The Bath Clean Air Zone: What you need to know

The decision followed orders from the government to reduce the illegal nitrogen dioxide levels in the city as quickly as possible.

Launched on the 15 March 2021, the zone charges high-emission taxis, buses and other large vehicles to travel through the city centre. The class C CAZ doesn’t charge private cars and motorbikes.

The Bath CAZ covers roads in Bath City Centre and areas including Kingsmead, Bathwick and Walcot.

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There are advanced near the boundary of the CAZ to give drivers the option of avoiding it.

Motorists can check if a post code is in the CAZ before travelling.

Costs vary according to vehicle type:

Although vehicles that don't meet emissions standards can enter or leave the zone multiple times in one day, their owners have to pay two daily charges if they travel in the zone across two different days, e.g. before midnight and after midnight.

Charges don’t apply if one of the vehicles listed above stays parked in the zone.

If your vehicle is deemed non-compliant you might qualify for an interest-free grant to help replace it or pay towards adapting your vehicle to meet emission standards.

Find out more about financial support to replace or adapt your vehicle. 

Charges for the zone apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round.

Bath CAZ will charge vehicles deemed non-compliant with emissions standards, specifically:   

• Diesel vehicles which have Euro 5 engines or older
• Petrol vehicles which have Euro 3 engines or older

You can learn more about Euro emissions standards here.

The CAZ doesn’t charge private cars regardless of their emissions, or if they’re used for work.

Bath CAZ vehicle checker

Some non-compliant vehicles may be exempt from charges to support vital services, owners of hard-to-replace vehicles and vulnerable groups.

You can check if your vehicle is nationally exempt here.

The local council’s MiPermit Portal also allows motorists to apply for a local exemption or discount – registered private heavy goods vehicles could save £91 when driving through the CAZ.

Applications can take up to 14 days. In the meantime you must pay the charge within six days.

You’ll be given 14 days to pay a £60 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) before it increases to £120.

Failure to pay the CAZ charge and PCN within 28 days will increase the penalty to £180.

You can pay the Bath CAZ through the gov.uk website up to six days before driving in the CAZ zone and six days after.

Paying for discounted journeys or logging exempt journeys should be done through the MiPermit Portal.

• The Bath CAZ operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round – private vehicles are not charged to enter the zone.
• You can register some vehicles for a discount or apply for a local exemption on the MiPermit Portal.
• Financial support to replace or adapt your vehicle may be available through Bath & North East Somerset Council.
• Use the Bath CAZ vehicle checker and check if your destination is covered by the CAZ before you start your journey.