Low emission regulations are designed to prevent the most polluting vehicles from driving within an area, with the aim of improving air quality and protecting public health. Several regulations have been introduced in the UK in recent years, the most prominent of which are Clean Air Zones (CAZ) – also known as Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ).
Here, we’ll take a closer look at the UK’s low emission regulations, explore how they work, and consider whether they could be heading to a road or car park near you.
What is a Clean Air Zone?
The main aim of Clean Air Zones (CAZ), also known as Low Emission Zones (LEZ) or Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ), is to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality in major urban areas.
Areas with CAZ regulations require vehicles to meet emission standards. So, if your vehicle exceeds the minimum emission criteria, you may need to pay a charge. The emission standards are generally the same for every city, but how the zones operate and what you might have to pay can vary, so it’s important to check before driving somewhere.
The creation of CAZs and LEZs in UK cities is part of the government’s wider Air Quality Plan. The most talked about Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is London, which has been in operation since 2008 and was expanded in 2023 to cover the Greater London area.
According to Transport for London, ULEZ has already reduced emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by 46% in central London. One of the major contributors is that fewer diesel vehicles are being used, partially due to scrappage schemes that pay owners to replace their older vehicles with a newer, clean model.
The proposed 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, as well as the introduction of more LEZ across the UK has also seen a change in the type of cars we buy. For example, sales of diesel cars in 2023 accounted for less than 5% of all new cars sold, and is predicted to drop to just 3% by 2028.
Where are the UK’s current Clean Air Zones?
There are currently seven Clean Air Zones (CAZs) in England. These are in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead), while Manchester is also considering one.
There’s the much talked about London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) which was expanded in 2023 to cover the whole of the Greater London area. Implemented by Transport for London, it’s run separately to other CAZ areas in the country.
In Scotland, CAZ is in place in Glasgow, with Dundee to follow on 30 May 2024, and Aberdeen and Edinburgh on 1 June 2024. Wales has no CAZs and, for now, no plans to introduce any.
Most cities have their own form of online checking service, but one of the easiest ways to see if your vehicle meets the emission standards is to use national government websites. There’s one for the cities in England and another for Scotland. If you’re travelling to London, you can check whether your vehicle meets emission standards on the Transport for London website.
How do Clean Air Zones work?
Not all Clean Air Zones (CAZs) operate in the same way. Charges apply to different vehicles from area to area, and fees can vary too.
However, as a general rule of thumb, your vehicle needs to meet the following emission standards to avoid having to pay across the UK.
Vehicle Type | Minimum Emission Standard |
|---|---|
Motorcycles | Euro 3 |
Cars, private hire vehicles, taxis, vans, minibuses | Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) |
Heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches | Euro 6 |
Battery electric vehicles (BEV) | Exempt for all CAZ and LEZ |
Any vehicles outside of these standards will automatically be charged on entering a CAZ. Cameras read your number plate, check the details of your vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and then a charge is applied if necessary.
If you know in advance that you’ll be entering a CAZ, you can usually pay up to six days ahead of your journey. You can also pay six days after, up to midnight on the final day. Failure to pay will result in a Penalty Charge Notice, which is usually reduced if you pay it promptly. However, London CAZ rules are slightly different – you only have until midnight on the third day after you travel to pay.
Not all cities charge private cars though. Bath, Bradford, Portsmouth, and Sheffield only charge taxis, and some categories of commercial vehicles. Cities in Scotland don’t levy a charge, they just issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £60 if you enter in a vehicle that doesn’t meet the minimum emissions criteria.
Below is what you’ll have to pay if you drive a car that exceeds the minimum emission standards in other cities in England…
- Greater London – £12.50
- Birmingham – £8
- Bristol – £9
Oxford is also worth mentioning, as its Zero Emission Zone operates differently to anywhere else in the UK. Almost everyone has to pay to drive in the city. Here’s a breakdown of the charges…
- Zero emission vehicles – £0
- Low emission vehicles emitting less than 75g/km of CO2 – £2
- Euro 4 petrol and Euro 6 diesel – £4
- All cars with higher emissions – £10
What about hybrid cars?
There’s a misconception that hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are classed as zero emission vehicles. However, this isn’t the case.
Hybrid cars use a combination of an electric motor and a petrol or diesel engine, which means they create emissions through the exhaust.
Fortunately, many newer hybrid models feature the latest generations of engines and so meet the emissions criteria. And, if not, some even have technology that ensures the car switches to electric when it enters a CAZ.
However, if you have an older Toyota Prius, it’s worth checking before you travel as this model doesn’t always meet CAZ standards.
Do Clean Air Zones have any exemptions?
There are some exemptions in place in Clean Air Zones (CAZs), but not many.
Blue Badge holders are exempt from CAZ charges, as are vehicles classified as disabled passenger vehicles and historic vehicles over 30 years old. As a result, there’s even been a surge in sales of classic cars in London since the introduction of its ULEZ scheme.
London ULEZ charges also don’t apply on Christmas Day.
How do you pay Clean Air Zone charges?
To avoid getting caught out by a penalty charge, the easiest way is to pay before you travel.
Depending on where you’re travelling, you can use the links below to pay.
The majority of cities with a CAZ also offer systems that allow you to set up an account to be automatically charged each time you enter the area.
What other low emission regulations are in place across the UK?
Emissions-based charges are becoming increasingly common across the UK.
They started with the Clean Air Zones, but some councils are now applying similar charges for parking.
For example, in Bath you’ll be required to input your vehicle registration on an app or at a pay and display machine and your parking charges will be automatically calculated. Generally, this will be based on the emissions of your vehicle. However, all diesels, regardless of whether they’re newer, cleaner models, will be charged more than petrol models.
The same is true in some London areas, including Croydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, and Newham, which all have emissions-based parking charges.
Are there more low emission regulations to come?
As technology and regulations continue to make our vehicles cleaner, it’s hoped that, eventually, all cars will meet the minimum emissions standards and no-one will be charged to drive in our cities anymore.
However, standards are also becoming stricter and the introduction of Euro 7 rules in 2025 could see the minimum levels for Clean Air Zones change accordingly, although no plans have yet been announced.
There are also no plans to introduce weight-based charging. This was introduced in Paris in 2023, mainly to penalise big SUVs. All petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars weighing over 1,600kg and electric cars over 2,000kg pay significantly more to park.
So far, no UK cities have brought in this rule. However, the increase in electric vehicles on our roads means that the government and councils are looking at potential schemes for the future.