what a Clean Air Zone is, how it works and whether your vehicle is exempt. Read on to find out more…   

What are Clean Air Zones and how do they work?

Inspired by London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), a Clean Air Zone (called CAZ for short) is a scheme that has been rolled out in various parts of the UK to reduce pollutants from vehicles and improve air quality.

Unlike ULEZ, there are different levels of Clean Air Zones that are at the discretion of the local authorities in any given participating city. Rated from A to D, the four types of Clean Air Zones in the UK are:

Class of Clean Air Zone

Type of vehicle

A

Buses, coaches, taxis, and private hire vehicles

B

Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, and heavy goods vehicles

C

Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, and minibuses

D

Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, and cars (the local authority also has the option to include motorcycles too)

Not all Clean Air Zones come at a cost to drivers as there are both charging and non-charging options. Any vehicle that exceeds the stated Clean Air Zone standards in a charged-for area will be subject to a daily fee - we’ve listed the charges and what vehicles are exempt, further below…  

What are the emission standards for Clean Air Zones in the UK?

For your vehicle to be exempt from charges to enter a Clean Air Zone in the UK, it must meet the following minimum emission standards:

Type of vehicle

Clean Air Zone minimum emission standard

Motorcycles

Euro 3

Cars, vans, minibuses, taxis and private hire vehicles

Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol)

Buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)

Euro VI

It goes without saying that fully electric vehicles (EVs) are automatically exempt from being charged to enter a Clean Air Zone as they have zero emissions.    

What cities in the UK have Clean Air Zones?

A number of cities across the UK have now implemented Clean Air Zones to tackle pollution and reduce congestion. The cities (in alphabetical order) which have already introduced a CAZ scheme are:

  • BATH - Class C Clean Air Zone
  • BIRMINGHAM - Class D Clean Air Zone
  • BRADFORD - Class C Clean Air Zone
  • BRISTOL - Class D Clean Air Zone
  • OXFORD - Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) within the city centre
  • PORTSMOUTH - Class B Clean Air Zone
  • SOUTHAMPTON - Non-charging Clean Air Zone
  • TYNESIDE (including NEWCASTLE and GATESHEAD) - Class C Clean Air Zone
  • YORK -  Introduced a voluntary Clean Air Zone

What cities in the UK are introducing Clean Air Zones in 2023 and 2024?

If you think avoiding the current Clean Air Zone cities are your best bet for not paying the daily charge, then bear in mind that a handful of other major UK cities are set to introduce their own low-pollution schemes in 2023 and 2024, they are:

  • SHEFFIELD and ROTHERHAM - Class C Clean Air Zone going live from Monday 27th February 2023  
  • GREATER MANCHESTER - covering all 10 boroughs in the region: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan The 2023 launch date and class of the zone is yet to be confirmed 
  • LIVERPOOL - Liverpool City Council is currently in discussions about introducing a Clean Air Zone
  • SEFTON -  Set to introduce a Clean Air Zone  
  • CAMBRIDGE - Congestion Zone Charge to be implemented

When do Clean Air Zones operate?

Clean Air Zones operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during every day of the year and the charging period runs from midnight to midnight. Unlike London’s ULEZ, CAZ charges still apply on Christmas Day.  

How are Clean Air Zones identified?

Motorists will be made aware that they are entering a Clean Air Zone at least two miles from the CAZ boundary. The closer you drive towards a zone then prominently displayed signage will highlight when you are about to enter the area, giving you plenty of opportunity to find an alternative route.

Clean Air Zone charge checker

If you’re planning on driving into a city with a Clean Air Zone scheme in place, then it's worth checking to see if your vehicle is subject to a daily charge. Visit the ‘drive in a clean air zone’ page on the government website to find out if you need to pay to enter the zone, how to pay the daily charge and to view maps of individual Clean Air Zone areas.     

What are the Clean Air Zone charges?

Charges to enter Clean Air Zones vary by city, so you’ll need to consult the ‘drive in a clean air zone’ government website page to confirm the charges for your vehicle. On this page you’ll be asked to enter your registration number to identify if the vehicle is subject to charge, which differs by city.

Clean Air Zone charges are calculated using the following three factors:

  1. Type of vehicle and its emission standards
  2. Fuel type
  3. City and class of Clean Air Zone 

If your vehicle isn’t exempt from paying the Clean Air Zone charge then you’ll have to pay the fee by 11:59pm on the sixth day after driving into the zone. If you’re planning your journey in advance, then you will have the opportunity to pay these charges upfront. Late payment may result in a penalty charge notice (PCN).  

What vehicles are exempt from Clean Air Zone charges?

As with any scheme of its kind, there are some exemptions for certain vehicles entering the Clean Air Zone. The vehicles exempt from paying a CAZ charge are:

  • Ultra low or zero emission vehicles
  • Disabled driver vehicles 
  • Disabled passenger vehicles
  • Military vehicles
  • Historic vehicles
  • Vehicles fitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
  • Agricultural vehicles 

Finance a Clean Air Zone compliant vehicle

Do you regularly travel into a Clean Air Zone and want to reduce your charges? Why not upgrade your vehicle to a low or zero emission vehicle in order to avoid the CAZ daily fees. Make your next car electric for an all-round greener driving experience - take a look at our blog all about the benefits of buying an electric vehicle to learn how much you can save.

You can even apply for support to reduce your emissions if you wish to make the switch to an electric vehicle. The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles offers grants to help you upgrade to a Clean Air Zone compliant vehicle via the Clean Air Fund which is available to both individuals and businesses.

To make your next car purchase even more affordable, consider vehicle finance  - you may not even need to pay an upfront fee or deposit! As an experienced broker, we work with a range of lenders to secure the best finance solutions for our customers. Get car finance in just three simple steps and you could be on the road in your new vehicle in no time.