England: charging Clean Air Zones
| City | Do private cars pay? |
|---|---|
| Birmingham | Yes, £8/day if non-compliant |
| Bristol | Yes, £9/day if non-compliant |
| Bath | No |
| Bradford | No |
| Sheffield | No |
| Newcastle & Gateshead | No |
| Portsmouth | No |
London’s equivalent is the ULEZ, which charges non-compliant cars £12.50 a day across the whole city.
Does Oxford have a Clean Air Zone?
Not a Clean Air Zone, but Oxford has the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone. It covers a few city-centre streets, including Cornmarket and Queen Street, and charges every vehicle that isn’t zero emission £2–£10 a day between 7am and 7pm. Electric vehicles are free.
Oxford’s temporary congestion charge ended on 27 September 2026 and was replaced by traffic filters, which cars without a permit can’t drive through at set times and which can’t be paid for. See Oxford’s congestion charge has ended.
Scotland: Low Emission Zones
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee run Low Emission Zones. You can’t pay to drive in: non-compliant vehicles are simply not allowed, and a penalty is issued if one enters. Penalties start at £60 for a car and double for repeat entries within 90 days.
Does Manchester have a Clean Air Zone?
No. Greater Manchester’s planned charging zone was replaced by an investment-led plan, which the government approved in January 2025. There is no Clean Air Zone charge for any vehicle in Manchester.
Does Leeds have a Clean Air Zone?
No. Leeds prepared a zone but dropped it in 2020 after air quality improved faster than expected.
Does Cardiff have a Clean Air Zone?
No. The Welsh Government approved a non-charging air quality plan for Cardiff instead of a Clean Air Zone. Cardiff Council has separately consulted on a road user payment scheme, so check the council’s website for the latest before you travel.
Are Clean Air Zones being scrapped?
Not the existing ones. Several planned zones were dropped before they started, but the seven English charging zones and the ULEZ are all still operating in 2026.