Low emission zones (LEZs), clean air zones (CAZs) and zero emission zones (ZEZs) in the UK have reportedly generated more than £1bn in fees and penalty charges since April 2019.
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests issued by French automotive manufacturer Peugeot found 10 zones across the UK have made £1,044,381,971 in income from motorists since April 2019.
There are currently 13 LEZs, CAZs and ZEZs in operation across the UK, including the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London.
Nine of these schemes charge non-compliant vehicles an entry fee, with penalty charge notices issued to drivers who fail to pay the daily charge.
The London ULEZ issued the majority of fees and fines, accounting for £875m of income generated between April 2019 – when the scheme was first introduced – and June 2024.
READ MORE: London’s expanded ULEZ raises over £300m in penalty charges in first six months
Under the Transport Act 2000, all net revenue generated by the ULEZ must be reinvested back into London’s transport network; the same law applies to all CAZs in England to facilitate “the achievement of local transport policies of the authority”.
The FOI figures exclude data on the Bristol CAZ as the city council plans to publish this information before the end of the calendar year.
Data is also not yet available for the LEZs in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, which started enforcement on 01 June.
The data has been published as the one-year anniversary of the London ULEZ expansion looms.
Since the expansion of the scheme on 29 August 2023, Transport for London (TfL) has reportedly accumulated more than £226m in fees and fines.
The London ULEZ, which now includes all 32 boroughs of the UK capital, is now the largest zone of its kind in the world, according to TfL.
READ MORE: London ULEZ vehicle scrappage scheme to end in September
Eurig Druce, managing director at Peugeot UK, said: “As Low emission zones continue to expand across the UK, it is clear that the future of urban mobility lies in cleaner, more sustainable transportation.
“To mark one year since the ULEZ expansion, we have also enhanced offers on our electric vehicles, including up to an additional £900 saving for key workers – helping drivers avoid costly ULEZ charges but also playing a vital role in reducing air pollution in our cities.”
Income generated by UK emissions-based charging schemes
Other local authorities with emissions-based charging schemes on non-conforming vehicles
| Aberdeen | Enforcement commenced o1 June 2024 (data not yet available) |
| Edinburgh | Enforcement commenced o1 June 2024 (data not yet available) |
Annual cost for motorists entering the zone in non-compliant vehicles on a daily basis
| UK City | Daily fee for private cars | Daily fee for private vans | Estimated annual cost (Car) if using daily | Estimated annual cost (Van) if using daily |
| Bath | £0 | £9 | £0 | £3,285 |
| Birmingham | £8 | £8 | £2,920 | £2,920 |
| Bradford | £0 | £9 | £0 | £3,285 |
| Oxford††† | £10 | £10 | £3,650 | £3,650 |
| Portsmouth | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| London | £12.50 | £12.50 | £4,562.50 | £4,562.50 |
| Bristol | £9 | £9 | £3,285 | £3,285 |
| Sheffield | £0 | £10 | £0 | £3,650 |
| Newcastle & Gateshead | £0 | £12.50 | £0 | £4,562.50 |
† † Time periods differ between different local authorities
† †† The Oxford Zero Emissions Zone charges a fee depending on the emissions level of the vehicle, with a current maximum fee of £10 for cars that fail to meet Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) standards.
Clean air initiatives will be celebrated at the third annual CiTTi Awards, which will be held on 26 November 2024 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Nominations are open now! Please visit www.cittiawards.co.ukto learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector – and to book your table!
