UK low emission zones: what you need to know

Cities across the UK are adopting something called ‘low emission zones’ (LEZ) or ‘clean air zones’ (CAZ), which were introduced to encourage more people to use public transport rather than drive.

In these areas, you need to pay a fee to drive in certain vehicles, depending on their emissions.

One of the most talked-about areas is London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which covers a large portion of the city and has been expanded a couple of times already.

But it isn’t just the capital that has introduced these zones. So, which other cities might you have to pay to drive in, and what are the different rules for each?

This guide will cover:

• What types of LEZ/CAZ are there?

• London low emission zones

• Clean air zones outside of London

What types of LEZ/CAZ are there?

There are currently four classes of clear air zone (CAZ) in the UK, ranging from A to D.

The local authority decides the class of their CAZ, and the vehicles that are and aren’t included.

• Class A – Coaches, buses, taxis and other private hire vehicles

• Class B – Coaches, buses, taxis, other private hire vehicles and HGVs

• Class C - Coaches, buses, taxis and other private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses

• Class D - Coaches, buses, taxis and other private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses, cars, and the option for local authorities to include motorcycles

London low emission zones

London technically has three low emission zones: the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the Congestion Charge zone.

All three cover different areas, with slightly different rules and different costs to pay.

Congestion Charge zone

Introduced in 2003, the London Congestion Zone charge aims to reduce pollution and traffic in the capital and covers central London (inside the London Inner Ring Road).

• Covers all London boroughs and the City of London

• Petrol, diesel and hybrid cars must pay £15 a day to drive within the zone

• Operates on weekdays from 7am to 6pm

• Operates on weekends and bank holidays (except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, when there’s no Congestion Charge) from 12pm to 6pm

• The typical penalty charge notice is £180 (£90 if paid within 14 days)

Low Emission Zone (LEZ)

Low emission zones (LEZ) are areas that set a limit on high polluting vehicles to improve air quality.

In London, the zone has been in place since 2008.

• Covers all London boroughs and the City of London

• Includes the M4 east of Junction 3 and M4 to Heathrow, plus M1 south of London Gateway Services

• Operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year

• Applies to HGVs, lorries, vans and other vehicles over 3.5 tonnes

• £100 daily charge for most large vehicles that don’t meet the Euro 3 standards

• £300 daily charge HGVs, lorries and vans that are over 3.5 tonnes, or buses over five tonnes, that don’t meet Euro 4 standards

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

The ULEZ covers all London boroughs and all cars within the boundary must pay the fee – including those who live in the area.

You don’t need to pay the ULEZ charge on days your car is parked within the boundary but you don’t drive it.

If your vehicle is not compliant (if it’s not Euro 4 for petrol or Euro 6 for diesel) then you’ll need to pay a daily charge of £12.50 for cars, motorcycles and vans.

Larger vehicles won’t need to pay the ULEZ fee but have to pay LEZ charges (as above) if they’re not compliant.

To see the clean zones in more detail, we’d recommend checking out the government’s tool to see if your car is compliant.

Areas covered

• All London boroughs

• M25 not included

Charging times

• 24 hours a day

• Every day of the year, including weekends and bank holidays (except Christmas Day)

Non-compliant vehicles

• Euro 4 petrol vehicles (registered before 1 January 2006)

• Euro 6 diesel vehicles (registered before 1 January 2015)

Fees for non-compliant vehicles

• £12.50 for cars, motorcycles, vans

The guide for non-compliant vehicles can vary slightly, so the best thing to do is check if your vehicle is compliant on the Transport for London website.

Clean air zones (CAZ) outside of London

Other cities have decided to set up clean air zones (CAZ) outside of London with the aim of reducing emissions and traffic in their area.

It makes sense since carbon dioxide emissions affect the environment outside of the capital, too.

Here are the clean air zones currently in place across the UK:

Aberdeen low emissions zone

Aberdeen launched its clean air zone in May 2022, with a two-year grace period.

Zone:

• Aberdeen city centre

Time:

• Operates 24 hours a day, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• Pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesels are blocked from entering the zone that covers Castlegate to the east and west Union Street

• You can’t pay to enter the zone if your car does not meet the requirements

• £60 initial penalty charge for non-compliant vehicles in the zone

Bath clean air zone

Bath introduced its clean air zone in 2021, but it doesn’t affect personal cars yet.

Zone:

• Operates across Bath’s city centre

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• Cars and motorbikes are not charged in Bath’s CAZ, only commercial vehicles must pay

• Taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, vans and light goods vehicles must pay £9 per day

• N2 and N3 HGVs, coaches and buses must pay £100 per day

Birmingham

Birmingham brought in its CAZ in 2021, using similar rules as the London zone.

