Driving in
Driving in Portsmouth
Checked on 30 June 2025.Office for National Statistics, Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age (mid-2025) (as of 30 June 2025)
The Portsmouth Clean Air Zone
Exempt
2004 petrol car: Portsmouth Clean Air Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as. The charge here applies to taxi or private hire vehicle, bus or coach and heavy goods vehicle.
Exempt
2012 diesel car: Portsmouth Clean Air Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as. The charge here applies to taxi or private hire vehicle, bus or coach and heavy goods vehicle.
Exempt
2018 diesel car: Portsmouth Clean Air Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as. The charge here applies to taxi or private hire vehicle, bus or coach and heavy goods vehicle.
| Operated by | Portsmouth City Council |
| In force since | 29 November 2021 |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, every day of the year. |
| Area | The south western part of the city. The zone was drawn to fix two specific stretches of road, the A3 Alfred Road and the A3 Mile End Road and Commercial Road, on the way in from the M275. |
| Penalty for non payment | £60 if you pay within 14 days, rising to £120 after that. You can challenge a notice within 28 days. There is also a six day window to pay the daily charge before a notice is issued at all. |
Portsmouth is the only class B zone in England, live since 29 November 2021, and it exists to bring two roads into compliance: the A3 Alfred Road and Mile End Road on the route in from the M275. Vans are not charged, which makes it the cheapest zone in the country for a tradesperson with an older Transit and the most surprising for a coach operator, because coaches and buses pay £50. You also get six days to pay the daily charge, so a driver who realises late can still avoid a penalty.
Does Portsmouth have local driving charges?
Portsmouth, England, is covered by the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone, operated by Portsmouth City Council since 29 November 2021. Whether a charge applies depends on the vehicle and the scheme's rules.
Local figures for Portsmouth
- Portsmouth runs the only class B clean air zone in England. It charges buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, and leaves cars and vans alone.
- The zone covers 1.16 square miles and runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
- Of about 121,600 licensed cars in the city at the end of March 2026, roughly 44,200 are kept by companies rather than private individuals, which is more than one in three.
- 30.3% of Portsmouth households had no car or van at the 2021 census, which is high for the South East.
- The city had 434 public chargers at 1 April 2026, or 202.5 per 100,000 people.
Official local statistics
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Vehicle fleet | Portsmouth runs the only class B clean air zone in England. It charges buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, and leaves cars and vans alone. |
| Public charging | Portsmouth runs the only class B clean air zone in England. It charges buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, and leaves cars and vans alone. |
| Car ownership | 30.3% of Portsmouth households had no car or van at the 2021 census, which is high for the South East. |
What should you check before driving into Portsmouth?
The M275 brings drivers towards the harbour and city centre. Choose the car park or bus stop for your destination before reaching the central bus lanes. For ferry travel, follow your operator's terminal instructions and arrange suitable parking for the length of the trip.
Portsmouth's Class B Clean Air Zone charges non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles. Private cars, motorcycles and vans are outside the charging classes. A chargeable taxi or private hire vehicle pays £10 a day and a bus, coach or heavy goods vehicle £50, with six days after the journey to pay. If your vehicle might be charged, use the government registration checker before travelling.
How much does on-street parking cost in Portsmouth?
The council publishes different tariffs for each street. Southsea Esplanade charges from 8am to 6pm every day, while Charles Dickens Street charges around the clock. At the bay, read its sign and pay using the machine or RingGo code displayed there. Check the registration on the receipt.
Southsea's on-street spaces and the nearby Seafront The Esplanade car park have separate tariffs. Choose the correct location in the app. An online rate does not override a bay's maximum stay or temporary suspension.
| Location | Published stay | Charge | Charging period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southsea Esplanade | Up to 1 hour | £2.20 | 8am to 6pm daily |
| Southsea Esplanade | Up to 4 hours | £6.40 | 8am to 6pm daily |
| Southsea Esplanade | 24 hours | £15.10 | 8am to 6pm daily |
| Charles Dickens Street | Up to 1 hour | £2.00 | 24/7 |
| Charles Dickens Street | Up to 4 hours | £5.80 | 24/7 |
| Charles Dickens Street | Over 5 hours | £14.20 | 24/7 |
Portsmouth City Council on-street tariff page, checked 26 September 2026. Read the bay sign for the applicable rules.
