Clean Air Zones UK Comparison 2026: All Cities Side by Side

UK Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in 2026 are a network of urban emission-control areas administered by local authorities under the Environment Act 2021 framework and the government's Clean Air Zone Framework on gov.uk/clean-air-zones, with the principal zones being London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) at £12.50/day for non-compliant cars expanded to cover all of Greater London from 29 August 2023, Birmingham Clean Air Zone (Class D) at £8/day in operation since June 2021, Bristol Clean Air Zone (Class D) at £9/day operational from November 2022, Bath Clean Air Zone (Class C) at £9/day from March 2021 covering diesel vehicles and not cars, Bradford Clean Air Zone (Class C) at £7/day since September 2022, Sheffield Clean Air Zone (Class C) at £10/day from February 2023 covering taxis, HGVs, buses, and vans, Newcastle and Gateshead Tyneside Clean Air Zone at £12.50/day from January 2023, Portsmouth Clean Air Zone (Class B) at £10/day for taxis and HGVs operational since November 2021, and Glasgow Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operational since June 2023 with absolute entry denial rather than a daily fee. Compliance thresholds for cars are Euro 4 petrol (from 2006) and Euro 6 diesel (from September 2015); compliant vehicles enter all zones free. Payment via gov.uk/clean-air-zones within 6 days (before or after travel) avoids the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) which starts at £120 (halved if paid within 14 days).

What are the CAZ classes?

The government's Clean Air Zone Framework defines four classes (A to D) setting out which vehicle types face daily charges. Class A applies only to buses, coaches, taxis, and private hire vehicles. Class B adds HGVs and light goods vehicles. Class C adds taxis, LGVs, HGVs, and buses, but not private cars. Class D is the broadest, covering all of the above plus private cars, minibuses, motorcycles, and motorhomes.

London ULEZ operates under its own regime (not a CAZ under the government framework), with rules for cars similar to Class D. Birmingham and Bristol are Class D zones charging private cars. Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, and Portsmouth are Class B or C zones that do not charge private cars. Tyneside charges taxis, buses, and light goods but not private cars. Glasgow operates an LEZ with outright denial rather than charging.

What are the compliance thresholds?

For private cars, compliance means a Euro 4 or later petrol engine (typically from 2006 onwards) or a Euro 6 or later diesel engine (from September 2015 onwards), per the Clean Air Zone Framework on gov.uk/clean-air-zones. For HGVs and buses, Euro VI is required. For motorcycles, Euro 3 is the threshold in London ULEZ (typically from 2007).

Compliance can be verified at gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone by entering the registration mark. The service cross-references the DVLA database and emits a compliant or non-compliant result plus the relevant Euro standard. Hybrid and electric vehicles are universally compliant; LPG and bi-fuel vehicles meeting Euro 4 or later are also compliant.

How do payments and penalties work?

Non-compliant vehicles entering a CAZ must pay the daily charge within 6 days before or after travel, via gov.uk/clean-air-zones (for most zones) or city-specific portals (TfL for London ULEZ, Glasgow City Council for Glasgow LEZ). Each zone has its own dedicated payment system, with some (London ULEZ) offering auto-pay linked to the registration mark.

Non-payment triggers a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), typically £120 for cars and light goods, £180 for HGVs and buses. PCNs are reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days, so the real minimum charge for CAZ non-compliance is around £60 if acted on quickly. Unpaid PCNs escalate to county court judgment and bailiff enforcement. London ULEZ PCN is £180 (halved to £90 within 14 days).

What about resident and hardship discounts?

Several CAZs operate resident, low-income, and hardship discount schemes. Birmingham offers discounted or exempt access for residents within the zone boundary and for workers with specific occupations. Bristol offers a Clean Air Zone exemption for residents. Sheffield and Bradford have hardship schemes supporting trades and drivers facing disproportionate impact from the charge.

London ULEZ operated a scrappage scheme for non-compliant vehicles until November 2024, providing grants to replace older vehicles with compliant or EV alternatives. The scheme closed after processing over 150,000 applications. Current local-authority schemes vary; prospective applicants should check the relevant city council CAZ page on gov.uk or the council's own website for scheme eligibility and application timelines.

How do cities compare side by side?

