Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ) checker

Bradford's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has been in effect since September 2022 in an effort to reduce harmful air pollution in the city. Use our tool to see if you comply.

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Bradford CAZ map and charges

The image below shows the limits of the Bradford Clean Air Zone.

Area of operation

The Bradford zone encompasses the area within and including the Bradford outer ring road. Additionally, it extends along the Aire Valley corridor, specifically the Manningham Lane/Bradford Road and Canal Road area, encompassing Shipley and Saltaire as well. This comprehensive coverage ensures the majority of the City of Bradford is included in the Clean Air Zone.

CAZ charges and exemptions

Drivers now have to pay a daily charge if they drive a vehicle that does not meet CAZ emissions requirements within the city (unless they are exempt). Charges range from £7 for private hire vehicles to £50 for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Bradford has a Class C+ Clean Air Zone, meaning charges apply to all types of non-compliant vehicles except for motorcycles and passenger cars.

How to pay

Paying the Bradford CAZ daily charge is simple. All you need to do is visit the gov.uk Clean Air Zones page. From there, a series of prompts will guide you through the process.

What is the Bradford Clean Air Zone (CAZ)?

How Bradford's CAZ works

In September 2022, Bradford implemented a Clean Air Zone to encourage drivers to switch to low-emissions vehicles and reduce overall pollution levels in the city. When you enter or drive within the CAZ area, cameras surrounding the perimeter or placed within the zone will capture your number plate using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. This information is then cross-referenced with DVLA databases to determine whether your vehicle meets emissions standards. If it doesn't, you will be automatically sent a charge, which you can pay online.

Bradford's CAZ operates 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. This means you will pay once every day you drive inside the CAZ (it resets at midnight). If you plan on entering the zone, you can pay up to 6 days ahead of time. Upon entering or driving within the zone, you will have 6 days after to pay the charge. If you haven't by the sixth day at 11:59 p.m., you will be issued a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for failure to pay the previous charge. If you pay the PCN within 14 days, it is halved.

Vehicles included in Bradford's CAZ

Bradford has a Class C+ Clean Air Zone, meaning passenger vehicles and motorcycles are exempt. Bradford's CAZ primarily applies to buses, coaches, hackney carriages, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), private hire vehicles and taxis. Everyday Bradford residents and visitors do not have to worry. Only non-compliant vehicles used for commercial purposes are charged. This ensures that the majority of commercial activity taking place within Bradford's CAZ contributes to cleaner air.

For private hire vehicles and hackney carriages, the CAZ daily charge is £7. LGVs and minibuses pay a charge of £9 for driving within the zone. Coaches, buses, and HGVs all pay a charge of £50 for each day they drive into the zone. Charges add up over time (especially for businesses with fleets of non-compliant HGVs). That's precisely why it's so important to check your vehicle's compliance before entering the zone.

Benefits of using our Bradford CAZ compliance checker

Knowing if Bradford's CAZ charges apply to you helps you plan ahead and avoid costly fines.

Check Bradford CAZ compliance in real time

Our free Bradford CAZ compliance checker automatically runs your vehicle registration against the database of compliant and non-compliant vehicles. All you have to do is enter your registration, click the blue button and wait a few seconds for your compliance status to appear. If your vehicle meets the emissions standards, you can drive freely within Bradford's CAZ without worrying. And since it's free, you can check whenever you like.

Stay on top of changes and updates

Currently, eight cities across Britain have Clean Air Zones in place. They're regulated at the city level, so each one is different. Plus, they're always subject to change (just look at London's ULEZ, which just expanded). By getting in the habit of checking your vehicle's compliance, you'll always be in the loop. That way, you won't have to worry about unexpected charges or surprise changes to the law.

Prepare your route ahead of time

Some drivers prefer to avoid their trip into the CAZ by taking a different route. If you do this, you may be able to save money while keeping your impact on the environment low. Navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze let you know when you're entering Bradford's CAZ zone. By checking your vehicle's CAZ compliance beforehand, you can either park your vehicle outside the zone or use a different form of transportation.

Plan for business/personal expenses

If your vehicle doesn't meet compliance standards, you have a few options: pay the daily charge(s) or find alternative modes of transportation that do not involve driving into the zone. As a private hire driver or business owner operating a fleet of LGVs or HGVs, you can start planning ahead for these expenses (and future investment in more efficient vehicles) once you know whether your vehicle meets Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards or not.

User-friendly interface

We've designed our Bradford CAZ compliance checker to be as user-friendly as possible. We present your compliance and vehicle information in an easy-to-understand format, so everyone can use it. Plus, our site has plenty of other resources you can use to learn more about CAZ, Euro emissions standards and how other cities are responding to air pollution concerns. Whenever there's an update, you'll be the first to know.

Avoid costly fines

It's ultimately your responsibility to pay your daily charges. If you aren't sure whether you need Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards, you'll likely miss them altogether. That's a big issue because they increase significantly at midnight after the sixth day. If you incur several charges over a multi-day period, you're looking at several hundred (or thousand) pounds you could have saved simply by checking your CAZ compliance online for free.

