Clean air zones
Exemptions and discounts
In 2026 GOV.UK lists 7 kinds of vehicle that never pay in an English clean air zone, from disabled tax class vehicles to accredited retrofits, while Scotland exempts Blue Badge holders and London's grace periods for disabled drivers run to October 2027. UK clean air zone exemptions commonly cover disabled and historic tax class vehicles, with other discounts set locally by each operating authority. Eligibility and registration requirements depend on the zone, so an exemption in one city does not establish eligibility elsewhere.
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Checked on 11 September 2026.Transport for London, Ultra Low Emission Zone (as of 8 April 2019)
Who is exempt from clean air zone charges?
Disabled and historic tax class vehicles, emergency and military vehicles, and some residents and businesses appear in UK zone exemption lists. The applicable categories and registration requirements must be checked with the authority for the zone you are driving into.
The rule to hold on to is that an exemption is usually a registration rather than a status. A vehicle that qualifies but is not on the operating authority's list is charged like any other, because a camera reading a plate has no way of knowing.
Which vehicles are exempt from every English clean air zone?
GOV.UK sets one list for all seven charging zones outside London and Oxford: Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside. A vehicle on it is entitled to the exemption automatically, with no form to fill in:
- An ultra low emission vehicle.
- A vehicle in the disabled passenger vehicle tax class.
- A vehicle in the disabled tax class.
- A military vehicle.
- A historic vehicle, which the Clean Air Zone Framework defines as one in the historic vehicle tax class.
- A vehicle retrofitted with technology accredited under the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS).
- Certain types of agricultural vehicle.
Two entries catch people out. The disabled tax classes are DVLA classifications, not a Blue Badge, so a badge holder whose car is taxed in the ordinary way gets nothing from this list and has to look at the council's own discounts instead. And a retrofit counts only when the kit carries CVRAS accreditation; an exhaust filter fitted outside that scheme leaves the vehicle exactly where it was.
Everything beyond this list is local. The Clean Air Zone Framework lets councils add discounts for things like Blue Badge holders, community transport and residents, which is why the per-zone lists further down this page are so different from one another.
Who is exempt from Scotland's low emission zones?
The four Scottish zones share a national list set out by mygov.scot. It is shaped differently from the English one, and the biggest difference is that a Blue Badge counts, whoever is driving.
- A vehicle driven by a Blue Badge holder, carrying a Blue Badge holder as a passenger, or driven under an organisation's Blue Badge.
- A vehicle in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class that has a vehicle tax exemption. One with only a tax reduction may not be recognised, and a penalty then has to be appealed with the council.
- Emergency service vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances.
- Military vehicles.
- Vehicles of historic interest: made or first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, historically preserved and free from substantial changes.
- Showman's vehicles meeting section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, registered with the council before they are driven in.
- Specialist vehicles, such as construction or recovery vehicles, given a time limited exemption of up to one year by the council.
A historic vehicle and a vehicle with a full tax exemption are recognised without any action. A showman's vehicle is the opposite: it has to be registered with the council before it is driven in.
Which London discounts and grace periods are still running?
London is the only place where dated grace periods are still counting down. The ULEZ ones for disabled drivers and wheelchair accessible vehicles end in October 2027; after that a vehicle that relied on one is charged unless it meets the standard. The Congestion Charge discounts are separate registrations with their own fees, and none of them carries across to the ULEZ.
| Scheme | Who or what | What it gives |
|---|---|---|
| ULEZ | Vehicle in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class | Not charged until 24 October 2027 |
| ULEZ | Driver on qualifying disability benefits, or a wheelchair accessible vehicle | Grace period to 25 October 2027, one vehicle per applicant |
| ULEZ | Not-for-profit community minibus of 5 tonnes or less carrying 9 to 16 passengers | 100 per cent discount until 24 October 2027 |
| ULEZ | Wheelchair accessible private hire vehicle | Grace period to 24 October 2027 while on a private hire booking |
| ULEZ | Built before 1 January 1973, or over 40 years old in the historic tax class | Exempt |
| ULEZ | NHS patient assessed as too ill to travel by public transport | The charge can be claimed back |
| Congestion Charge | Resident on the electoral roll inside the zone | 90 per cent discount after a £10 registration per vehicle |
| Congestion Charge | Blue Badge holder | 100 per cent discount after a £10 registration, renewed with the badge |
| Congestion Charge | Vehicle in the disabled tax class | Exempt automatically, no registration |
| Congestion Charge | Electric car on Auto Pay | 25 per cent off from 2 January 2026, 12.5 per cent from 4 March 2030 |
| Congestion Charge | Electric van, HGV or quadricycle on Auto Pay | 50 per cent off from 2 January 2026, 25 per cent from 4 March 2030 |
Source: Transport for London, ULEZ discounts and exemptions and Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions, read September 2026.