London, Birmingham, and Bristol are the three Class D/ULEZ zones charging non-compliant private cars. Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, and Portsmouth are Class B/C zones exempting private cars but charging taxis and commercial vehicles. Glasgow operates an absolute LEZ with PCN-only enforcement. Tyneside's scheme covers commercial vehicles and buses but not cars.

What future expansions are planned?

Several cities have considered or consulted on new CAZ or CAZ expansions. Manchester's Clean Air Zone plans were deferred in 2022 following controversy and remain under review. Leicester, Nottingham, Southampton, and other Air Quality Action Plan areas have Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) but no confirmed CAZ plans as of 2026. Cambridge and Oxford operate their own workplace parking levy or low-traffic neighbourhood approaches in place of CAZ.

Scotland's LEZ programme has expanded with Dundee, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen following Glasgow, all operational by 2024-25. Wales has announced plans for a CAZ in Cardiff. Northern Ireland does not currently have a CAZ or LEZ. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs coordinates air quality policy across the UK.

What data is published on CAZ performance?

Local authorities operating CAZ publish annual air quality monitoring reports on their own websites and submit data to Defra's national air quality database on uk-air.defra.gov.uk. London ULEZ data includes daily compliant vehicle percentage (typically above 95 per cent for cars by 2024-25), PCN issuance volumes, and scrappage scheme outcomes. Birmingham City Council publishes comparable quarterly performance data.

Independent research from Imperial College London, King's College London Environmental Research Group on erg.ic.ac.uk, and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air on energyandcleanair.org tracks the health and air quality impacts of CAZ implementation. Early London ULEZ evaluation published by the Greater London Authority reported measurable NO2 reductions within the zone during the 2019-22 monitoring period, with further reductions following the 2023 expansion to cover all Greater London boroughs.

The National Audit Office has reviewed the government's Clean Air Strategy and CAZ implementation, noting uneven delivery across local authorities and recommending closer coordination with vehicle tax and public transport policy. Campaign groups including Mums for Lungs, Clean Cities, and Friends of the Earth publish advocacy commentary and hold local authorities to account on delivery commitments. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders tracks the used car market impact of CAZ, noting a pricing premium for Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4+ petrol cars in CAZ-adjacent catchment areas. Independent analysis published by the AA and RAC has also quantified the disproportionate impact on tradespeople, care workers, and lower-income drivers who depend on older non-compliant vehicles for work during typical business hours.

Frequently asked questions

Which UK cities have Clean Air Zones?

London (ULEZ), Birmingham, Bristol, Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, Newcastle-Gateshead (Tyneside), Portsmouth, Glasgow (LEZ), Dundee, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen. Each with distinct rules.

How do I check my car's compliance?

Enter the registration at gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone. The service shows compliance status per zone and the relevant Euro standard.

What's the compliance threshold for cars?

Euro 4 petrol (typically from 2006) or Euro 6 diesel (from September 2015). All EVs, hybrids, and LPG meeting Euro 4 are compliant.

How do I pay?

Via gov.uk/clean-air-zones for most cities, or TfL for London ULEZ. Pay within 6 days before or after travel. Auto-pay available for London.

What's the PCN?

£120 for cars (£180 in London ULEZ). Halved if paid within 14 days. Unpaid PCNs escalate to court and bailiff enforcement.

Does Glasgow's LEZ charge?

No daily charge. Non-compliant vehicles face PCN only (£60, rising for repeat offences). This is an absolute entry ban, not a charge-based zone.

Are there discount schemes?

Birmingham, Bristol, Sheffield, and Bradford offer resident or hardship discounts. London's scrappage scheme closed November 2024. Check individual city council pages for current schemes.

Sources

• gov.uk, Clean Air Zones, gov.uk/clean-air-zones — accessed April 2026.
• gov.uk, Check Clean Air Zone compliance, gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone — vehicle lookup.
• Transport for London, ULEZ, tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone — London-specific.
• Clean Air Zone Framework, gov.uk/government/publications/clean-air-zone-framework — government guidance.
• Environment Act 2021, legislation.gov.uk — statutory framework.
• Defra air quality, gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-environment-food-rural-affairs — national policy.
• Transport Scotland LEZ, transport.gov.scot/low-emission-zones — Scottish framework.

Related reading on kaeltripton.com: UK CAZ charges by city 2026, London ULEZ payment 2026, Birmingham CAZ discount 2026.