An online service run by the UK government allows motorists to check whether they will be charged to drive in a Clean Air Zone (CAZ).
Using the tool, motorists can confirm if they will face a daily charge to drive into the CAZ. A fee will apply if their car doesn’t meet the minimum exhaust emissions standards.
UK cities with Clean Air Zones in operation at present include Birmingham, Bath and Portsmouth. Clean Air Zones are coming to Bradford, Bristol and Newcastle later in 2022, while the Greater Manchester CAZ is currently under review.
”Air pollution has improved significantly,” said the government, but “there is more to do, and local authorities are taking forward Clean Air Zones to reduce the use of polluting vehicles”.
How does the online checker work?
To find out if you’ll be charged to enter a Clean Air Zone, you need to visit the CAZ charge website. You’ll require the number plate (registration number) of the vehicle you want to drive into the zone.
You will be asked you to confirm the details before asking which zone you want to drive in.
By using the details of a 2012 Isuzu D-Max, we discovered that we’d be charged £8 for entering Birmingham, but there would be no charge for driving in Portsmouth. This is because Portsmouth only charges buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles to enter the city.
The different types of Clean Air Zones
There are four types of CAZ: A, B, C and D, which are summarised as follows:
| Class | Vehicle type |
| A | Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles |
| B | Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles |
| C | Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses |
| D | Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses, cars. Local authority has the option to include motorcycles |
For example, Birmingham is a Class D zone, while Portsmouth is a Class B.
It’s also worth noting that London operates it own Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which covers everywhere within the North and South Circular roads.
Are there any exemptions?
There are some national and local exemptions from the Clean Air Zone charges. By contacting the relevant authorities you can find out if there are any local exemptions, but the following are automatically exempt from national charges:
- Ultra low emission vehicles
- Disabled passenger tax class vehicles
- Military vehicles
- Historic vehicles
- Vehicle retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
Where to find more information
If you’re planning to drive into a city that has a Clean Air Zone, the following websites may be useful:
- Government guidance on driving in a Clean Air Zone
- The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles
- Bath Clean Air Zone
- Birmingham Clean Air Zone
- Bradford Clean Air Zone
- Bristol Clean Air Zone
- Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone
- Portsmouth Clean Air Zone
- Newcastle Clean Air Zone
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Have driven in Birmingham today but not sure if i needed to pay
Have drive in Birmingham Friday but not sure if I needed to pay my car registration number BF61SOE
Hi, I drive to Bradford but not sure if I need to pay my registration number is SD63EWN and it’s a taxi kind regards
Hi, I emailed you yesterday but not got any reply I didn’t go to the center?