Example
A Southsea visitor parking on the Esplanade for four hours
- Destination
- Southsea Esplanade
- Stay
- Four hours within charging time
- Published tariff
- Up to four hours £6.40
- Identify the Southsea Esplanade on-street bay rather than the nearby council car park.
- Check its sign and pay the published four-hour tariff against the vehicle registration.
- Keep the RingGo receipt or machine ticket until you return; any extension must stay within the bay rules.
The council's listed parking charge is £6.40 for this on-street stay. A longer visit uses the next published band, so check the return time before leaving the car.
How much is a Portsmouth parking ticket, and what happens next?
Portsmouth's code assigns £70 to higher level contraventions and £50 to lower level ones. An unpermitted residents' bay is higher level; expired paid time is lower level. Parking across a dropped kerb is a £70 case even with a Blue Badge. Read the contravention code and location before paying or challenging.
The council says a £70 dropped-kerb PCN falls to £35 if paid within 14 days. Challenge within that period and the council preserves the discount after rejection. Photograph the sign, markings and payment record promptly. For a breakdown, send repair or recovery evidence; running out of fuel is not grounds for cancellation.
The Notice to Owner gives the keeper a formal chance to make representations. If rejected, appeal to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal. Ignoring the debt can lead to a Charge Certificate, which adds 50%, then court registration and enforcement action. Contact the council before a warrant if you cannot pay.
| Contravention | Level | Full PCN |
|---|---|---|
| Residents' bay without a valid permit | Higher | £70 |
| Parked next to a dropped kerb | Higher | £70 |
| Paid parking time expired | Lower | £50 |
| Beyond marked bay lines | Lower | £50 |
Portsmouth City Council Civil Parking Enforcement Code of Practice and PCN guidance, checked 26 September 2026.
How do Portsmouth resident and visitor parking permits work?
Check the council's zone map before applying. The online resident application needs the V5C, plus proof of address such as a Council Tax bill or tenancy agreement. A driving licence or bank statement is not accepted as address proof. The virtual permit starts after online payment; a postal application takes 7 to 10 days to start.
Permit charges rise for additional vehicles at the same postal address. A third permit depends on zone capacity. A shared house may count as one address even where residents have separate rooms. The permit does not reserve a bay. In North Southsea's LA zone, permits are not valid in the limited waiting or pay and display bays in Elm Grove and several nearby streets.
The resident must buy visitor sessions through an approved RingGo account or scratchcards. RingGo registration may take up to 48 hours. A visitor cannot buy the resident's permit themselves. Check the road's conditions because North Southsea excludes visitor permits from pay and display bays on the Terraces.
| Permit | Price | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| First resident vehicle | £30 a year | Eligible address and vehicle |
| Second resident vehicle | £120 a year | Same postal address |
| Third resident vehicle | £300 a year | Only where zone capacity allows |
| Visitor session | £1.15 | 12 hours, bought by resident |
| Visitor session | £2.20 | 24 hours, bought by resident |
Portsmouth City Council resident and visitor permit pages, checked 26 September 2026.
Is Portsmouth park and ride cheaper than city parking?
The Tipner Lane site sits just off M275 junction 1. Parking is free when you take the bus into the city. A £5 day ticket covers park and ride bus travel for up to five people together. PR1 reaches the city centre and The Hard. Buy through First Bus, RingGo or the driver; concessionary bus passes are not accepted.
Regular travellers can buy Flexipasses: £35 for 10 days, £60 for 20 days or £145 for 50 days. Compare the total with journeys you will actually take. EV charging is available in Zone A, but First Bus restricts it to park and ride users.
Overnight parking is prohibited, and the car park has a 2.1 metre height restriction. The operator's FAQ gives closing times of 7.45pm on weekdays and Saturdays and 6.30pm on Sundays and public holidays. A vehicle left after closing attracts a £50 release fee according to the operator. Check the return bus before leaving for a ferry or evening event.
Example
A Fareham commuter travelling to The Hard on workdays
- Approach
- M275 junction 1
- Destination
- The Hard interchange
- Published fare options
- £5 day ticket or £35 for a 10-day Flexipass
- Drive to Tipner Lane and confirm that the vehicle fits under the height limit.
- Choose a day ticket for an occasional trip or the Flexipass if the planned journeys justify buying a block.
- Take PR1 to The Hard and return before the site's closing time shown by the operator.