Published exemptions by zone
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)Transport for London
- Vehicles registered with the DVLA in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class do not pay until 24 October 2027.
- Drivers receiving qualifying disability benefits, and wheelchair accessible vehicles, have a grace period to 25 October 2027, one vehicle per applicant.
- Not-for-profit community transport minibuses of 5 tonnes or less carrying 9 to 16 passengers have a 100 per cent discount until 24 October 2027.
- Wheelchair accessible private hire vehicles have a grace period to 24 October 2027 while on a private hire booking.
- Historic vehicles built before 1 January 1973, and any vehicle over 40 years old registered in the DVLA historic vehicle tax class.
- Showman's vehicles, specialist agricultural vehicles, military vehicles, mobile cranes and other non road going vehicles.
- NHS patients assessed as too ill to travel by public transport can claim the charge back.
Low Emission Zone (LEZ)Transport for London
- Cars and motorcycles, which the scheme has never applied to.
- Vehicles that already meet Euro VI, which pay nothing in either the LEZ or the ULEZ.
- Historic vehicles and specialist vehicles follow the same exemption list as the ULEZ.
Congestion ChargeTransport for London
- Motorcycles, mopeds and motor tricycles are not charged.
- Residents on the electoral roll inside the residents' discount zone get a 90 per cent discount after a £10 annual registration. From 1 March 2027 new applicants qualify only with an electric vehicle, unless they receive one of the benefits TfL lists.
- Blue Badge holders get a 100 per cent discount. Registration costs £10 and is renewed alongside the badge.
- Vehicles registered with the DVLA in the disabled taxation class are exempt automatically, with no registration needed.
- Electric cars on Auto Pay get 25 per cent off, and electric vans, HGVs and quadricycles 50 per cent, from 2 January 2026. From 4 March 2030 those fall to 12.5 per cent and 25 per cent.
- There is a reimbursement scheme for NHS staff and patients.
Bath Clean Air ZoneBath and North East Somerset Council
- Private cars and motorcycles, including older SUVs, four by fours and campervans registered as cars.
- Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles.
- A registered private heavy vehicle, such as a motorhome, pays £9 rather than £100.
- The council runs local exemptions and discounts, and refunds where a charge was paid in error.
Birmingham Clean Air ZoneBirmingham City Council
- Motorcycles.
- Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles, which meet the standard by definition.
- Vehicles holding a council exemption permit, applied for through Birmingham City Council.
- Not an exemption, but help: the council's vehicle scrappage and travel credit scheme is open to eligible drivers who have owned a non-compliant vehicle since before 1 June 2021.
Bristol Clean Air ZoneBristol City Council
- Motorcycles.
- Fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
- Vehicles retrofitted and registered under the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme.
- The council operates local exemptions and a refund route where a charge was paid but not due.
Bradford Clean Air ZoneCity of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
- Private cars and motorbikes.
- School buses meeting Euro 4, under the council's local exemption.
- Local exemptions for certain vehicles run by small businesses doing educational or charitable work.
- Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles.
Portsmouth Clean Air ZonePortsmouth City Council
- Private cars, motorcycles and vans, whatever their age.
- Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles.
- Council exemptions, applied for through the Portsmouth City Council forms.
Sheffield Clean Air ZoneSheffield City Council
- Private cars, except taxis and private hire vehicles, and all motorbikes.
- Vehicles in the disabled tax class.
- Historic vehicles.
- Vehicles retrofitted under an accredited scheme.
- Local exemptions and discounts are applied for through Sheffield City Council.
Tyneside Clean Air ZoneNewcastle City Council and Gateshead Council
- Privately owned cars and motorbikes.
- Fully electric and hydrogen vehicles.
- Taxi and private hire drivers licensed by Newcastle, Gateshead or North Tyneside can buy seven consecutive days for £50 rather than paying £12.50 a day.
- The councils' grant scheme for replacing older vehicles closed to applications on 30 January 2026.
Glasgow Low Emission ZoneGlasgow City Council
- Any vehicle being driven by a Blue Badge holder, or carrying one, including organisational badges.
- Vehicles in the disabled vehicle tax class, or with a vehicle tax exemption or reduction.
- Emergency service vehicles, including police cars and ambulances.
- Military vehicles.
- Historic vehicles: manufactured or first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, and kept in original condition.
- Showman's vehicles as defined by section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.
