Which zones charge private cars
Several UK cities have clean air zones, but only some charge private cars. Birmingham and Bristol run Class D zones, which include cars: £8 a day in Birmingham and £9 a day in Bristol for a car that does not meet the standard. London's ULEZ charges £12.50 a day. In Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee run low emission zones, where a non-compliant car is issued a penalty charge rather than paying a daily fee.
Zones in Bath, Bradford, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside do not charge private cars, so a car can drive in them whatever its Euro status. Depending on the city, they may still charge taxis, buses, vans or lorries.
The standard: Euro 4 petrol, Euro 6 diesel
The rule is the same in every zone that charges cars. Petrol cars need to meet Euro 4, generally cars first registered from 2006 and many from 2001. Diesel cars need Euro 6, generally cars first registered from September 2015. Hybrids are judged by the fuel they burn, and electric cars are exempt everywhere.
We use the Euro status the DVLA records where it has one. Otherwise we estimate it from the fuel type and first registration date, and tell you plainly when a car is borderline. For those, confirm the answer with GOV.UK's clean air zone checker or TfL's vehicle checker before you drive into a zone.
Why it matters when you buy
Charges change the real cost of a cheap older car. A diesel that pays £9 a day in Bristol costs £45 for a five-day working week, which is about £2,000 a year if you commute into the zone. The same car would pay £8 a day in Birmingham. If you live, work or regularly visit one of these cities, check before you buy, not after.
Our ULEZ check covers London in more detail, and the ULEZ and clean air zones guide explains the rules for each city. Zone rules can change, so check the official websites for the latest position.
Using the verdict
The verdict is part of every free report, next to the MOT history, tax and mileage. It shows the car's Euro status, whether that was recorded by the DVLA or estimated, and the charge in each zone if the car does not comply. Compare it across your shortlist: a slightly dearer car that meets the standard can be the cheaper one to own.
Remember that the verdict is about the car, not the driver. Exemptions and discounts for residents, blue badge holders or historic vehicles depend on the zone, so if one might apply to you, check the rules for that city on its official website before you rely on it.