A new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has been introduced across:

• most of Newcastle city centre
• routes over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges.

The Clean Air Zone will help improve air quality and create a healthier environment by encouraging people and businesses with older, more polluting vehicles to upgrade to cleaner models.

To meet minimum emissions standards, vehicles must have a Euro 6 diesel or a Euro 4 petrol engine. In general, this will be diesel vehicles registered after September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered after 2005. 

Which vehicles will be charged for using the new Clean Air Zone?

• Higher polluting taxis, buses, coaches and HGVs will be charged to enter the Clean Air Zone from 30 January 2023.
• Vans and light goods vehicles will not face charges until July 2023 to allow extra time for vehicle replacements, which are currently affected by a national supply shortage.

If you are affected you may be able to get financial support to upgrade your vehicle or an exemption to avoid CAZ charges.

What financial support is available for impacted vehicles?

Applications for Clean Air Zone grants and exemptions open from Monday 21 November 2022. All eligible vehicle owners with a non-compliant vehicle will be able to apply for vehicle upgrade grants, as well as applications for exemptions.

The grant funding will be available to help replace or upgrade vehicles. All those affected, including van owners, are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Affected drivers and vehicle owners are also being offered reassurance that they will be given a one-time only 120 day exemption from charges if they are in the process of applying for funding and waiting for a new vehicle.

If you are still waiting, due to reasons beyond your control, for your vehicle upgrade to be completed at the end of those 120 days, you can apply to extend your exemption until you have your compliant vehicle.

Funding for the grants has been provided by government and the following amounts have been agreed for each vehicle type:

• Taxis, including Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles – up to £3,500
• Wheelchair accessible taxis, including Hackney Carriage and private hire vehicles – up to £4,000
• Light goods vehicles – up to £4,500
• Heavy goods vehicles – up to £16,000
• Buses and coaches – up to £16,000

If your application has been rejected you can appeal against the decision and your temporary exemption will remain in place until the end of the appeal process, providing you submit your appeal within 20 working days.

Find out more about vehicle upgrade grants

Some vehicle owners may also be able to apply for an exemption to CAZ charges, either on a temporary or a permanent basis.

People who will be able to apply for a temporary exemption of two years include those with wheelchair accessible taxis, business owners with vehicles registered within the CAZ, and residents within the CAZ who own a taxi or van.
Business owners and residents within the CAZ can apply for exemptions for up to two vehicles.

Find out more about exemptions

How much is the charge for using the Clean Air Zone?

• Taxis and private hire vehicles that do not meet the minimum emissions standard will be charged £12.50 per vehicle, per day from 30 January 2023. 

• Non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs will be charged £50 per day from Monday 30 January 2023.

When will charging come into force?

• Charging will be introduced in two phases – with non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs being charged from 30 January 2023.

• Vans and light goods vehicles will not face charges until July 2023 to allow extra time for vehicle replacements, which are currently affected by a national supply shortage.

Which vehicles will not be charged for using the new Clean Air Zone?

• Private cars, motorbikes and low emission vehicles are not affected by the Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone.

How can I check if my vehicle will be charged for entering the Clean Air Zone?

• You can check whether their vehicle will be affected by the Clean Air Zone using the government’s online vehicle checker at www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones.

How do I pay if my vehicle is non-compliant and not covered by an exemption?

If you drive into the zone you won't be sent a reminder that you need to pay. Instead you'll need to pay the CAZ charge online or over the telephone, so it's really important to check your vehicle and check your route to understand whether you need to pay.

Once the Clean Air Zone launches on 30 January, payments can be made any time from six days before a journey, on the day of travel or by 11:59pm on the sixth day after driving in the zone. If a charge is not paid you may receive a penalty charge notice (PCN).

You can pay a CAZ charge online or by telephone on 0300 029 8888. The lines are open Monday to Friday between 8am and 7pm and on Saturday from 8am until 2pm.

About the Clean Air Zone

A network of 43 signs and 38 cameras are located at entry points around the boundary of the zone to alert drivers.

Additional signage is in place on approaching routes and inside the zone while electronic signs on key routes are also displaying alerts to inform people that charging will start from January 2023.

To help raise awareness and encourage people to get prepared for the CAZ, the cameras will begin to monitor vehicles entering the zone from 03 October.

Owners of non-compliant vehicles will not have to pay now but will be sent letters that will include information on how to get advice and support with upgrading their vehicle.

Need impartial advice on implementing net zero measures in your business? Our team of Growth Hub Connectors are here to help. Book an appointment here.

You can also find more net zero resources in our free, online toolkit here.