A single workday costs £5 at the day fare. The 10-day Flexipass is £35 in total, equivalent to £3.50 per day if all ten days are used; that per-day figure is arithmetic, not a separate operator fare.
Which Portsmouth bus lanes catch unfamiliar drivers?
Enforced locations include Commercial Road between Mile End Road and Market Way, Mile End Road south of Rudmore Roundabout, and Bishop Crispian Way. The council's June 2026 list shows each of them enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Follow the sign on approach even if a satnav shows a more direct line into the centre.
Portsmouth permits buses, cyclists, hackney taxis and emergency services in its bus lanes. Portsmouth-licensed private hire cars have permission on a named list that includes Cavell Drive and Queen Street. Other private hire vehicles should not assume that access. The council defines a bus as a vehicle designed or adapted to carry at least nine passengers plus the driver.
The camera PCN is £70, reduced to £35 within 21 days and increased to £105 if unpaid after 28 days. Inspect the footage and challenge the allegation with evidence if the sign, vehicle class or recorded movement is wrong. The council offers independent adjudication after rejecting representations.
Where can you charge an electric car in Portsmouth?
The council identifies Zest as operator of its on-street residential chargers and Be.EV as operator of nine rapid chargers. Check each network's live map for a working connector before travelling. An on-street residential charger suits a longer stay; a rapid charger better fits a short stop.
Marked EV bays require a plug-in vehicle to be connected and actively charging. An EV parked there without charging can receive a PCN. The council says the surrounding resident-zone permit is not currently needed while charging. It does not advise running a cable across the footway, and tells anyone who does to check with their home and vehicle insurers. Report a broken charger to its operator and move to a legal bay: Zest takes fault calls on 0800 865 4245 and Be.EV on 0800 917 3208.
What changes near Fratton Park on a home match day?
Portsmouth City Council lists extra restrictions on roads near Fratton Park, including Fratton Way, Goldsmith Avenue and Milton Lane. Signs change from No Match to Match Today. The special controls start two and a half hours before kick-off and end one hour after the match, so a space that looked harmless on a normal shopping trip may not be legal when football traffic arrives. Check the club's fixture information and then read the street sign on the day; a general parking app may not convey the match condition.
The council publishes a £70 PCN for parking in a restricted match-day road, reduced to £35 within 14 days. A vehicle may be taken to a holding area; for a missing car, call Hampshire Police on 101. Photograph unclear signs before challenging a notice.
How do you find an MOT test station around Portsmouth?
The DVSA active-station list gives 71 authorised MOT sites in the Portsmouth districts used here. The table distinguishes those districts from the whole PO area, which extends beyond the city. Check the class row before booking a motorcycle, larger passenger vehicle or ordinary car.
Ask the station whether it tests your vehicle class, has an appointment and can handle a retest. Plan how to leave and collect the vehicle if it fails. A heavy motorhome's route to a test may cross the Clean Air Zone, so check its charging class independently of the MOT booking.
| Where or what | Stations |
|---|---|
| Districts PO1, PO2, PO3, PO4, PO5, PO6 | 71 |
| Whole PO postcode area | 309 |
| In those districts: cars, light vans and small buses | 62 |
| In those districts: goods vehicles 3,000kg to 3,500kg | 13 |
| In those districts: motorcycles over 200cc | 7 |
DVSA active station list, 7 September 2026.
Common questions
- Is there a clean air zone in Portsmouth?
- Yes. Portsmouth is covered by the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone, run by Portsmouth City Council, in force since 29 November 2021. It operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year..
- What does a car pay to drive in Portsmouth?
- Portsmouth Clean Air Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as. The charge here applies to taxi or private hire vehicle, bus or coach and heavy goods vehicle.
- How many public chargers are there in Portsmouth?
- Portsmouth runs the only class B clean air zone in England. It charges buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles, and leaves cars and vans alone.
- Are motoring rules different in England?
- Vehicle tax, speeding penalties and licensing are set nationally, so they are the same everywhere in Great Britain. What varies locally is whether a charging zone applies and what it costs.
- Do private cars pay Portsmouth Clean Air Zone charges?
- No. The city's Class B scheme charges certain non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles. Portsmouth excludes private cars, motorcycles, vans and minibuses, even when they are older diesels. The council's Cleaner Air Portsmouth site says the DVLA classes some large motorhomes as chargeable, so check one before travelling. Zone entry signs show a B. Drivers of potentially charged vehicles should use the government Clean Air Zone checker instead of assuming that an MOT pass or a low parking tariff means there is no charge.
