…if you are a heavy goods vehicle operator.

Some heavy goods vehicles have been required to pay a charge to enter the Clean Air Zone 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, including how much is available and who can apply;

  • Exemptions, including temporary exemptions after your eligibility for funding has been confirmed.

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

The Clean Air Zone affects certain HGVs 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 HGVs 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 HGVs 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, including how much is available, who can apply and when funding will be offered

If you own a non-compliant HGV you may be eligible to apply for a grant of up to £16,000.

The amount of funding available for grants is limited and therefore we are prioritising support for those who operate more regularly within the Clean Air Zone.

This means that you will need to be able to demonstrate that you have carried out business at a location within the zone at least twice a week over the last three months. if you are just travelling through the zone to reach another destination you will not qualify for funding.

The amount of funding you receive will be based on the sale and purchase prices of your old and new vehicles. Please speak to the financial provider handling your grant application before agreeing a vehicle sale or purchase.

Please be aware that, due to financial auditing requirements, grants cannot be provided if the vehicle sale or purchase has been made using cash.

Visit our grants page for more information.

Exemptions, including temporary exemptions after your eligibility for funding has been confirmed

We will send you an approval letter if you are eligible for funding.

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.

Find out more about exemptions and how to apply.

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