- Councils can grant time limited exemptions of up to a year for specialist vehicles such as construction or recovery vehicles.
Edinburgh Low Emission ZoneThe City of Edinburgh Council
- Any vehicle being driven by a Blue Badge holder, or carrying one, including organisational badges.
- Vehicles in the disabled vehicle tax class, or with a vehicle tax exemption or reduction.
- Emergency service vehicles, including police cars and ambulances.
- Military vehicles.
- Historic vehicles: manufactured or first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, and kept in original condition.
- Showman's vehicles as defined by section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.
- Councils can grant time limited exemptions of up to a year for specialist vehicles such as construction or recovery vehicles.
Aberdeen Low Emission ZoneAberdeen City Council
- Any vehicle being driven by a Blue Badge holder, or carrying one, including organisational badges.
- Vehicles in the disabled vehicle tax class, or with a vehicle tax exemption or reduction.
- Emergency service vehicles, including police cars and ambulances.
- Military vehicles.
- Historic vehicles: manufactured or first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, and kept in original condition.
- Showman's vehicles as defined by section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.
- Councils can grant time limited exemptions of up to a year for specialist vehicles such as construction or recovery vehicles.
Dundee Low Emission ZoneDundee City Council
- Any vehicle being driven by a Blue Badge holder, or carrying one, including organisational badges.
- Vehicles in the disabled vehicle tax class, or with a vehicle tax exemption or reduction.
- Emergency service vehicles, including police cars and ambulances.
- Military vehicles.
- Historic vehicles: manufactured or first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, and kept in original condition.
- Showman's vehicles as defined by section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994.
- Councils can grant time limited exemptions of up to a year for specialist vehicles such as construction or recovery vehicles.
Oxford Zero Emission Zone pilotOxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council
- Blue Badge holders.
- Vehicles with disabled tax status.
- Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, on application.
- Residents living inside the zone.
- Businesses based inside the zone.
- Health and social care workers.
- Community transport vehicles.
- Students in acute financial hardship moving in or out of the zone.
- Discounts must be applied for at least ten working days before you intend to use them.
Does a Blue Badge get you out of a clean air zone charge?
Only in some places, and the difference is whether the scheme looks at the person or at the vehicle. Scotland looks at the person: any vehicle carrying a badge holder is exempt. Oxford lists Blue Badge holders among the discounts it grants on application, and the Congestion Charge gives a badge holder a 100 per cent discount once registered.
The ULEZ and the English clean air zones look at the vehicle. Their national rule is the disabled tax class, so a badge holder in an ordinarily taxed car relies on whatever the council or TfL offers locally, and in London that means the grace periods that end in October 2027.
Example
A Blue Badge holder's 2012 diesel car driven to Glasgow, Oxford and central London
- Vehicle
- Diesel car, Euro 5, ordinary tax class
- Driver
- Holds a Blue Badge
- Glasgow: the badge makes the car exempt from the zone. Registering it with the council first avoids a penalty that would otherwise need an appeal.
- Oxford: Blue Badge holders are on the discount list, but the discount has to be applied for at least ten working days before the first trip.
- Central London: the Congestion Charge discount is 100 per cent after a £10 registration, but the ULEZ ignores the badge. A Euro 5 diesel is below the ULEZ standard, so it pays the ULEZ charge unless the driver qualifies for the disability benefits grace period.
Exempt in Glasgow, discounted in Oxford once applied for, and in London free of the Congestion Charge but still owing the ULEZ unless a grace period applies.
How old does a car have to be to count as historic?
It depends which side of the border you are on. In England, the Clean Air Zone Framework ties the exemption to the historic vehicle tax class, and GOV.UK's rule for that class in 2026 is a vehicle built before 1 January 1986, with applications open from 1 April 2026. The ULEZ has its own wording: a vehicle built before 1 January 1973, or one over 40 years old in the historic tax class.
Scotland uses a 30 year test instead, with conditions attached: the vehicle must no longer be in production, must be historically preserved and must be free from substantial changes. A car that meets them is recognised automatically.
Example
A 1994 diesel estate driven into Edinburgh and then Bristol
- Vehicle
- Diesel estate built in 1994, original condition
- Model
- Out of production
- Tax class
- Ordinary, not historic
- Edinburgh: the car is over 30 years old, no longer made and unmodified, so it meets the Scottish historic test and is exempt.
- Bristol: the historic vehicle tax class in 2026 takes vehicles built before 1 January 1986, so this car cannot be in it and gets no historic exemption.
- A 1994 diesel is far below Euro 6, so Bristol's class D charge for a private car applies.
Exempt in Edinburgh, charged £9 a day in Bristol.
