Portsmouth Clean Air Zone (CAZ) checker

On 29 November 2021, Portsmouth became one of the many UK cities to adopt a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) to improve air quality and reduce emissions. See if your vehicle complies.

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Portsmouth CAZ map and charges

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

Area of operation

Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone covers all of the city centre. From east to west, the boundary stretches from Fratton Road to the Portsmouth Harbour. Its northernmost point is Kingston Crescent, and its southernmost point is the intersection between B2154 and Ladport Tier.

CAZ charges and exemptions

Non-compliant taxis and private hire vehicles are required to pay a daily charge of £10 each day they enter the CAZ or drive within its boundary. HGVs, buses and coaches will pay £50. Private passenger cars, motorcycles and vans face no charge in Portsmouth.

How to pay

The easiest way to pay is online via the nationwide gov.uk Clean Air Zones page. If you also have to pay a penalty charge notice (PCN), you can do so through the post, over the phone or using the Portsmouth City Council website.

What is the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone (CAZ)?

How Portsmouth's CAZ works

In November 2021, Portsmouth became the third city in the UK to introduce a Clean Air Zone. The CAZ aims to improve air quality by charging the most polluting vehicles when they enter or drive within its boundaries. Across Portsmouth's city centre and surrounding areas, hundreds of cameras use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to identify vehicles and check their compliance. If you cross the border or drive within the zone with a non-compliant vehicle, you'll have to pay the charge.

Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone operates 24 hours every day, 365 days per year, with no exceptions. Days last from midnight to midnight, and you'll only be charged once per day, regardless of how many times you enter or drive within the zone. However, if you are still driving within the zone after the clock turns midnight, you will be charged a second time. You have the option to pay up to 6 days in advance, but failure to do so by 11:59 6 days following will result in a £120 fine on top of your £10/£50 daily charge.

Vehicles included in Portsmouth's CAZ

Portsmouth operates a Class B Clean Air Zone, meaning it only applies to taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). Vehicles with petrol engines must meet Euro 4 emissions standards to comply with CAZ regulations, while diesel engines must meet Euro 6 standards. Since Portsmouth's CAZ is Class B, most Portsmouth residents generally aren't affected. This regulation primarily impacts business owners and drivers of the above-listed vehicles.

Some vehicles are nationally exempt from Clean Air charges, such as emergency vehicles, disabled tax class vehicles and military vehicles. Portsmouth also specifically exempts certain vehicles at the city level. These include emergency rail/bus replacements, horse transporters, specialist heavy vehicles (e.g., cranes) and vintage buses (20-30 years or older). If you aren't part of an exempt class and your vehicle doesn't comply with Portsmouth's CAZ regulations, daily charges of up to £50 can quickly add up. That's why checking beforehand is so important.

Benefits of using our Portsmouth CAZ compliance checker

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

Check Portsmouth CAZ compliance in real time

Our Portsmouth CAZ compliance checker tool takes the guesswork out of whether or not your vehicle meets the city's CAZ standards. Just plug in your registration number, hit 'check compliance', and you'll get real-time results. It's that simple! And since it's free to use, you can check whenever you like and use it for multiple vehicles. The ability to know in an instant which of your vehicles comply saves you from unwanted surprises down the line.

Stay on top of changes and updates

Although Portsmouth's CAZ is well-established and has been for a while, it's subject to change. UK's national and local governments are only becoming more stringent on air quality, especially in urban areas with lots of congestion. By using our free online CAZ compliance checker, you'll always know your vehicle's current compliance status. And you won't have to jump through multiple websites to find the information you're looking for.

Prepare your route ahead of time

Portsmouth's CAZ isn't very big, and most of it doesn't extend all the way up to the city's coastline. If you don't meet Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards, you might be able to avoid the zone if you're careful. Knowing compliance ahead of time allows you to plan your route more efficiently, reducing any potential delays from last-minute detours or unexpected daily charges for entering unknowingly.

Plan for business/personal expenses

The Clean Air Zone in Portsmouth primarily impacts business owners who operate fleets of vehicles and Uber/taxi/private hire drivers. If you operate a fleet of 10 lorries for pickup/delivery, for example, that's £500 per day (or £15,000 per month) for your business. In the short term, you'll have to budget for the charges. In the long term, you'll need to start preparing your company to invest in newer, more environmentally-friendly vehicles. That all starts with knowing compliance.

User-friendly interface

Our tool's user-friendly interface guarantees a seamless experience. It is designed with simplicity and efficiency in mind, so it's easy for users of all tech levels to navigate. Just a few clicks and you'll have the CAZ compliance information you need in an understandable format. Most importantly, it's accessible on all kinds of devices, so you can look into your vehicle's compliance status whether you're on the go or at home.

