ULEZ and clean air zones: which cars have to pay, and where
Every UK clean air and low emission zone, what it costs a private car, and the simple rule for whether yours is affected.
By the CarComparison team · Updated · How we research
There are 12 clean air and low emission zones in the UK, but only 3 charge private cars a daily fee and 4 in Scotland fine cars that don't meet the standard. The rule for whether your car is affected is the same in all of them, and most cars on the road today pass.
The simple rule
- Petrol and hybrid cars need to meet Euro 4. Almost all petrol cars first registered from January 2006 do, and many from 2001 to 2005.
- Diesel cars need to meet Euro 6. Most diesels first registered from September 2015 do; some from 2014 and 2015 do too.
- Electric cars meet every zone's standard.
The Euro standard is sometimes on your V5C logbook, and your car's manufacturer can confirm it. Our checker works it out from the fuel type and registration date.
Zones that charge cars every day
| Zone | Charge for a car that doesn't comply | Details |
|---|---|---|
| London ULEZ | £12.50 a day | Covers all London boroughs, 24/7 except Christmas Day. Penalty £160 (£80 if paid in 14 days). |
| Birmingham Clean Air Zone | £8 a day | Class D zone inside the A4540 ring road. |
| Bristol Clean Air Zone | £9 a day | Class D zone in the city centre. |
The charge is per day you drive in the zone, not per trip. You pay it to the zone online; you're not sent a bill, and not paying in time brings a penalty charge.
Scotland: no charge, just fines
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen have low emission zones with no daily charge to pay. A car that doesn't meet the standard simply mustn't be driven in, and is fined by penalty charge notice if it is, with the fine rising for repeat entries.
Zones that don't charge private cars
These zones charge buses, coaches, taxis or vans that don't comply, but private cars can drive in free: Bath Clean Air Zone, Bradford Clean Air Zone, Sheffield Clean Air Zone, Tyneside Clean Air Zone (Newcastle & Gateshead) and Portsmouth Clean Air Zone.
If your car doesn't comply
- Check exemptions and discounts on the zone's own website: many offer them for disabled drivers, historic vehicles and some local residents.
- If you only drive in occasionally, paying the charge can cost less than changing your car.
- If you're changing car anyway, any petrol car from the last 15 years or so, or a diesel from late 2015 on, will be fine in every zone. Our reliability ratings can help you choose one.
Charges and zones change. We check them every few months; the zone's own website has the final word.