The Ultimate Guide to Low Emission Zones, Zero Emission Zones and Clean Air Zones

Cities across the UK are phasing out petrol and diesel cars, and phasing in electric cars by enforcing Low Emission Zones (LEZ). Whether it be the London ULEZ (Ultra-low Emission Zone) expanding to every borough from 29th August 2023 or Scotland banning high-polluting vehicles outright in their four largest cities, one thing is clear: motorists will (literally) pay the price of driving a high-polluting vehicle.

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What are Low Emission Zones and Clean Air Zones?

First introduced by Sweden in 1996, Low Emission Zones are enforced in cities where high levels of air pollution are caused by road transport - e.g. cars, buses and lorries. As is well documented, petrol and diesel engines emit high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and contribute significantly towards climate change. 

Of particular interest in regards to air quality though, is Nitrogen Dioxide (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM) - the latter of which is a byproduct of Nitrogen Dioxide. 

• Nitrogen Dioxide: causes damage to the human respiratory system, severely affecting those who suffer from asthma. There’s also strong evidence extended exposure leads to lung disease, cancer and even dementia. 
• Particulate Matter: tiny pieces of rubber and metal that are invisible to the naked eye. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, exposure can lead to heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma and decreased lung function.

NOx is especially prevalent in diesel vehicles. This is due to the way a diesel engine burns its fuel, typically operating at a far lower temperature and requiring more oxygen than a petrol car. The process results in a high level of NOx and PM from the exhaust. It’s why there are far stricter emissions restrictions for diesel cars from 2015 onwards. 

By restricting access, and penalising, the most highly-polluting vehicles, air quality in the local area is vastly improved.

Here are the different types of low emission zones throughout the UK:

• Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
• Low Emission Zone (LEZ)
• Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)
• Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ)

There are also different classifications of Clean Air Zones and Low Emission Zones, broken down into classes (Class A - D):

A) Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles

B) Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles

C) Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses

D) Buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, cars (+ motorcycles if the local authority stipulates)

Which cities have Low Emission Zones?

Below is a list of all the major UK cities that currently have Low Emission Zones, Clean Air Zones or Zero Emission Zones either planned or actively enforced. We’ve also indicated how much it costs to drive in each particular Zone, the date in which the Zone is active from and the times/dates in which the charges apply.

Clean Air Zones & Low Emission Zones in England

London

To tackle the toxic air millions of Londoners breathe in every day, Sadiq Khan introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone in 2019. In short, it worked. As of July 2022, there were 67,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles in the zone, 44,000 fewer diesel cars and a 20% reduction in harmful Nitrogen Dioxide and Particulate Matter.

Ultra-Low Emission Zone

• Active from 8th April 2019, expanding to every London borough from 29th August 2023
• £12.50 per day to drive in the ULEZ
• Operates 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (no charge on Christmas Day) 

Low Emission Zone

• Active from 4th February 2008
• £100 per day for vans, specialist diesel vehicles (which don’t meet Euro 3 standards) and £100 for HGVs, lorries, vans and specialist heavy vehicles (which don’t meet Euro VI standard)
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Congestion Charge

• Active from 17th February 2003
• £15 per day to drive in the Congestion Charge Zone
• Operates between 07:00-18:00 Monday - Friday, 12:00-18:00 Saturday - Sunday and bank holidays. There’s no charge between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day bank holiday (inclusive). 

With the introduction of the Congestion Charge all the way back in February 2003, London has been on the cutting-edge of reducing pollution in major cities for decades. Followed five years later in 2008 with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ), London began to breathe a bit deeper as dirty diesels were gradually kicked out of the capital.

However, air quality still steadily declined. Road vehicles are currently the single largest cause of London’s air pollution, producing just under 50% of all nitrogen oxides as well as tiny particles of metal and rubber in their trillions. The resulting mix of chemicals can be fatal. Air pollution increases the risk of asthma, lung disease, cancer and even dementia. 

Transport for London lets you check whether your vehicle meets the stringent emissions standard to qualify. If not, you could be looking at an annual cost of £4,500+ just to drive your car in London from August 2023 onwards.

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Bath

• Active from 15th March 2021
• £9.00 per day to drive a non-compliant car (only applicable to private hire vehicles/taxis and some private cars pre-2001) in the Bath Clean Air Zone
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class C

Birmingham

• Active from: June 2021 
• £8.00 per day to drive a non-compliant car in the Bristol Clean Air Zone 
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class D

Bradford

• Active from: 26th September 2022
• £7.00 per day to drive a non-compliant car (only applicable to private hire vehicles/taxis) in the Bradford Clean Air Zone
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class C

Bristol

• Active from: 28th November 2022
• £9.00 per day to drive a non-compliant car in the Bristol Clean Air Zone
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class D

Greater Manchester

• Active from: first phase was due to go live on 30th May 2022, however has been halted due to the cost of living crisis.

