Clean air zone checker
See the charges for one vehicle in London, Oxford, the seven English clean air zones and Scotland's four low emission zones.
Birmingham Clean Air Zone
Most cars meet the rules if first registered from2006 (petrol) or Sept 2015 (diesel)Plenty of petrol cars built between 2001 and 2005 also meet the rules. Type your car's number plate, or the year it was first registered, to get your own answer. Any that don't meet the rules are charged £8 a day.
GOV.UK's official clean air zone checker reads the record held for your vehicle and gives the final answer.
One vehicle across all UK zones
- London ULEZ£12.50 a day unless it meets the rules
- London lorry and large van zone (LEZ)Cars don't pay
- Birmingham£8 a day unless it meets the rules
- Bristol£9 a day unless it meets the rules
- BathCars don't pay
- BradfordCars don't pay
- SheffieldCars don't pay
- PortsmouthCars don't pay
- Newcastle and GatesheadCars don't pay
- Oxford£2 to £10 a day (electric cars don't pay)
- Glasgow£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Edinburgh£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Aberdeen£60 fine unless it meets the rules
- Dundee£60 fine unless it meets the rules
How does a clean air zone work?
When a vehicle fails a zone's emission standard, the clean air zone (CAZ) charges it for each day of driving inside. Diesel needs Euro 6 and petrol needs Euro 4, the same standards as London's ULEZ. But zones don't all charge the same vehicles. Private cars pay in class D zones, such as Birmingham and Bristol. Vans, taxis, buses and lorries pay in class C zones, which include Bath, Bradford, Sheffield and Newcastle, but private cars don't. Only taxis, buses and lorries pay in Portsmouth's class B zone.
Payment for a clean air zone goes through the GOV.UK service, any time from 6 days before until 6 days after you drive in. Skip payment and you'll face a £120 penalty, reduced to £60 when you pay within 14 days.
All UK zones and their charges
What a vehicle pays each day when it fails the zone's rules. In Scotland's zones there's no daily fee: a failing vehicle gets a penalty instead.
| Zone | Car | Van | Lorry or bus | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London ULEZ | £12.50 | £12.50 | No charge | 24 hours a day, not 25 December |
| Birmingham | £8 | £8 | £50 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Bristol | £9 | £9 | £100 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Bath | No charge | £9 | £100 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Bradford | No charge | £9 | £50 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Sheffield | No charge | £10 | £50 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Portsmouth | No charge | No charge | £50 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Newcastle and Gateshead | No charge | £12.50 | £50 | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Oxford | £2 to £10 | £2 to £10 | £10 | 7am to 7pm, every day |
| Glasgow | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Edinburgh | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Aberdeen | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | 24 hours a day, every day |
| Dundee | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | £60 first penalty | 24 hours a day, every day |
These figures come from GOV.UK.
Oxford and Scotland
Scotland's low emission zones sit in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, and driving in them isn't something you can pay for. Fail the standard and the penalty is £60, then it doubles each time within 90 days. Every vehicle that isn't electric pays Oxford's zero emission zone, £2 to £10 a day, from 07:00 to 19:00.
Clean air zones: common questions
If I drive inside a clean air zone, what happens?
Nothing, as long as your vehicle meets the standard. If it fails, and the zone charges your vehicle type, you'll pay the daily charge or face a penalty.
Clean air zone charges: who is exempt from paying them?
A vehicle that meets the standard is exempt, and so is one taxed as disabled or historic. Any local exemptions are listed by each council on its own page.
Can I go through a clean air zone and not pay?
Only two things let you skip payment: your vehicle meeting the standard, or a zone that doesn't charge your type of vehicle. In many zones, private cars aren't charged.