Driving charges · Clean air zone
Bath Clean Air Zone
Bath city centre (Class C zone, about 1.2 square miles). Exact boundary on the council's interactive map and postcode checker.
Who pays
Class C: taxis, private hire vehicles, minibuses, vans/pick-ups/light goods vehicles (N1, including some campervans and 4x4s), buses, coaches, HGVs and private HGVs (e.g. large motorhomes, horseboxes) that are diesel older than Euro 6/VI or petrol older than Euro 4/IV. Charged whether used privately or commercially. Private cars (M1) and motorbikes are never charged. All hybrids, fully electric and hydrogen vehicles are compliant.
When it applies
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year; charge day runs midnight to midnight. Parked vehicles that do not move are not charged.
How much
| Vehicle | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Taxis and private hire vehicles (M1/M2) | £9 | per day |
| Minibuses (M2) | £9 | per day |
| Vans, light goods vehicles, pick-ups, some campervans and 4x4s (N1) | £9 | per day |
| Coaches and buses (M3) | £100 | per day |
| HGVs (N2/N3, over 3.5 tonnes) | £100 | per day |
| Private HGVs (large motorhomes, horse transporters) | £100 | reduced to £9 per day if registered with the council for the PHGV discount (not used for hire or reward); pay via MiPermit |
| Private cars and motorbikes | £0 | not charged, even if used for work |
Discounts and exemptions
- National exemptions (automatic, all English CAZs): ultra low emission vehicles, disabled and disabled passenger tax class vehicles, military vehicles, historic vehicles, vehicles retrofitted under the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS), certain agricultural vehicles
- PHGV discount (large motorhomes/horse transporters not used commercially): £9 instead of £100, apply in advance, renew yearly
- Agricultural or similar non-road-going vehicles (tractors, gritters, snow ploughs, mowing machines etc.) not nationally exempt
- Health service vehicles exempt from vehicle tax
- Emergency service vehicle exemption closed to new applications (existing organisations under MoUs)
- Local exemptions/discounts are applied for and used via the council's MiPermit service (allow up to 14 days for approval)
- Several earlier exemptions ended on 14 March 2023 and 14 March 2025 (e.g. Blue Badge, community transport, showman's, recovery, general haulage)
How to pay
Online at GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service (debit/credit card) or by phone 0300 029 8888; business accounts can pay by bank account. Registered discounts/exempt journeys must be paid/logged through the council's MiPermit service. No reminders, no Auto Pay.
Payment deadline
Up to 6 days before, on the day, or up to 6 days after (by 23:59 on the 6th day) - a 13-day window.
If you don't pay
PCN £120 plus the unpaid charge (£9 or £100). Reduced to £60 (plus the charge) if paid within 14 days of the date of service. Must pay within 28 days; after that a charge certificate raises the penalty by 50% to £180 (plus the charge).
Good to know
Live since March 2021. Non-UK vehicles are enforced. No announced end date found on official pages. lat/lon/radius are approximate, for map drawing only (radius derived from the 1.2 sq mi area on GOV.UK).
Sources: www.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-clean-air-zone · www.bathnes.gov.uk/find-out-bath-clean-air-zone-charges · www.bathnes.gov.uk/check-your-vehicle-and-pay-charge · www.bathnes.gov.uk/pay-clean-air-zone-fine · www.bathnes.gov.uk/get-exemption-or-discount-baths-clean-air · www.bathnes.gov.uk/view-map-baths-clean-air-zone · www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone · www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones