A Clean Air Zone is an area where targeted action is taken to improve air quality, in particular by discouraging the most polluting vehicles from entering the zone. No vehicle is banned in the zone, but those which do not have clean enough engines will have to pay a daily charge if they travel within the area.
To improve air quality, some local authorities are introducing Clean Air Zones. If your vehicle exceeds emission standards, you may have to pay a charge if you drive in a Clean Air Zone.
Birmingham will launch a Class D Clean Air Zone on 1 June 2021.
More cities will implement Clean Air Zones later in 2021 and 2022.
There are 4 types of Clean Air Zones, Class A to D.
Class |
Vehicle type |
A |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles |
B |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles |
C |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses |
D |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, cars, the local authority has the option to include motorcycles |
Each vehicle type has a minimum emission standard. You can find your vehicle’s emission standard in your vehicle logbook or from your vehicle manufacturer.
To avoid being charged in a Clean Air Zone, your vehicle must meet the following minimum standard:
Vehicle type |
Clean Air Zone minimum standard |
Buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles |
Euro VI |
Vans, minibuses, taxis, private hire vehicles, cars |
Euro 6 (diesel) and Euro 4 (petrol) |
Motorcycles |
Euro 3 |
Local authorities may set a different standard for taxis and private hire vehicles. You should always check if you will need to pay a charge or contact the local authority for more information.
You can check if you’ll need to pay a charge for a vehicle before you drive in a Clean Air Zone. If you’re a business, you can check and pay for multiple vehicles.
Use the online service to check or pay a charge in a Clean Air Zone.
For more info visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone
Information correct at time of publication. 27.5.21
Lookers Motor Group Limited’s understanding of the requirements at that time. No liability can be accepted for omissions or inaccuracies in the information provided.