Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to check and pay a UK clean air zone charge
A clean air zone charge is a daily payment that may apply when a vehicle that does not meet emissions standards is driven in one of the clean air zones listed on the GOV.UK "Drive in a clean air zone" service: Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside, which covers Newcastle and Gateshead. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- You might need to pay to drive in a clean air zone if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards. [1]
- The GOV.UK service covers clean air zones in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead). [1]
- Checking a vehicle needs its number plate, and paying the charge for one vehicle needs a credit or debit card. [1]
- The service cannot check vehicles that are registered outside the UK. [1]
Which clean air zones does the GOV.UK service cover?
The GOV.UK "Drive in a clean air zone" service is the route for drivers planning to drive through a clean air zone in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, or Tyneside. [1] GOV.UK says there is a different way to check a vehicle if you want to drive in London’s low emission zone or ultra low emission zone, or in a low emission zone in Scotland. [1]
| Area | Where to check |
|---|---|
| Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) | GOV.UK "Drive in a clean air zone" service [1] |
| London low emission zone and ultra low emission zone | A different way to check [1] |
| Low emission zones in Scotland | A different way to check [1] |
How do you check a vehicle and pay the daily charge?
You might need to pay to drive in a clean air zone if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards. [1] The service lets you find out whether you need to pay for your vehicle, pay the daily charge, and view maps of clean air zones. [1]
To start, you need the number plate, or registration number, of the vehicle you want to check. [1] The check is run on the vehicle rather than on the driver, so the plate of the car you will be driving is the detail that decides whether a charge applies. [1]
If you are paying the charge for a single vehicle, you need a credit or debit card. [1] The service then confirms whether a payment is due for that vehicle and, where one is due, lets you pay it. [1]
One limit matters before you rely on the result: the service cannot check vehicles that are registered outside the UK. [1]
Can a business check and pay for several vehicles at once?
A business that wants to check a number of vehicles needs an account, which can be created while using the service, plus the company name, an email address, and a spreadsheet in CSV format listing the number plates of the vehicles it wants to check. [1] To pay for a number of vehicles, a business needs a credit card, debit card or bank details. [1]
Exceptions and limits
- Vehicles on non-UK plates. The online service cannot check vehicles that are registered outside the UK. [1]
- London and Scotland. London’s low emission zone and ultra low emission zone, and low emission zones in Scotland, are not checked through the clean air zone service described above. [1]
- Payment method. Paying for a single vehicle requires a credit or debit card, while a business paying for several vehicles can use a credit card, debit card or bank details. [1]
- If you cannot use the online service. Clean air zone support offers an online contact form and a telephone line on 0300 029 8888, plus a British Sign Language video relay service for people using a computer; the line operates Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm except bank holidays, and Saturday 8am to 2pm. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Do all vehicles have to pay to drive in a clean air zone?
Not necessarily. You might need to pay to drive in a clean air zone if your vehicle does not meet emissions standards, so the check is made against the vehicle. [1]
Which cities can I check on the GOV.UK clean air zone service?
Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield, and Tyneside, which covers Newcastle and Gateshead. [1]
Can the service check a vehicle registered outside the UK?
No. GOV.UK states that the service cannot check vehicles that are registered outside the UK. [1]
What do I need to check and pay for one vehicle?
The number plate of the vehicle you want to check, and a credit or debit card if you are paying the charge for that single vehicle. [1]
How do I contact clean air zone support?
Through the online contact form or by telephone on 0300 029 8888, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm except bank holidays, and Saturday 8am to 2pm. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. London’s low emission zone and ultra low emission zone, and the low emission zones in Scotland, are checked through a different service and are not covered here.
- GOV.UK: Drive in a clean air zone, checked 18 October 2026