Clean Air Zones And The London LEZ: A Guide For HGV Operators

Which UK clean air zones charge HGVs, how much they cost and how to check if your truck is compliant before you buy or drive into a city.

Clean air zones have changed how operators choose trucks. A vehicle that does not meet the standard can cost £50 to £100 a day to drive into some UK cities, and heavy goods vehicles are included in every charging zone.

Which Vehicles Are Affected

For diesel HGVs the standard is Euro 6 (Euro VI). Any truck that meets Euro 6 can drive in UK clean air zones without paying a charge. Euro 5 and older trucks are charged.

You may hear people talk about ULEZ for trucks. London's Ultra Low Emission Zone covers cars and vans; lorries over 3.5 tonnes fall under the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ), which covers almost all of Greater London and runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Charging Zones In England

At the time of writing, the main zones that charge non-compliant HGVs are:

Charges, boundaries and exemptions change, so always check the official GOV.UK "drive in a clean air zone" service before you travel or quote for a job.

Scotland's Low Emission Zones

Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have low emission zones. Rather than a daily charge, non-compliant vehicles receive a penalty notice, and the penalty rises for repeat entries. The Euro 6 standard for diesel HGVs is the same.

Direct Vision Standard In London

Emissions are not the only rule in London. HGVs over 12 tonnes also need a Direct Vision Standard safety permit from Transport for London. Since October 2024 a truck needs a three-star rating, or must be fitted with the Progressive Safe System of cameras, sensors and warnings, to get a permit. If you work in London, ask for the truck's DVS rating before you buy.

How To Check A Truck Before You Buy

  1. Find the Euro rating on the V5C or certificate of conformity.
  2. Enter the registration in the GOV.UK vehicle checker for clean air zones.
  3. For London work, check the LEZ status and the Direct Vision Standard rating on the TfL website.
  4. Keep the paperwork, as you may need it if a camera wrongly records the vehicle.

Choosing The Right Truck

If any of your work goes near a zone, a Euro 6 truck usually pays for itself in saved charges and a stronger resale value. Read our comparison of Euro 6 vs Euro 5 trucks for the full picture.

Every truck in our used truck stock shows its Euro rating and clean air zone status on the listing. If you need a compliant vehicle for a specific contract, send us your requirement and we will let you know when a match arrives.