Which vehicles are exempt from every Clean Air Zone?
Ultra low emission vehicles, vehicles in the disabled or disabled passenger tax class, military vehicles, historic vehicles, vehicles retrofitted under the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) and certain agricultural vehicles are exempt from all of England’s Clean Air Zones, according to GOV.UK.
These national exemptions are automatic, so there’s nothing to apply for. Birmingham and Sheffield describe a historic vehicle as one built or first registered 40 years ago. To confirm, put the registration into GOV.UK’s vehicle checker: an exempt vehicle shows no charge. If it shows a charge and you think it shouldn’t, contact Clean Air Zone support on 0300 029 8888 to have the record checked.
Are Blue Badge holders exempt from Clean Air Zones?
No. A Blue Badge doesn’t exempt a vehicle from the charge: Birmingham, Bristol and Sheffield all say so, and Bath’s temporary Blue Badge exemption ended on 14 March 2023.
What counts is the vehicle’s tax class. A vehicle in the disabled tax class is exempt in every zone. Birmingham lists the qualifying benefits as the higher-rate mobility component of DLA, the enhanced-rate mobility component of PIP, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and Armed Forces Independence Payment. GOV.UK explains how to apply for free disabled vehicle tax.
Which local exemptions does each city offer?
Each council runs its own local exemptions on top of the national list, mostly for community and hard-to-replace vehicles rather than private drivers. This is what each council lists today:
| City | Current local exemptions and discounts | Ended or limited |
|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | Community and school transport (Section 19 or 22 permit), recovery vehicles over 3.5t, showman’s vehicles, vouchers for Birmingham Children’s Hospital appointments | Worker and commercial vehicle exemptions ended 31 May 2022; resident exemption ended 31 May 2023 |
| Bristol | Specialist vehicles (tax classes 4, 8 and 11), emergency vehicles (tax class 12), some patients and visitors at the Bristol Royal Infirmary complex | Blue Badge exemptions ended 31 March 2023; Financial Assistance Scheme exemption ended 31 July 2023 |
| Bath | Larger motorhomes and horse transporters (PHGV) pay £9 instead of £100; agricultural and similar vehicles; tax-exempt health service vehicles | Blue Badge, community transport and accessible taxi exemptions ended 14 March 2023; showman’s, recovery and special vehicles ended 14 March 2025 |
| Bradford | Bradford residents (one vehicle), local small businesses (up to three), charities, community transport, school buses, some private hire vehicles, specialist, showman’s and emergency vehicles; motor caravans automatically | You must have owned the vehicle before 26 September 2022 |
| Sheffield | Large motorhomes pay £10 instead of £50; school trips; community transport; disabled-adapted buses; vintage buses (10 days a year); specialist, showman’s, recovery and emergency vehicles | — |
| Newcastle & Gateshead | Emergency, agricultural and recovery vehicles, Showmen’s Guild vehicles, vintage buses, motor caravans, bus and HGV training vehicles, emergency rail replacement; local taxis can buy a 7-day permit for £50 | Vehicles awaiting a replacement or retrofit: up to one year |
| Portsmouth | Emergency service vehicles, specialist heavy vehicles, vintage buses and HGV horse transporters (10 days a year), emergency rail replacement buses | Accessible taxi and school and community transport sunset periods have ended |
A local exemption only works in the zone that granted it. Bath, for example, warns that its exemptions don’t stop you being charged in other cities.
Do I have to apply for a local exemption before I travel?
Yes. Almost every local exemption has to be applied for, and each council says it only counts once it’s approved.
- Allow time. Bath and Newcastle say approval can take up to 14 days and Bristol 15 working days. Sheffield recommends applying 28 days ahead.
- Pay while you wait. Until it’s approved, pay the normal charge within 6 days of each trip. Birmingham says it won’t refund charges paid while an application was being processed.
- Some journeys need logging. In Bath, exempt and discounted journeys are logged or paid on the council’s MiPermit service, not GOV.UK. Sheffield’s motorhome discount must be paid by 11:59pm on the day of travel.
- Renew on time. Many exemptions, including Bristol’s and most of Sheffield’s, last 12 months.
Do private cars need an exemption?
Only in Birmingham and Bristol. Bath, Bradford, Sheffield, Newcastle/Gateshead and Portsmouth don’t charge private cars, so there’s nothing to apply for. Bath, Bradford and Sheffield do warn that some campervans, pick-ups and 4x4s are recorded as vans and can be charged.
Can EveryDrive tell me if I’m exempt?
Not from a local exemption. EveryDrive works out whether a vehicle is charged from the vehicle details you give it, and it can’t see exemptions or permits registered with a council. If you have one, treat its alert as a prompt to check, not a bill. For London, see ULEZ and Congestion Charge exemptions.