What is the Sheffield Clean Air Zone?
Sheffield's Clean Air Zone covers the inner ring road and city centre. If you drive an older van, taxi, lorry, bus or coach there, check if you need to pay before you set off.
What you need to know
It's a daily charge. You can drive in and out multiple times per day, for one single payment.
From £10 a day
From £10 a dayFor vans, LGVs and taxis that don't meet the emission standards. Buses, coaches, lorries and HGVs pay £50.
£120 fine
£120 fineIf you don't pay the charge. It's reduced to £60 if you pay the fine within 14 days.
Exemptions
ExemptionsPrivate cars and motorcycles don't pay. Ultra low emission, historic, military and disabled tax class vehicles are exempt automatically, while local exemptions need an application to Sheffield City Council.
"We are committed to doing all we can to limit the public health implications such as permanent damage to children's lungs, strokes, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease." Councillor Julie Grocutt
Air pollution costs the UK £20 billion and 40,000 lives a year. In Sheffield alone, it contributes to 500 deaths a year.
To protect residents' health, the CAZ charges drivers of polluting taxis, vans, LGVs, coaches, buses, lorries and HGVs a daily fee to enter the zone. Private cars and motorcycles aren't charged.
Charging for non-compliant coaches, buses, lorries and HGVs began on 27 February 2023. Charging for non-compliant vans, LGVs and Hackney carriage taxis began on 5 June 2023.
Vehicles that pay
Vehicles don't pay if they meet these minimum emission standards:
- Taxis, including Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles: Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol
- Light goods vehicles (LGVs) such as vans, camper vans and pickup trucks: Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol
- Minibuses: Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol
- Buses and coaches: Euro 6 diesel
- Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs): Euro 6 diesel
If your vehicle doesn't meet the standard, the daily charge is:
- £10 a day for polluting vans, LGVs and taxis
- £50 a day for coaches, buses, lorries and HGVs
Charges apply daily, so you only pay once however many times you enter and leave the zone that day. If you drive in the zone across two days, for example before and after midnight, you'll need to pay two daily charges.
Sheffield CAZ FAQs
What is the Sheffield Clean Air Zone?
The CAZ will see commercial and private-hire non-compliant vehicles charged a daily fee to enter the zone. You can read more about the charge on our Sheffield CAZ page.
Are there any discounts or exemptions?
Private cars and motorcycles don't pay. National exemptions are set by the government, apply to all Clean Air Zones and are automatic:
- Disabled tax class or disabled passenger tax class vehicles
- Certain types of agricultural vehicles
- Historic vehicles
- Military vehicles
- Ultra low emission vehicles
- Vehicles retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
Local exemptions are set by the council. If you think your vehicle qualifies, see Sheffield City Council's exemptions and discounts page.
Is there any support available?
Financial support was made available from 12 December 2022 for eligible local residents and businesses upgrading non-compliant vehicles. It came as a grant, an interest-subsidised loan or a mix of the two. There was also a retrospective grant scheme for vehicles replaced after 26 October 2021. Applications for these financial grant schemes are now closed.
What happens if I pay for the wrong day?
If you’ve paid for the wrong day, unfortunately we aren’t able to offer you a refund. Caura doesn’t take any of the money for your payment and once it’s made, it goes straight to the end provider. We’re unable to recover funds so we aren’t able to offer a refund.
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