As the UK’s Low Emission Zones (LEZs) continue to grow, new data reveals they have collectively generated over £1 billion in fees and fines since 2019.
The London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which expanded to cover all 32 boroughs of the city last year, has been particularly lucrative, accumulating more than £226 million in fees and fines since its expansion. This makes it the largest clean air zone in the world.
PEUGEOT UK, which recently launched its new E-3008 and E-5008 electric SUVs, commissioned research to assess the financial impact of LEZs across the UK. The data shows that 10 zones have generated a total of £1,044,381,971 in income from motorists since April 2019.
The London ULEZ has been the most significant contributor to this figure, accounting for £875 million of the total income generated. By law, all net revenue from the ULEZ must be reinvested back into London’s transport network.
To celebrate the anniversary of the ULEZ expansion, PEUGEOT is offering enhanced deals on its electric vehicles, including up to an additional £900 saving for key workers.
While LEZs have been effective in improving air quality, they have also led to increased costs for motorists driving older, non-compliant vehicles. Some LEZs charge an entry fee, while others impose a ban on non-compliant vehicles.
As LEZs continue to expand and become more stringent, the demand for electric vehicles is expected to grow. Automakers are investing heavily in electric vehicle technology to meet this demand and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
| Income generated by UK clean air initiatives | ||
| Local Authority / Zone | Time Period †† | Income per Time Period (fees & PCNs) |
| Bath Clean Air Zone | 15/03/2021 – 30/06/2024 | £15,233,761 |
| Birmingham Clean Air Zone | 14/06/2021 – 30/06/2024 | £125,270,609 |
| Dundee Low Emission Zone | 30/05/2024 – 30/06/2024 | £43,320 |
| Glasgow Low Emission Zone | 01/06/2023 – 30/06/2024 | £1,200,815 |
| London Ultra Low Emission Zone | 08/04/2019 – 30/06/2024 | £875,000,000 |
| Oxford Zero Emissions Zone | 28/02/2022 – 30/06/2024 | £1,884,907 |
| Bradford Clean Air Zone | 26/09/2022 – 30/06/2024 | £16,762,799 |
| Portsmouth Clean Air Zone | 29/11/2021 – 30/06/2024 | £1,497,588 |
| Sheffield Clean Air Zone | 27/02/2023 – 30/06/2024 | £2,811,650 |
| Tyneside Clean Air Zone | 30/01/2023 – 30/06/2024 | £4,676,522 |
| Total Income Generated | £1,044,381,971 | |
| Other local authorities with Clean Air Zones on non-conforming vehicles | |
| Aberdeen | Enforcement commenced 1 June 2024 (data not yet available) |
| Edinburgh | Enforcement commenced 1 June 2024 (data not yet available) |
| Annual cost for motorists entering the zone in non-compliant vehicles on a daily basis | ||||
| UK City | Daily fee for private cars | Daily fee for private vans | Estimated annual cost (Car) if using daily | Estimated annual cost (Van) if using daily |
| Bath | £0 | £9 | £0 | £3,285 |
| Birmingham | £8 | £8 | £2,920 | £2,920 |
| Bradford | £0 | £9 | £0 | £3,285 |
| Oxford††† | £10 | £10 | £3,650 | £3,650 |
| Portsmouth | £0 | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| London | £12.50 | £12.50 | £4,562.50 | £4,562.50 |
| Bristol | £9 | £9 | £3,285 | £3,285 |
| Sheffield | £0 | £10 | £0 | £3,650 |
| Newcastle & Gateshead | £0 | £12.50 | £0 | £4,562.50 |
PEUGEOT issued a Freedom of Information request to the ten councils/local authorities which charge motorists to enter a designated Clean Air Zone/Low Emissions Zone, requesting them to outline the amount of income generated in fees and PCNs from motorists entering the zone.
† † Time periods differ between different local authorities
† †† The Oxford Zero Emissions Zone charges a fee depending on the emissions level of the vehicle, with a current maximum fee of £10 for cars that fail to meet Euro 4 (petrol) and Euro 6 (diesel) standards.
