Portsmouth Clean Air Zone checker
Private cars are never charged in Portsmouth, whatever their emissions.
Searching for a Portsmouth ULEZ? Portsmouth runs a Class B Clean Air Zone, and the important difference is simple: private cars, motorbikes and even vans are never charged in it.
The Portsmouth zone at a glance
The scheme, the area and the money, verified against the official sources.
| Scheme | Portsmouth Clean Air Zone |
| Type | Class B (does not charge cars or vans) |
| Private cars charged? | No |
| Hours | Midnight to midnight, every day |
| Area | Around three square kilometres of south-west Portsea Island, covering the city centre, Portsea, Landport and Somers Town. The International Port is outside the zone. |
| How to pay | Charged vehicles pay via the gov.uk Clean Air Zone service, up to 6 days before or after driving. No reminder is sent. |
| Penalty | £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days (charged vehicles only) |
Who pays what in Portsmouth
| Vehicle | Charge |
|---|---|
| Private cars, motorcycles and vans | Never charged |
| Non-compliant taxis and private hire | £10 a day |
| Non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches | £50 a day |
Exemptions and discounts
- All private cars, motorcycles and vans (never charged)
- Historic vehicles and vehicles in the disabled tax class
Official source: Official gov.uk checker and payment. Zone rules change when authorities vote, so check before a journey that matters.
Figures last checked against the official source on . Check the source yourself.
Portsmouth zone: common questions
Is my car compliant in Portsmouth?
The standards are the same as every UK zone: petrol cars need Euro 4 (broadly, first registered from 2006) and diesels need Euro 6 (broadly, from September 2015). Fully electric cars always comply. Use the checker on this page for an instant estimate.
Do cars pay to drive in Portsmouth?
Private cars are never charged in Portsmouth, whatever their emissions. The zone's charges fall on commercial traffic: taxis, buses, lorries and (in some zones) vans that miss the standard.
Where does the Portsmouth Clean Air Zone cover?
Around three square kilometres of south-west Portsea Island, covering the city centre, Portsea, Landport and Somers Town. The International Port is outside the zone. It operates midnight to midnight, every day.
What happens if the rules are broken?
The penalty is £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days (charged vehicles only). Cameras read every plate entering the zone, so an unpaid charge turns into a penalty automatically.