How to check if you’ll be charged to drive your car in Clean Air Zones

DRIVERS can now check online if they will be charged when driving through Clean Air Zones.

The Government has launched a new online tool that allows Brits to find out if their motors meet the emissions standards for Birmingham and Leeds clean air zones.

Birmingham clean air zone is set to come into action on July 1 this year, with drivers charged £8 for not meeting Euro 4 petrol or Euro 6 emission levels.

Motorists who enter the area within the A4550 Middleway Ring Road in gaz-guzzling motors 24 hours a day, seven days a week risk being penalised.

A similar clean air zone will come into effect in Leeds later this year, with heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles charged a daily fee for not meeting emissions standards.

Private or light goods vehicles will not be charged, under the current plans.

Both of the programs aim to reduce air pollution by encouraging more people to transition to cleaner, less polluting vehicles.

It comes after London mayor Sadiq Khan introduced the Ultra Low Emission Zone in the capital last year over concerns about pollution.

Brits wanting to check their car's eligibility only need to input their details into the online tool, which will then tell them whether they will be charged.

The service will update as more clean air zones are launched across the country.

The online tool states: "Tackling high pollution levels is a serious challenge for communities across the UK which is why the government is providing financial and expert support to local authorities to help them clean up their air.

"As well as the online vehicle checker, the government has already provided around £60 million to Leeds and Birmingham to retrofit buses and support businesses and drivers affected by the charge.

"The online vehicle checker is available now to help drivers and businesses to check how they will be affected."