Avoid costly fines

Whether your goal is to avoid the zone altogether or eventually upgrade your vehicle, you'll want to minimise your financial burden in the meantime. If you enter the zone without knowing compliance, you might not even feel prompted to look for the CAZ charge (how would you know you have to pay it?). A lack of awareness leads to a £120 fine on top of your daily fee. Our tool helps you avoid costly fines and comply with Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone regulations.

Which cars are exempt from Portsmouth's CAZ charges?

Portsmouth's CAZ exemptions generally apply to vehicles that meet Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards.

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: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)
HGVs: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)

CAZ-compliant buses, minibuses and coaches

Buses: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)
Minibuses: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)
Coaches: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (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

Bradford Clean Air Zone

Sheffield Clean Air Zone

Newcastle Clean Air Zone

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Common FAQs about Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone

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

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

Portsmouth has a Class B Clean Air Zone, meaning taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs are subject to daily charges. Vehicles in the above categories with petrol engines must meet Euro 4 emissions standards. Diesel engines must meet Euro 6 standards.

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

Drivers have to pay a daily charge any day they enter or drive within the Clean Air Zone. For vehicles that remain parked in the zone (e.g., a business's parking lot), the charge only applies on days when someone drives the vehicle. The zone is operational 24/7 and days reset at midnight, so charges apply at any time of day.

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

Vehicle owners have the option to pay up to 6 days before entering the zone or anytime up to 11:59 p.m. on the sixth day after they enter. Those who fail to pay the charge will be hit with a £120 PCN (due within 28 days). Paying the PCN in 14 days or less nets a 50% discount (£60). After 28 days, the PCN will increase by 50% (£180).

How do you avoid Clean Air charges in Portsmouth?

To avoid Clean Air charges in Portsmouth, we strongly recommend investing in a CAZ-compliant vehicle. Switching to a more efficient vehicle means better fuel efficiency (i.e., lower fuel prices), zero charges and a contribution to a cleaner environment. Plus, this guarantees you can drive throughout the zone without worry.

If you can't make the switch (or just don't want to), you can avoid the zone altogether by parking outside of it or considering alternative routes that don't pass through the zone. If you need to use the zone, you could try limiting the number of days you do so in order to offset some of the cost.

How much is the Clean Air Zone charge in Portsmouth?

The charge for vehicles that do not meet Euro 4/Euro 6 emissions standards is £50 per day for HGVs, buses and coaches. For taxis and private hire vehicles, the charge is £10 per day. If you drive within the zone overnight, you will be charged a second time when the clock switches to midnight.

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

If you live in the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone, you don't necessarily need to worry about anything. Private passenger vehicles, vans, motorcycles and mopeds aren't affected by the zone, so most everyday drivers have nothing to worry about. If you run a business that owns and operates commercial vehicles within the zone, however, you will be subject to charges.

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

You have 12 days in total to pay Portsmouth's CAZ daily charge — up to 6 days before entry, or anytime up to 11:59 p.m. on the sixth day after the entry date. If payment is not made within this timeframe, a £120 fine will be issued and must be paid within 28 days. If you can, it's always better to pay early and avoid the potential hassle and fines if you forget later on.

How do I know if I have entered the Clean Air Zone in Portsmouth?

There are no toll booths, barriers or large indicators that you're entering Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone. However, there are smaller signs and cameras (which are always next to each other) located in various areas throughout the zone and along its border. They will take photos of your vehicle's registration plate and compare it to a database to determine if you're exempt or not. If you aren't, you'll automatically receive a charge (though you won't be notified, it's your responsibility to know).

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

Technically, there is nothing stopping you from entering Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone with a non-compliant vehicle. That all depends on whether you're willing to pay fines every day for doing so. We'd definitely find it frustrating to pay £10-£50 every time we had to enter the zone, and we're willing to bet most others would too.

Why are Clean Air Zones necessary in Portsmouth?

Portsmouth's city centre has high levels of pollution, which has affected its residents' health and well-being. Clean Air Zones were introduced to reduce harmful emissions from vehicles and improve air quality in cities across the UK. By discouraging the use of polluting vehicles in the most congested areas and promoting cleaner alternatives, we can protect public health and create a more sustainable community for future generations.

How can I contact Portsmouth Clean Air Zone support?

If you think you might be exempt, you can apply for exemptions at CAZExemptions@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or by calling 023 9283 4593. You can reach the nationwide Clean Air Zone support team at 0300 029 8888 for enquiries about the overall scheme, charges and anything that might impact your situation.