- How much is a parking PCN in Portsmouth?
- The council's code lists £70 for higher level parking contraventions and £50 for lower level ones. An unpermitted residents' bay or dropped kerb is higher level; expired paid time is lower level. A £70 dropped-kerb PCN can be paid for £35 within 14 days. Read the actual code on your notice and gather the bay sign, payment record and photographs if you dispute it. A rejected formal appeal can be taken to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
- Can I leave my car overnight at Portsmouth Park and Ride?
- No. First Bus prohibits overnight and consecutive-day parking at Tipner. The operator lists a £50 release fee if your vehicle remains after closing. This is relevant to ferry passengers, late events and unusual work shifts. The £5 day ticket buys bus travel for the day, not long-stay vehicle storage. Check the current closing time before setting off, then choose separate long-stay parking if your return may fall outside the site's hours.
- Can a Portsmouth resident buy a permit for a visiting driver?
- Yes, where the resident's address and visitor's vehicle meet the zone rules. The resident buys the RingGo session or scratchcard; the guest cannot buy one independently. Portsmouth lists £1.15 for 12 hours and £2.20 for 24 hours. RingGo registration can take up to 48 hours, so organise it early. Read the particular street's signs too: North Southsea visitor permits do not cover the pay and display bays on the Terraces.
- May my private hire car use a Portsmouth bus lane?
- Only where Portsmouth's specific permission applies. Vehicles licensed by Portsmouth City Council may use named lanes including Cavell Drive, Marketway, Queen Street, Bishop Crispian Way and Mile End Road. That does not open every city bus lane to private hire traffic, nor does it automatically cover a vehicle licensed elsewhere. Check the approach sign and your licensing status. An unauthorised movement can lead to a £70 camera PCN, reduced to £35 within 21 days.
- Where should an electric car driver charge in Portsmouth?
- The council points to Zest for its on-street residential chargers and Be.EV for its rapid chargers. Use their live maps for availability before aiming for a particular street. A marked EV bay requires a plug-in vehicle to be connected and actively charging; ordinary parking there can draw a PCN. While charging, the council says a separate surrounding resident-zone permit is not currently needed. Report a faulty unit to its operator and move the car to a legal alternative.
- Can I park a motorcycle free in Portsmouth?
- The council permits free motorcycle parking in many on-street pay and display areas and its pay and display car parks, provided the bike fits wholly within a marked bay. Motorcycles can also use residents' parking zones without the usual car permit. Check the sign at each location: the council excludes permit-holder car parks and says a motorcycle still cannot park on yellow lines, at taxi ranks, bus stops, loading bays or disabled spaces. Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone also excludes motorcycles from its charge.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics, Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age (mid-2025) (as of 30 June 2025)
- Office for National Statistics, Population estimates for England and Wales: mid-2025 (as of 29 July 2026)
- Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, TS045 car or van availability (as of 21 March 2021)
- Department for Transport, Vehicle licensing statistics, table VEH0105 (2026 Q1) (as of 31 March 2026)
- Department for Transport, Electric vehicle charging infrastructure statistics, table EVCI0102 (as of 1 April 2026)
- GOV.UK, Driving in a clean air zone (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)
- Portsmouth City Council, Civil Parking Enforcement Code of Practice (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, When is a penalty charge notice issued (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Challenging a penalty charge notice (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, If you do not pay your penalty charge notice (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, On-street pay and display parking for cars (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Applying for a resident parking permit (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Eligibility for a resident parking permit (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Visitor parking permits for residents and their visitors (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, LA North Southsea parking zone (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth Park and Ride, Tickets and fares (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth Park and Ride, Park and ride frequently asked questions (as of 26 September 2026)
- First Bus, Portsmouth Park and Ride (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Bus lane enforcement (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Bus lane enforcement appendix A (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council Open Data, Locations of Enforced Bus Lanes (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Clean Air Zone penalty charge notices (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Clean Air Zone privacy notice (as of 26 September 2026)
- Cleaner Air Portsmouth (Portsmouth City Council), Clean Air Zone FAQs (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Charge your electric vehicle in Portsmouth (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Electric vehicles frequently asked questions (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Match day parking near Fratton Park football ground (as of 26 September 2026)
- Portsmouth City Council, Motorcycle parking (as of 26 September 2026)
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, Active MOT test stations (as of 7 September 2026)