Zone:

• Covers all areas inside the Middleway ring road

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• £8 per day for cars, vans and taxis

• £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs

Visit our cinch Store Birmingham to find clean air zone-compliant cars.

Bradford clean air zone

Luckily for most, Bradford’s clean air zone doesn’t apply to cars, but it does affect taxis and other commercial vehicles.

Zone:

• Covers the city centre, including the outer ring road and the Aire Valley corridor

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• £7 a day for taxis driving in the zone

• £50 a day for larger vehicles like buses and coaches

• Private cars don’t have to pay a charge

Bristol clean air zone

In 2022, Bristol announced its own CAZ that covers a portion of the city centre.

Zone:

• Bristol city centre, around Canon’s Marsh and stretching from Hotwells to Newton

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• £9 fee for pre-Euro 6 diesel cars and pre-Euro 4 petrols

• £100 fee for larger vehicles like HGVs and buses

Dundee low emissions zone

Like Aberdeen, Dundee also held off on enforcing its LEZ until 2024.

Zone:

• All areas within the A991 Inner Ring Road, excluding Bell Street, Marketgait NCP, and Wellgate carparks

Time:

• All year round

Vehicles and fees:

To enter the zone, your vehicle must meet a minimum criteria:

• Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans

• Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans

• Euro 6 for petrol and diesel taxis/private hire vehicles

• Euro VI for buses/coaches and HGVs

You can’t pay to enter the zone if your car does not meet the requirements. There’s a £60 initial penalty charge for non-compliant vehicles in the zone

Edinburgh low emissions zone

Like the other Scottish cities in the list, Edinburgh’s LEZ started being enforced from June 2024.

Zone:

• Edinburgh city centre

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

To enter the zone, your vehicle must meet the same minimum criteria as in Dundee.

• Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans

• Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans

• Euro 6 for petrol and diesel taxis/private hire vehicles

• Euro VI for buses/coaches and HGVs

You can’t pay to enter the zone if your car is non-compliant, and you’ll have to pay an £60 fine for doing so.

Glasgow low emissions zone

Glasgow’s low emission zone came into force from June 2023, after a bus-only phase in 2018.

Zone:

• The LEZ in Glasgow covers about one square mile around a city centre area

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• Petrol cars need to be Euro 4, while diesel should be Euro 6

• You can’t pay to enter the zone if your car doesn’t meet the requirements

Manchester clean air zone

Greater Manchester has proposed a Clean Air Plan that is currently under review but doesn’t include a clean air zone as of August 2024.

This might change going forward, but the focus of the plan is mainly on creating a cleaner taxi and bus service.

Newcastle clean air zone

The Newcastle CAZ launched in January 2023, focusing on larger vehicles.

Zone:

• Covers the city centre and routes over the River Tyne

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• Private cars, motorbikes and vehicles that meet the minimum emission standards won’t be charged

• £12.50 per day for taxis, vans, LGVs and minibuses

• £50 per day for buses, coaches and HGVs

Oxford zero emissions zone

Driving isn’t the best way to get around Oxford’s small, quaint streets as it is.But there's also a zero emissions zone in place to keep the city centre as clean as possible.

Zone:

• Nine streets in the Oxford city centre, including New Road and Queen Street

Time:

• 7am to 7pm charges for petrol. hybrid and diesel vehicles

• Zero-emissions vehicles are free to be driven as you please

Vehicles and fees:

• Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel cars must pay £4 per day until August 2025 (£8 from then)

• £2 a day for two- or three-wheeled vehicles with zero emissions

• If your vehicle doesn’t fit the above, it’s £10 a day until August 2025 – then it doubles

Portsmouth clean air zone

Portsmouth clean air zone is another that’s targeting larger vehicles and private hire cars.

Zone:

• Portsmouth city centre, from the south-west to the harbour

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• No fee for private cars, motorcycles or vans

• £10 a day for taxis and private hire cars that are non-compliant

• £50 a day for non-compliant HGVs, buses and coaches

Sheffield clean air zone

Sheffield is also currently going easy on private hire cars, focusing on heavy polluters like HGVs.

Zone:

• The zone covers the city centre and the A61 ring road

Time:

• 24/7, all year round

Vehicles and fees:

• Sheffield’s CAZ doesn’t currently charge private cars or motorbikes

• £10 a day for vans/LGVs taxis and other private hire vehicles

• £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs

• Vans and taxis are exempt if they reach Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol emission standards

Learn more about ULEZ:

• Best ULEZ-compliant cars to buy

• How to avoid London's ULEZ and congestion charge

• Most fuel-efficient diesel cars you can buy online