Which cars are exempt from Bradford's CAZ charges?

Different rules apply to different types of vehicles when it comes to Bradford's daily CAZ charges.

CAZ-compliant petrol cars

Must meet Euro 4 emissions standards.
Typically, manufactured after 2006.

CAZ-compliant diesel cars

Must meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
Typically, manufactured after September 2015.

CAZ-compliant LGVs and HGVs

LGVs: Diesel (Euro 6), Petrol (Euro 4)
HGVs: At least Euro 6 emissions standards (including alternative fuels)

CAZ-compliant buses, minibuses and coaches

Buses: Minimum Euro 6 (school buses must meet Euro 4)
Minibuses: Diesel (Euro 6), Petrol (Euro 4)
Coaches: Minimum Euro 6

View other Clean Air Zones (CAZ)

Live elsewhere? Check below for information on other Clean Air Zones in the UK.

Birmingham Clean Air Zone

Bristol Clean Air Zone

Bath Clean Air Zone

Portsmouth Clean Air Zone

Sheffield Clean Air Zone

Newcastle Clean Air Zone

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Common FAQs about Bradford's Clean Air Zone

Learn about how our checker works and how to stay compliant with CAZ regulations.

Which cars will be charged in the Clean Air Zone in Bradford?

In Bradford's Clean Air Zone, vehicles that will be charged include petrol/diesel private hire vehicles and hackney carriages that don't meet Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards. They also include LGVs, minibuses, coaches, buses and HGVs that don't meet Euro 4/Euro 6 (petrol/diesel) emissions standards.

When do you have to pay in a Clean Air Zone in Bradford?

You have to pay the Clean Air charge any time you enter or drive within Bradford's Clean Air Zone. This means you only have to pay for the days you drive. You will not be charged for any days your vehicle remains parked in the zone without moving. Since a parked vehicle doesn't produce any emissions, there would be no reason to charge you.

What happens if you don't pay for the Clean Air Zone in Bradford?

If you fail to pay or dispute a Clean Air charge within 6 days of receiving it, you will receive a £120 penalty. You have 28 days to pay this fine, or else it increases by 50% to £180. If you make the payment within 14 days, it drops down to £60. You can view your penalty charge notice (PCN) on the official Bradford Council website.

How do you avoid Clean Air charges in Bradford?

The only ways to avoid Clean Air charges in Bradford if you aren't exempt are to (a) find alternative modes of transportation, (b) upgrade to a vehicle that meets Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards or (c) avoid the zone altogether. Our CAZ compliance checker can help you determine whether your vehicle meets these standards.

How much is the Clean Air Zone charge in Bradford?

Braford's Clean Air Zone daily charge amount depends on the type of vehicle you drive. For hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, it's £7 per day. For minibuses, LGVs and motorhomes under 3.5 tonnes, it's £9. For buses, coaches, HGVs and motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes, the CAZ charge is £50.

What happens if I live in a Clean Air Zone in Bradford?

As a Bradford resident within the Clean Air Zone, you don't have to worry. The CAZ does not affect passenger vehicles or motorcycles, so you are not required to pay any charges. However, if you operate a business that uses non-compliant vehicles within the zone, you will need to pay any applicable daily charges on each vehicle each day it's in operation.

How long do I have to pay the Clean Air charge in Bradford?

You have 6 days from when you entered or drove within the zone to pay the Clean Air charge. You'll receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) in the mail if you don't. You can check the official Bradford Council website to verify whether you owe a fine or not. You can also pay up to six days in advance of driving within the zone.

How do I know if I enter Bradford's Clean Air Zone?

If you enter Bradford's Clean Air Zone, you will see a sign that reads, "Clean Air Zone". This will either be attached to or very close to a camera, which will scan your number plate in order to determine whether your vehicle meets CAZ emissions standards. Other than signage, there is no specific indicator.

What happens if you don't follow the Clean Air Act in Bradford?

Nothing outwardly bad will happen to you if you don't follow the Clean Air Act in Bradford. However, failure to upgrade your vehicle or avoid the zone will prove very expensive for you or your business, particularly if you operate a larger commercial vehicle. If you operated one every day for a whole year, you would spend nearly £20,000 in Clean Air charges.

Why are Clean Air Zones necessary in Bradford?

Like many cities across Britain, Bradford struggles with air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The idea behind Clean Air Zones is to incentivize people to drive cleaner vehicles or use alternative transportation methods, such as cycling or public transport. By doing so, it helps reduce the negative impact of vehicle emissions on air quality and the environment.

How can I contact Bradford Clean Air Zone support?

You can contact Clean Air Zone support at 0300 029 8888 for any city in the UK. They're available to help you with exemption applications, payment enquiries and other CAZ-related concerns (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. or Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m.). You can also fill out their online contact form to receive a response via email.