Tuesday, July 2, 2024
3 min read
Clean Air Zones and ULEZ: Which UK Cities Charge Cars?
Only three schemes in England charge older private cars: London's ULEZ, and the clean air zones in Birmingham and Bristol. The other clean air zones, including Sheffield and Bradford, charge commercial vehicles and taxis but not private cars. A petrol car that meets Euro 4 or a diesel that meets Euro 6 avoids the charge in all of them.
What is a clean air zone?
A clean air zone is an area where a council charges older, more polluting vehicles a daily fee to drive in. There are four classes, and each one adds more vehicle types:
Class A: buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles.
Class B: Class A plus heavy goods vehicles.
Class C: Class B plus vans and minibuses.
Class D: Class C plus cars. The council can choose to include motorcycles.
Which cities have a clean air zone?
The government currently lists seven in England:
Birmingham: Class D. Charges private cars.
Bristol: Class D. Charges private cars.
Sheffield: Class C. Private cars are not charged.
Bradford: Class C. Private cars are not charged.
Bath: Class C. Private cars are not charged.
Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead): Class C. Private cars are not charged.
Portsmouth: Class B. Private cars and vans are not charged.
Leeds and Greater Manchester both planned zones that did not go ahead as charging schemes, so neither appears on the list. Barnsley does not have one.
For the local detail, see our guide to the Sheffield Clean Air Zone.
How is London's ULEZ different?
The Ultra Low Emission Zone is run by Transport for London, not through the national clean air zone service. It covers all London boroughs, runs every day except Christmas Day, and charges cars, vans and motorcycles that do not meet its standards £12.50 a day. You check and pay through TfL.
What emission standard avoids the charges?
The minimum is the same for clean air zones and the ULEZ:
Petrol cars and vans: Euro 4.
Diesel cars and vans: Euro 6.
Motorcycles: Euro 3.
Fully electric vehicles have no exhaust emissions and are not charged.
What should I check before buying a used car?
Think about where you actually drive. If you never go into Birmingham, Bristol or London, the car rules will not cost you anything.
Put the registration into the government's clean air zone checker, and TfL's checker if London matters to you.
Be most careful with older diesels. A diesel has to be Euro 6, which rules out many that are otherwise good cars.
If you are buying a van for work, check it against every city you work in, not just your home town.
Common questions
Do clean air zones operate all the time?
Yes. They run 24 hours a day, every day of the year, with each charge covering midnight to midnight.
How long do I have to pay a clean air zone charge?
You must pay by 11:59pm on the sixth day after driving into the zone. You can also pay up to six days in advance.
Are hybrids exempt?
Not automatically. A hybrid is judged on its engine's Euro standard like any other petrol or diesel car. Most meet it, but check the registration.
Need a car or van that meets the standard?
See what we have in stock at anycolourcar.com in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, or visit the electric car hub. Ask us for the Euro standard of any vehicle and we will tell you. Sales: 01226 574410.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Updated October 2026.