How do I apply for a local exemption or discount?
Every council runs its own form, but the order of work is the same, and doing it in this order is what keeps a penalty from arriving while the application sits in a queue.
- Put the registration into the zone's own vehicle checker. If it passes, there is nothing to apply for.
- Read that zone's exemption page for the scheme that fits you, and note its end date and any lead time. Oxford, for example, asks for discounts at least ten working days before you use them.
- Gather the evidence the council names, such as the V5C, a taxi or private hire licence, a Blue Badge, proof of address or a letter from an employer.
- Apply through the council's own service, not the GOV.UK payment page, and keep the reference and the confirmation email.
- Do not drive in on the strength of having applied. Pay the daily charge, or stay out in Scotland, until the exemption is confirmed as active.
- If a penalty arrives for a day you were covered, make representations to the council within the time on the notice and attach the confirmation.
What if the vehicle meets the standard but the checker says it does not?
That is a compliance question, not an exemption, and it is fixed with evidence rather than an application. The strongest evidence is a certificate of conformity from the manufacturer, which states the Euro standard the vehicle was approved to. The V5C can help where it records the Euro status at section V.9, although many leave it blank. Send that evidence to the operator of the zone you are driving into, because each operator keeps its own record and its own checker gives only its own answer.
What is the commonest mistake with an exemption?
Assuming it is automatic. Several zones require a vehicle to be registered in advance, sometimes with evidence, and the registration can take days to take effect. Driving in on the strength of qualifying rather than being registered produces a penalty that then has to be appealed.
Common questions
- Is a disabled tax class vehicle exempt everywhere?
- In most zones, yes, but it is set by each operating authority rather than nationally. The exemption usually follows the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class on the V5C, so it is worth checking the tax class is correct before relying on it.
- Do I have to apply for an exemption?
- For several of them, yes, and it is the single commonest way people end up with a penalty on a vehicle that qualified. A vehicle that is exempt in principle but not registered for the exemption is charged like any other, because the camera has nothing else to go on.
- Are historic vehicles exempt?
- Vehicles in the historic tax class are exempt in most UK zones. The class runs on a rolling 40 year basis and it has to be claimed rather than granted, so a vehicle old enough to qualify that has never been moved into the class is not exempt.
- Does an exemption in one city work in another?
- No. Each zone runs its own list and its own registration process. A local resident discount in one city is worth nothing in the next one, and there is no national exemption that covers every zone at once.
- Does a Blue Badge exempt me from the ULEZ?
- Not on its own. The ULEZ looks at the vehicle rather than the badge. What helps a disabled driver in London is a vehicle registered in the disabled or disabled passenger vehicle tax class, which TfL does not charge until 24 October 2027, or the grace period for people on qualifying disability benefits and for wheelchair accessible vehicles, which runs to 25 October 2027 for one vehicle per applicant. The Congestion Charge is different again: a Blue Badge holder can register for a 100 per cent discount there, at £10 a vehicle.
- Is a hybrid exempt as an ultra low emission vehicle?
- Not automatically. In the English zones the national exemption covers ultra low emission vehicles, and the Clean Air Zone Framework says other vehicles meeting that definition may apply for an exemption, so a hybrid is not waved through on the word alone. In Scotland a hybrid is judged on its petrol or diesel engine, like any other car. Oxford charges hybrids on their tailpipe figures, so a plug-in under 75 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre pays less than a conventional petrol car but still pays.
- What happens when my exemption runs out?
- The vehicle is charged, or in Scotland refused, from the first day after the end date. Put the end date in a diary when the exemption is granted. London's dated grace periods for disabled drivers and wheelchair accessible vehicles end in October 2027, and any time limited exemption a Scottish council grants lasts a year at most. If you still qualify, reapply before the date passes rather than after the first penalty arrives.
Sources
Exemption lists come from the operating authority for each zone and change more often than the charges do.
