…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 if you are eligible for funding.

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

Bus and coach operators can apply for a grants of up to £16,000 to help towards the cost of a replacement vehicle.

Please note that, following a government decision, grant funding is no longer available for bus and coach retrofitting.

This decision was announced following the conclusion of a study into the retrofitting technology, which found that it was not delivering the expected reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions.

Exemptions, including temporary exemptions if you are eligible for funding

If you are eligible for funding we will send you an approval letter.

At this point, you will also receive an automatic 90-day exemption from CAZ charges. This will start from the date of your approval letter from us.

This means that you won’t have to pay CAZ charges while you complete your funding application and your purchase of a compliant vehicle.

If you have applied for funding but have not received an approval letter your vehicle will not be exempt and you will still need to pay CAZ charges.

If your exemption has expired and you are still waiting for your replacement vehicle you can apply to extend this exemption providing you have proof that a vehicle has been ordered.

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.