Last reviewed: 30 April 2026 | Sources: GOV.UK — Driving in a clean air zone | House of Commons Library CBP-9816 | Transport Act 2000
⚡ TL;DR — Skip to what matters
Seven English cities operate charging Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in 2026: Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside. Only two — Birmingham and Bristol — charge private cars (Class D zones). The rest charge commercial vehicles, taxis and HGVs only. London runs a separate ULEZ scheme (£12.50/day, all boroughs). Scotland runs Low Emission Zones (LEZs) with no pay-to-drive option — non-compliant vehicles receive a £60 PCN instead. Check your registration free at gov.uk/clean-air-zones before you enter any zone.
📋 Key Facts at a Glance
- Active English CAZ cities (2026): Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Tyneside (Newcastle & Gateshead)
- Class D zones (charge private cars): Birmingham (£8/day), Bristol (£9/day cars/LGVs)
- Class A–C zones: commercial vehicles, taxis and HGVs only — private cars exempt
- London ULEZ: separate scheme, £12.50/day, all London boroughs, 24/7
- Scotland LEZs: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee — no daily charge option; £60 PCN per infraction, doubling up to £480
- Petrol compliance: Euro 4 (generally registered from 2006)
- Diesel compliance: Euro 6 (generally registered from September 2015)
- Electric/hydrogen vehicles: always compliant in all CAZ/ULEZ/LEZ schemes
- Historic vehicles (40+ years old): exempt from all English CAZ charges
- Check your vehicle: gov.uk/clean-air-zones — free, instant result by registration plate
How Clean Air Zones work
Under the Transport Act 2000, local authorities can designate Clean Air Zones in four classes (A–D). The class determines which vehicle types are charged. All zones use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Charges are levied per day — you pay once regardless of how many times you enter and exit the zone in a single day. Payment is made through the national CAZ payment portal at gov.uk/pay-clean-air-zone-charge.
| CAZ Class | Vehicles charged | Private cars? |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Buses and coaches only | No |
| Class B | Buses, coaches and HGVs | No |
| Class C | Buses, coaches, HGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs), LGVs | No |
| Class D | All of the above plus private cars | Yes |
City-by-city charge table
| City | Class | Cars | Taxis/PHVs/LGVs | HGVs/Buses | Operating hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | D | £8/day | £8/day | £50/day | 24/7 |
| Bristol | D | £9/day | £9/day | £100/day | 24/7 |
| Bath | C | Exempt | £9/day | £100/day | 24/7 |
| Bradford | C | Exempt | £7/day | £7–£50/day | Mon–Sat 7am–7pm |
| Portsmouth | B | Exempt | Exempt | £50–£100/day | 24/7 |
| Sheffield | C | Exempt | £10/day | £50/day | 24/7 |
| Tyneside | C | Exempt | £12.50/day | £50/day | 24/7 |
| London ULEZ | Separate | £12.50/day | £12.50/day | LEZ rules apply | 24/7 (excl. Christmas Day) |
Scotland's Low Emission Zones
Scotland operates four LEZs — Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee — under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019. A critical difference from English CAZs: there is no option to pay a daily charge. Non-compliant vehicles that enter an LEZ receive a Penalty Charge Notice of £60 for a first infraction, doubling for repeat offences within 90 days up to a maximum of £480. Compliance standards are the same as English CAZs: petrol Euro 4+ or diesel Euro 6+.
How to check if your vehicle is compliant
- Go to gov.uk/clean-air-zones
- Select "Check if your vehicle needs to pay"
- Enter your registration plate
- Select the city you plan to enter
- Receive an instant pass/fail result
The checker uses DVLA data. Check each zone separately — compliance in Birmingham does not guarantee compliance in Bristol or the ULEZ. If your vehicle fails, you can pay the daily charge through the same portal or plan an alternative route.
Frequently asked questions
Does my electric car need to pay in any UK Clean Air Zone?
No. Battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are fully compliant with all English CAZ, London ULEZ and Scottish LEZ schemes. You will not be charged to enter any of these zones in a fully electric vehicle.
What is the penalty for not paying a CAZ charge?
A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days — plus the original daily charge still owed. Birmingham gives 6 days to pay before a PCN is issued; most other cities allow 28 days.
Are historic vehicles exempt?
Yes — vehicles 40 or more years old (i.e. registered before 1986 for 2026) are exempt from all English CAZ charges. London ULEZ also exempts pre-1979 vehicles under the historic vehicle definition used by TfL.
Does Greater Manchester have a Clean Air Zone?
No — Greater Manchester's planned CAZ was reviewed and a non-charging plan was agreed instead. There is no active CAZ in Greater Manchester as of 2026.
Can I pay for multiple cities in one transaction?
Birmingham and Bath use the same national payment portal — check at gov.uk whether multiple zones can be paid in a single transaction. Each zone is assessed separately regardless.
Sources & References
- GOV.UK — Driving in a clean air zone: gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone
- House of Commons Library — Clean Air Zones, Low Emission Zones and the London ULEZ (CBP-9816, April 2026)
- Transport Act 2000 (Part III) — Clean Air Zone powers
- Transport for London — Ultra Low Emission Zone: tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone
- Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 — Low Emission Zone powers
Disclaimer: For informational purposes only — not motoring advice. Always verify at GOV.UK. More guides: our Clean Air Zones hub.
