Annex A: clean air zone minimum classes and standards
Updated 6 October 2022
© Crown copyright 2022
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-quality-clean-air-zone-framework-for-england/annex-a-clean-air-zone-minimum-classes-and-standards
If local authorities propose a clean air zone, and they are approved as part of their air quality plan, they should set out the detail of where it will apply, and the vehicle types to which it would apply. They should also engage and consult with local people, fully assess the impact of such an approach and how it could be mitigated. In all cases, charging zones would apply only to older, higher-polluting models of the vehicle types, so as to have a targeted impact on pollution.
This Annex sets out the minimum classes and standards for clean air zones.
Local authorities implementing a clean air zone should ensure they are using the most recent version.
Buses operating on scheduled service routes would be expected to meet clean air zone requirements through licensing, franchising or partnership approaches with local authorities as appropriate rather than pay a daily charge.
The tables below set out typical vehicle types, Euro category and Euro standard for each clean air zone class. The vast majority of vehicles will fall within the Euro categories as set out below, however there can be variations for particular types. Within the Drive in a clean air zone service, to ensure they are classed appropriately, all vehicles will be classified as equivalent to either a car, van, minibus, bus or coach, Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), taxi/private hire vehicle or motorcycle using information such as type approval, tax class, seating capacity, revenue weight and other factors, including the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles Database. This includes motorhomes and motor caravans (including those with the Vehicle Type Approval M1, M1SP or M1SA). Local exemptions can also apply.
Motorcycles and mopeds are not routinely included under any category. Local authorities may choose to include them under class D.
Class A - buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs)
| Vehicle type | Euro Category (1) | Euro standard (2, 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| Coach | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| Taxi and private hire | Minibus - M2 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5,000 kg, and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver). M1 Passenger vehicle with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver | Euro 6 (diesel) Euro 4 (petrol) |
Ultra low emission vehicles with significant zero emission range will never be charged for entering or moving through a clean air zone.
(1) There are overlaps in the application of Euro VI and Euro 6 permitting manufacturers in limited cases to choose whether to approve to Euro VI or Euro 6 or both.
(2) GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight
(3) Ref. mass is defined in the Euro standards as mass in running order plus 25 kg. This broadly equates to the unladen mass of the vehicle with a driver and an additional 25 kg mass. It will be specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
Class B - buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
| Vehicle type | Euro Category | Euro standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| Coach | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| HGV | N2 (gross vehicle weight over 3500 kg). N3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000kg) | Euro VI |
| taxi and private hire | Minibus - M2 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5,000 kg, and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver). M1 Passenger vehicle with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
Ultra low emission vehicles with significant zero emission range will never be charged for entering or moving through a clean air zone.
Class C - buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs and light goods vehicles (LGVs)
| Vehicle type | Euro Category | Euro standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5,000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| Coach | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5,000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| HGV | N2 (gross vehicle weight over 3,500 kg). N3 (gross vehicle weight over 5000kg) | Euro VI |
| Van | N1 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg) | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
| Minibus | M2 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5,000 kg, and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
| taxi and private hire | Minibus - M2 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5,000 kg, and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver). M1 Passenger vehicle with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
Ultra low emission vehicles with significant zero emission range will never be charged for entering or moving through a clean air zone.
Class D - buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, LGVs and cars
| Vehicle type | Euro Category | Euro standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5,000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| Coach | M3 (gross vehicle weight over 5,000 kg and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro VI |
| HGV | N2 (gross vehicle weight over 3,500 kg). N3 (gross vehicle weight over 5,000kg) | Euro VI |
| Van | N1 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500 kg) | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
| Minibus | M2 (gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5,000 kg, and more than 8 seats in addition to the driver) | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
| Cars, taxis and private hire | M1 Passenger vehicle with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver | Euro 6 (diesel). Euro 4 (petrol) |
| Motorcycles and mopeds (optional) | Euro 3 |
Ultra low emission vehicles with significant zero emission range will never be charged for entering or moving through a clean air zone.