We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve our city’s health but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment. We have worked to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most.

Check your vehicle(s)

Many vehicles that drive through the zone area are already compliant. Check if your vehicle(s) will be charged by using the government’s online vehicle checker.

Bristol Clean Air Zone – at a glance

• Bristol Clean Air Zone is live from 28 November 2022
• Road signage will tell you when you’re approaching or entering the zone
• Charges apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, 365 days of the year
• The daily charge for cars, taxis and light goods vehicles is £9
• The daily charge for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches is £100
• You won’t be notified about payment – the responsibility lies with you
• You have six days to pay the daily charge – you can pay up to six days before and six days after travel
• Pay your charge on www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones or by calling 0300 029 8888

Special Payment Offer

For six weeks after the launch date (28 November – 9 January) people will be given the option of a Special Payment Offer, if they drive through the zone in a non-compliant vehicle and do not pay the charge.

This Special Payment Offer gives people seven days to pay the appropriate daily charge for that journey, which is £9 for private cars, taxis and light goods vehicles and £100 for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches.

If the charge is paid, the remaining Penalty Charge of £120 will be cancelled. Failure to pay this daily charge will result in a full Penalty Charge Notice of £120, or £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the outstanding daily charge.

Temporary exemptions

Bristol’s temporary Clean Air Zone exemptions are still open for applications.

Non-compliant vehicles will not be exempt from the Clean Air Zone charge until a temporary exemption application is approved.  People should allow plenty of time for applications to be processed, up to 15 working days.

The Clean Air Zone is managed by cameras with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and nothing needs to be displayed in the vehicle itself for a temporary exemption.

Patients visiting the BRI hospital complex will be able to register for a daily exemption on the day of their appointment at one of the screens found in the main reception areas.

More about the Clean Air Zone

You can find out more about the Clean Air Zone on the Bristol City Council website.