Drivers can now check if they will have to pay to drive through Bristol's Clean Air Zone, ahead of charges being brought in later this year. The government's online vehicle checker will allow motorists to plan and check whether they will need to pay the charge in Bristol and other cities.
Bristol's Clean Air Zone will start operating in summer, while Birmingham, Bath and Portsmouth introduced Clean Air Zones in 2021. The council estimates that 71 per cent of vehicles travelling into the city already meet the zone’s emission standards.
Businesses can also use it to check their vehicles by uploading a spreadsheet of the registration numbers of all the vehicles they own. Bristol’s zone is a central area where pollution is highest. No vehicles are banned. Only older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to travel inside the zone.
Read more: Totterdown residents hang bed sheets from iconic coloured houses
Charges will not apply to:
Euro 4, 5 and 6 petrol vehicles, roughly 2006 upwards
Euro 6 diesel vehicles, roughly end of 2015 onwards
For those with vehicles that would be charged, the council has secured £42m from government for grants and loans to reduce the cost of replacing vehicles that would be charged to enter the zone. The money can be used to trade-in a vehicle for an equivalent new or second-hand model that meets the zone’s emission standards.
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “We’re making sure that the clean air zone won’t have a detrimental impact on people on low incomes or businesses that have already had a difficult two years. That’s why we have £42 million available to help people to get cleaner vehicles.
“It’s easy to check whether your vehicle will be charged. I urge everyone to use the online vehicle checker and enter your registration number as soon as possible.
“If your vehicle will be charged to enter the zone then you can contact us to find out what help you can get with either exemptions, a loan or even a grant which you don’t pay back.
“You don’t need to buy a brand new electric car which are unaffordable for most people – it could be as simple as going to your local second hand dealer and upgrading your 2003 car for a 2006 one.”
To keep up to date with latest Bristol politics news, and discuss thoughts with other residents, join our Bristol politics news and discussion here. You can also sign up to our brand new politics newsletter here .
Read next: Colston Road renamed to honour people who helped topple it
Read next: I tried Bingo in Fishponds and it felt like stepping back in time
