Driving charges · Clean air zone
Bristol Clean Air Zone
A small area of central Bristol ('Small CAZ D', about 1.18 square miles). Exact boundary on the council/Clean Air for Bristol map.
Who pays
Class D: cars, taxis, vans, HGVs, buses and coaches that are diesel older than Euro 6 or petrol older than Euro 4. Motorbikes, fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell and CVRAS-retrofitted vehicles are not charged. As a guide petrol from about 2006 and diesel from about end-2015 are compliant.
When it applies
24 hours a day, midnight to midnight, 365 days a year. Parked vehicles that do not move are not charged.
How much
| Vehicle | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private petrol or diesel cars | £9 | per day |
| Taxis | £9 | per day |
| Light goods vehicles (under 3.5t) | £9 | per day |
| HGVs (over 3.5t), buses, coaches | £100 | per day |
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
- Specialist vehicle exemption (tax classes 4, 8, 11 and tax class 12 emergency vehicles)
- Hospital patient and visitor exemption for some patients/visitors to the Bristol Royal Infirmary complex
- Financial Assistance Scheme exemption (telematics assessment, or approved finance awaiting replacement/retrofit)
- Temporary Blue Badge exemptions ended 31 March 2023; disabled tax class remains nationally exempt
How to pay
Online at GOV.UK Drive in a Clean Air Zone service or national CAZ support 0300 029 8888. Business accounts available. Advance payments are not refunded if you don't travel.
Payment deadline
Up to 6 days before, on the day, or up to 6 days after entering the zone.
If you don't pay
PCN £120 plus the unpaid CAZ charge; reduced to £60 plus the charge if paid within 14 days of the date of service. 28 days to pay or appeal; if unpaid a charge certificate increases the amount by 50%; court registration (Order for Recovery) adds £9.
Good to know
Live since 28 November 2022. Non-UK vehicles are fined. Cardiff Council's July 2026 release says Bristol is also exploring a Workplace Parking Levy (not a driving charge). lat/lon/radius approximate.
Sources: www.bristol.gov.uk/streets-travel/bristol-caz · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/cha · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/pay · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/vie · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/pay · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/exe · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/exe · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/exe · www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/bristols-caz/wha · www.gov.uk/guidance/driving-in-a-clean-air-zone