Skip to content

Bristol CAZ · Class D

Bristol Clean Air Zone: map, charges and how to pay

Bristol’s Clean Air Zone covers a small area of the city centre, including Broadmead and Cabot Circus, plus the Portway. It’s a Class D zone, so non-compliant private cars pay.

Non-compliant cars, taxis and vans pay £9 a day; HGVs, buses and coaches pay £100. The zone runs 24/7 and you have up to 6 days after driving in to pay.

Map of the Bristol Clean Air Zone boundary
Approximate Bristol Clean Air Zone boundary, simplified for display. Use the checker below for a specific address. Contains Bristol City Council Open Data.

Free zone checker

Is an address in the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

Enter your registration for an instant answer, or search an address to see which charging zones cover it.

Choose an address from the suggestions.

Where is the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

The zone is compact but covers some of Bristol’s busiest destinations, including the main shopping area. Its edges run along main roads, so it’s easy to clip the zone on the way to somewhere just outside it. Check the exact address above rather than relying on the postcode.

Is Cabot Circus in the Clean Air Zone?

Yes. The main Cabot Circus car park entrance on Newfoundland Street is inside the zone. According to Cabot Circus, you can avoid the charge by using the Houlton Street entrance and turning right towards Lawrence Hill when you leave — check their getting here page before you travel.

Is Bristol Airport in the Clean Air Zone?

No. Bristol Airport is in North Somerset, several miles south of the city, and well away from the central zone. You’d only enter the zone if your route takes you through the city centre or along the Portway.

Do I need to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

Only if your vehicle isn’t compliant: petrol cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), diesel cars Euro 6 (most from September 2015). Electric cars never pay.

How do I pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge?

  1. Use the government’s Drive in a Clean Air Zone service — it covers every Clean Air Zone in England.
  2. Enter the registration and choose the zone and the date(s) you drove in.
  3. Pay by card. You can pay up to 6 days before, on the day, or by 11:59pm on the sixth day after you drove in. You can also pay by phone on 0300 029 8888.

What is the Bristol Clean Air Zone fine?

If the charge isn’t paid within 6 days, Bristol City Council issues a penalty charge notice of £120 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days), plus the original charge.

Want a reminder next time? EveryDrive alerts you when you enter the Bristol Clean Air Zone and reminds you before the deadline. Join the free beta →

The EveryDrive app · iPhone

Drove into central Bristol? Don’t get a £120 letter.

EveryDrive spots when you enter the Clean Air Zone, tells you whether your car is charged, and reminds you within the 6-day payment window.

EveryDrivenow

Zone entry detected

AB12 CDE just entered Bristol Clean Air Zone — a charge may apply.

EveryDrive9:00 am

Unpaid Clean Air Zone charge

AB12 CDE at Bristol Clean Air Zone, yesterday, is still unpaid.

Example notifications · sample number plate
Join the free beta

Free during the beta, no card needed. iPhone now; on Android, sign up and we’ll tell you when it’s ready.

It never takes payment: you pay the official operator yourself. Installs through Apple’s TestFlight app.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

£9 a day for non-compliant cars, taxis and vans, and £100 a day for non-compliant HGVs, buses and coaches.

Is Bristol Airport in the Clean Air Zone?

No. Bristol Airport is in North Somerset, well outside the central Bristol zone.

Is Cabot Circus in the Clean Air Zone?

Yes. The main Newfoundland Street car park entrance is inside the zone. Cabot Circus advises using the Houlton Street entrance and turning right towards Lawrence Hill when leaving to avoid the charge.

Is the Bristol Clean Air Zone 24 hours?

Yes. It operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How do I pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

Use the government’s Drive in a Clean Air Zone service on GOV.UK. You can pay up to 6 days before or 6 days after your journey.

What if I forget to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone?

A penalty charge notice of £120 (£60 if paid within 14 days) is issued, plus the unpaid daily charge.

Charge details last updated 28 September 2026. Charges and rules can change — always confirm on the official scheme website before you pay. EveryDrive is not affiliated with any scheme operator.