…if you are a bus or coach operator.

Clean Air Zone charges have been in place for some coaches and buses since 30 January 2023.

On this page you will find information about:

  • Which vehicles are affected and how to check whether you will be charged;

  • How much the CAZ charge is and how to pay;

  • Vehicle upgrade grants;

  • Exemptions, including temporary exemptions while you go through the grant funding process.

Which vehicles are affected and how to check whether you will be charged

The Clean Air Zone affects certain buses and coaches driving into Newcastle city centre as well as those using routes over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges. 

Charges only apply to older vehicles that don’t meet Clean Air Zone emissions standards, so it’s important that you check to see whether you would be affected. 

The minimum emissions standard for buses and coaches is Euro VI, which in general means vehicles registered after 2014.

You can check whether your vehicle would be charged to enter the CAZ using the government’s online vehicle checker. 

How much is the CAZ charge and how to pay

The charge for buses and coaches that do not meet the minimum emissions standard is £50 per day.

If you need to make a payment you must do so within six days of your journey.

To pay the charge you will need to go to the national payment system that has been set up by the government. For details see our How to Pay page.

Vehicle upgrade grants

Government has agreed that grants of up to £16,000 would be made available to help replace or upgrade non-compliant buses and coaches.

However, any applications that have been submitted for bus and coach funding are currently on hold while we await further guidance from government in relation to the effectiveness of bus retrofitting.

Until this matter is resolved, we are providing temporary exemptions for buses and coaches where operators have applied for funding for retrofitting or can demonstrate that their vehicle has already been retrofitted.

Discussions with government are ongoing and we will provide further updates to ensure operators are kept informed of any developments.

We are not currently accepting new applications for funding for bus and coach upgrades until this matter is resolved.

Exemptions, including temporary exemptions while you go through the grant funding process

While we await government guidance regarding bus retrofitting technology, we are providing temporary exemptions for vehicles where operators have applied for funding or can show that the vehicle has already been retrofitted.

Exemptions are also available for non-commercial vintage buses and vehicles that are used for driver training or an emergency rail replacement service. Further details on how to apply for one of these exemptions can be found on our exemptions page.

If you would like to be sent updates regarding the CAZ please register your details here.