Zones that charge private cars
| Zone | Daily charge for a non-compliant car | Penalty | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| London ULEZ (all boroughs) | £12.50 | £180 (£90 within 14 days) | 24 hours, every day except Christmas Day |
| Birmingham Clean Air Zone | £8 | £120 (£60 within 14 days), plus the charge | 24 hours, every day |
| Bristol Clean Air Zone | £9 | £120 (£60 within 14 days), plus the charge | 24 hours, every day |
Scotland's low emission zones
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee run low emission zones (LEZs). There is no option to pay a daily charge. A non-compliant vehicle that enters is fined.
- The first penalty for a car is £60, halved to £30 if paid within 14 days.
- Each further breach within 90 days doubles the penalty, up to £480 for cars and vans.
- The zones operate 24 hours a day, every day.
Zones that do not charge private cars
These clean air zones charge some vehicles, such as buses, coaches, taxis, private hire cars, vans or lorries, depending on the city. Private cars are not charged.
- Bath
- Bradford
- Portsmouth
- Sheffield
- Newcastle and Gateshead (Tyneside)
Oxford runs a small zero emission zone in the city centre, where petrol and diesel vehicles pay a daily charge.
Is my car compliant?
Almost every clean air zone uses the same emissions standards:
- Petrol cars: Euro 4 or better. Most petrol cars registered from 2006 meet it, and many from 2001.
- Diesel cars: Euro 6 or better. Most diesel cars registered from September 2015 meet it.
- Electric cars: always compliant.
Our free ULEZ check gives an instant estimate from the fuel type and registration year. For an official answer, use the GOV.UK vehicle checker for clean air zones or TfL's checker for London.
Exemptions and help
Many zones exempt vehicles in the disabled tax class and historic vehicles over 40 years old. Some cities offer temporary exemptions for local residents, workers on low incomes or people with hospital appointments. Check the council's own page before you travel.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Driving in a clean air zone
- GOV.UK: Check if you need to pay to drive in a clean air zone
- Low Emission Zones Scotland
- Transport for London: ULEZ
Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important on GOV.UK. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.