The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone had been due to go live at the end of May in 2022, but was pushed back due to concerns on the effect it would have on local businesses. Private passenger cars, motorbikes and mopeds were not due to be included in the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone. 

Oxford

• Active from: 28th February 2022 (first phase)
• £0 per day for an electric car, £2 per day to drive an Ultra-low Emission Vehicle, £4 per day to drive a Low Emissions Vehicle, £10 per day for all other vehicles to drive in Oxford’s Zero Emission Zone
• Operates from 7am - 7pm, 365 days a year.

The Oxford Zero Emission Zone is the first of its kind in the UK. Unless driving a zero-emissions electric car, driving through this Zero Emission Zone incurs a cost. That’s bad news for any driver with a petrol or diesel engine, but a great piece of news for those who run on all-electric.

Why not join them and save yourself up to £3650 by avoiding the Zero Emission Zone charge?

Portsmouth

• Active from: 29th November 2021
• £10 per day to drive a non-compliant car in the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone 
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class B

Sheffield

• Active from: 27th February 2023
• £10 per day to drive a non-compliant car in the Sheffield Clean Air Zone (only applicable to private hire vehicles/taxis and some private cars pre-2001)
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Zone Type: Class C

Low Emission Zones in Scotland

Unlike the majority of Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in England, Scotland is implementing a far stricter approach to tackling the air pollution in its major cities. Whereas most cities charge non-compliant vehicles a daily charge of between £8-£12.50, Scotland will only allow compliant vehicles to drive within Low Emission Zones.

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Any non-compliant vehicle will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £60, which is reduced to £30 if paid within a fortnight. 

However, the penalty amount doubles with each subsequent breach of the rules detected within the same LEZ. This can amount to a total of £480 of penalties for a car, before the charge is capped. 

Aberdeen

• Active from: 1st June 2024
• £60 penalty charge (£30 if paid within 14 days) for driving a non-compliant car in the Aberdeen Clean Air Zone 
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Dundee

• Active from: 30th March 2024
• £60 penalty charge (£30 if paid within 14 days) for driving a non-compliant car in the Dundee Clean Air Zone 
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Edinburgh

• Active from: 1st June 2024
• £60 penalty charge (£30 if paid within 14 days) for driving a non-compliant car in the Edinburgh Clean Air Zone 
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Glasgow

• Active from: 1st June 2023 for visitors/commuters, 1st June 2024 for residents
• £60 penalty charge (£30 if paid within 14 days) for driving a non-compliant car in the Glasgow Low Emission Zone
• Operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Do I need to pay the Low Emission Zone charge?

Rules vary depending on which city you plan on visiting, but there are some general rules of thumb.

Cars registered before 1st March 2001 are classed as ‘Private/Light Goods’ (PLG) vehicles and taxed accordingly: £180 for a vehicle with an engine smaller than 1549cc, £295 for a vehicle with an engine over 1549cc. Any vehicle registered before this date will likely have to pay to drive in a Low Emission Zone. 

Which cars are exempt from Low Emission Zone charges?

• Electric cars are completely exempt from any charges implemented within Low Emission Zones across the UK. 
• Any car that is registered with ‘historic vehicle tax class’. In practice: all vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973 are exempt, or if your car was built more than 40 years ago.
• Petrol cars and vans generally registered from January 2006 that meet Euro 4 standards, which most local authorities use as the bare minimum emissions standard to be exempt from paying the LEZ charge.
• Diesel cars and vans generally registered from September 2015 that meet Euro 6 standards, most local authorities 

To see whether your vehicle is exempt from paying the charge, use GOV.UK’s number plate checker. 

How much money will I save by switching to an electric car?

If you drive an electric, scroll on. There’s no need to read this section unless you’re in need of a virtual pat-on-the-back.

In light of the ULEZ expanding to cover the entirety of London, if you're a driver in the capital then an electric car is a no-brainer. You could save up to an extra £4,500 a year by going electric if you live in London. That’s £375 a month - enough to cover the entire monthly net cost of a lease on some of our most popular all-electric makes and models.

It’s not just residents of the capital that can save big.

Drivers who travel in and out of Bristol could save up to £3,825 a year in low emission zone fees. There’s similar savings to be had for motorists in Birmingham too, with electric car drivers able to swerve a total of £2,920 per year in LEZ fees.

Ready to save up to 60% on the latest electric car and £££s extra in low emission fees? Join the all-electric revolution here.