Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone came into force this week and with it, drivers behind the wheel of buses, HGVs and coaches are among those facing tolls of up to £50 a day. The zone, which covers most of Newcastle’s city centre, targets the older and high-polluting vehicles still on the roads.
Vehicles will be required to meet a minimum emissions standard and those who don’t meet those standards will have to pay the fee. Drivers of buses, coaches and HGVs will face a £50-a-day toll, while taxis, minibuses and private hire vehicles will be charged at £12.50 a day.
Not all vehicles of this type will be charged, however, as some may meet the government’s minimum emissions standard or be exempt. Here, we give the full list of national and local exemptions to the Clean Air Zone across Newcastle.
Read more: Newcastle Clean Air Zone: What you need to know about new pollution tolls starting today
The Newcastle Clean Air Zone targets older and high-polluting taxis, vans, buses, coaches and HGVs that do not meet the minimum emissions standards set by the Government. However, in certain cases, some vehicles that do not meet these requirements may be exempt.
National exemptions to the Newcastle Clean Air Zone
National exemptions to clean air zone charges are automatic, which means that you do not have to apply for exemption or pay the charge. Vehicles that are covered by national exemptions include:
Disabled tax class or disabled passenger tax class
Certain types of agricultural vehicles
Historic vehicles
Military vehicles
Ultra low emission vehicles
Vehicles retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
Local exemptions to the Newcastle Clean Air Zone
Local exemptions are set by the local authority and are specific to the Newcastle area. For the majority of these exemptions, they will not be automatic and instead you must apply directly to the local authority, who may ask you to provide supporting evidence.
Some of these exemptions will last indefinitely, whilst others may last for a set period of time.
Emergency vehicles - this includes police vehicles, fire engines, ambulances, health service vehicles, mine rescue vehicles and lifeboat vehicles. This exemption application must be submitted by a recognised emergency service officer and would typically be a permanent one.
Agricultural or similar vehicles - this includes tractors, moving machines, steam-powered vehicles, snow ploughs, gritters, road rollers, digging machines, mobile cranes and mobile pumping vehicles. The local authority will require a copy of your V5C registration document as well as other supporting evidence.
Showmen’s Guild vehicles - these include rigid lorries, tractor units, caravans based on twin axles and living vans. Supporting evidence will be required for this, including photographs, registration and membership.
Non-commercial vintage buses
Motor caravans - for example, Class L vehicles used under the Road User Charging and Workplace Parking Levy (Classes of Motor vehicles) (England) Regulations 2001.
Bus and HGV training vehicles - this includes buses, coaches and HGVs used for training.
Vehicles awaiting retrofit or replacement vehicles - this could include HGV, flatbed lorry, tankers or refrigerated trucks. This exemption will typically be for one year from the retrofit or replacement vehicle order, when work is completed or a new vehicle is supplied.
Financed vehicles - this covers taxis and private-hire vehicles that are registered in Newcastle, Gateshead or North Tyneside, along with commercial vehicles registered to businesses based within the Clean Air Zone’s boundaries.
Vehicles registered to businesses within the Clean Air Zone - this particularly covers light goods vehicles and are limited to two per company.
Community transport vehicles - this is an annual exemption for minibuses
Wheelchair-accessible taxis and private-hire vehicles
Non-compliant resident vehicles - include light goods vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles and are limited to two per property.
Emergency rail replacement vehicles - these exemptions are variable, short-term exemptions that will only be made available when they are needed due to an unforeseen emergency.
You can apply for exemptions online or using a paper application form, which is available from the Clean Air Zone helpdesk.
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