The Zone will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. Signage will be clear, so that vehicle drivers who do not wish to enter the Zone can take an alternative route. Daily charges will apply for each day an affected vehicle which doesn’t meet emission standards (a non-compliant vehicle) is used within the Zone. One charge would be imposed per vehicle, per ‘charging day’ (midnight to midnight), however much a vehicle drives within the Zone in that 24-hour period.
Owners or registered keepers of non-compliant vehicles used within the Zone will be required to pay the relevant charge via a central government payment portal. The government plans that a user can pay seven days in advance (including the journey date) or seven days retrospectively (including the journey date). Payment of daily charges will be enforced by a network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras (see privacy notices).
The following daily charges will apply for owners of non-compliant vehicles travelling in the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone.
- Buses and heavy goods vehicles, Euro V diesel or older engine – £60 (from 30 May 2022)
- Coaches, Euro V diesel or older engine – £60 (from 1 June 2023) subject to applying for an exemption.
- Taxis and private hire vehicles, Euro 5 or older (diesel) and Euro 3 or older (petrol) engine – £7.50 (from 30 May 2022; temporary exemption for most Greater Manchester-licensed vehicles until 1 June 2023)
- Vans (light goods vehicles), Euro 5 or older (diesel) and Euro 3 or older (petrol) engine – £10 (from 1 June 2023)
- Minibuses, Euro 5 or older (diesel) and Euro 3 or older (petrol) engine - £10 (from 1 June 2023)
- Motorcaravans (motorhomes/campervans), Euro 5 or older (diesel) and Euro 3 or older (petrol) engine - the daily charge and date of introduction will depend on the tax class of the vehicle.
The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone does not include private cars, motorbikes or mopeds.
If the daily charge for a non-compliant vehicle isn’t paid, there will be a liability to pay a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) of £120 in addition to the unpaid daily charge. This would be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Some vehicles would be exempt from the daily charge. The government’s Clean Air Zone Framework sets permanent exemptions for historic vehicles, military vehicles, disabled passenger vehicles, and specialist emergency service vehicles.
There will also be some local temporary and permanent exemptions and permanent discounts for the Greater Manchester-wide Clean Air Zone. Owners or registered keepers of eligible non-compliant vehicles will be able to apply for a permanent or temporary exemption (if needed) from January 2022.
More information can be found at: https://cleanairgm.com/clean-air-zone/discounts-and-exemptions/