- GOV.UK, Driving in a clean air zone (as of 12 February 2026)
- GOV.UK, Clean Air Zone Framework (as of 6 October 2022)
- mygov.scot, Vehicle exemptions for Low Emission Zones (as of 26 June 2026)
- GOV.UK, Historic vehicle tax exemption (as of 7 September 2026)
- Transport for London, Ultra Low Emission Zone (as of 8 April 2019)
- Transport for London, ULEZ: where and when (as of 30 July 2026)
- Transport for London, Ways to meet the ULEZ standard (as of 8 April 2019)
- Transport for London, Penalty charges for ULEZ (as of 30 July 2026)
- Transport for London, ULEZ discounts and exemptions (as of 30 July 2026)
- Transport for London, Low Emission Zone (as of 4 February 2008)
- Transport for London, How to pay a LEZ charge (as of 1 March 2021)
- Transport for London, HGVs, lorries, vans, buses, minibuses, coaches and specialist heavy vehicles (as of 1 March 2021)
- Transport for London, Vans, minibuses and specialist diesel vehicles (as of 30 July 2026)
- Transport for London, Penalty charges for the LEZ (as of 30 July 2026)
- Transport for London, Changes to the Congestion Charge (as of 26 September 2026)
- Transport for London, Congestion Charge (as of 2 January 2026)
- Transport for London, Congestion Charge discounts and exemptions (as of 2 January 2026)
- Transport for London, Congestion Charge: penalties and enforcement (as of 30 July 2026)
- Greater London Authority, Congestion Charge (boundary and exemptions) (as of 17 February 2003)
- Bath and North East Somerset Council, Find out about charges in Bath's Clean Air Zone (as of 15 March 2021)
- Bath and North East Somerset Council, Pay a Clean Air Zone fine (as of 30 July 2026)
- Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bath's Clean Air Zone (as of 15 March 2021)
- GOV.UK, Clean Air Zones (as of 12 February 2026)
- Birmingham City Council, Paying the clean air zone (CAZ) daily charge (as of 14 June 2021)
- Birmingham City Council, Clean Air Zone (CAZ) penalty charge notices (as of 30 July 2026)
- Brum Breathes (Birmingham City Council), Where is the Zone? (as of 1 June 2021)
- Brum Breathes (Birmingham City Council), The Clean Air Zone vehicle scrappage scheme: how to apply (as of 26 September 2026)
- Bristol City Council, Bristol's Clean Air Zone charges and vehicle checker (as of 28 November 2022)
- Bristol City Council, Pay a Clean Air Zone Penalty Charge Notice (as of 30 July 2026)
- Bristol City Council, Bristol's Clean Air Zone (as of 28 November 2022)
- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, List of daily charges (as of 26 September 2022)
- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Where is the Clean Air Zone? (as of 26 September 2022)
- City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, What will happen if I do not pay (as of 30 July 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Penalty charge for Clean Air Zone (as of 30 July 2026)
- Cleaner Air Portsmouth (Portsmouth City Council), Clean Air Zone (as of 29 November 2021)
- Portsmouth City Council, Air quality in Portsmouth (as of 29 November 2021)
- Sheffield City Council, Clean Air Zone information sheet (as of 26 September 2026)
- Sheffield City Council, Clean Air Zone charges and how to pay (as of 27 February 2023)
- Sheffield City Council, Information about the Clean Air Zone (as of 27 February 2023)
- Sheffield City Council, Clean Air Zone charging begins one week today (as of 20 February 2023)
- BREATHE Clean Air (Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council), Charges (as of 30 January 2023)
- BREATHE Clean Air (Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council), Payments (as of 30 July 2026)
- Gateshead Council, The Clean Air Zone is now live (as of 30 January 2023)
- Newcastle City Council, Clean Air Zone grants scheme to end next year (as of 30 January 2026)
- Glasgow City Council, Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (as of 1 June 2023)
- Glasgow City Council, Pay or appeal a LEZ penalty charge (as of 1 June 2023)
- mygov.scot, Check if you can drive a vehicle in a Low Emission Zone (as of 26 June 2026)
- mygov.scot, Fines for Low Emission Zones (as of 26 June 2026)
- mygov.scot, About Low Emission Zones in Scotland (as of 26 June 2026)
- The City of Edinburgh Council, Low emission zone (as of 1 June 2024)
- The City of Edinburgh Council, How the Low Emission Zone works, including the boundary (as of 1 June 2024)
- Aberdeen City Council, Low emission zone (LEZ) (as of 26 September 2026)
- Aberdeen City Council, Low emission zone: frequently asked questions (as of 26 September 2026)
- Dundee City Council, Dundee Low Emission Zone Scheme (LEZ) (as of 30 May 2024)
- Dundee City Council, Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Penalty Charge Notices (as of 30 May 2024)
- Oxfordshire County Council, Charges for Oxford's zero emission zone (ZEZ) (as of 28 February 2022)
- Oxfordshire County Council, About Oxford's zero emission zone (ZEZ) (as of 28 February 2022)
- Oxfordshire County Council, Fines for non-payment of zero emission zone (ZEZ) charges (as of 30 July 2026)
- Oxfordshire County Council, Apply for a zero emission zone discount (as of 30 July 2026)
- Oxford City Council, Oxford Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) Pilot (as of 28 February 2022)