Petrol and diesel drivers issued urgent Clean Air Zone warning as they face 'maximum penalty of £5,000'
Drivers could face major fines when travelling through Clean Air Zones
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Experts are warning drivers that they could be slapped with enormous fines through little-known mistakes when travelling through Clean Air Zones and the London Ulez.
GOV.UK states that there are several Clean Air Zones around the UK including Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead).
A further Clean Air Zone is expected to be launched in 10 boroughs across Greater Manchester, although these proposals are under review.
There are also four Low Emission Zones in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow), a Zero Emission Zone in Oxford and London's Ultra Low Emission Zone.
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Britons are charged £12.50 to drive inside the Ulez area if they have a non-compliant car
REUTERSAll of these zones charge motorists to drive inside the area if they are non-compliant, which are older and more polluting petrol and diesel vehicles.
Prices generally range from between £8 for passenger cars and taxis to as much as £100 for larger vans, HGVs and buses.
Darren Miller, from BigWantsYourCar.com, has warned drivers of the fines they face for driving inside Clean Air Zones that they may not be aware are in operation.
The expert said: “To avoid penalties, drivers must ensure payment is made before midnight on the sixth day following entry into the zone.
"While no vehicle is outright banned, those not meeting emission standards are subject to daily charges.
"Failure to pay on time could result in a maximum penalty of £5,000 in a single transaction."
The majority of Clean Air Zones, LEZ schemes and the Ulez operate throughout the day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, although some will suspend operations over Christmas.
All of the Clean Air Zones are between 0.9 and three square miles in area, apart from Bradford which operates over 9.35 square miles across its city centre.
In comparison, the Ultra Low Emission Zone in the capital is 1,500 square kilometres or 580 square miles, and is one of the largest emissions-based charging zones in the world.
Miller added: “Vehicle owners should be aware that ULEZ fines can be issued even if they're not actively driving their cars, as failure to remove a vehicle from the auto-pay system can result in fines. This includes instances where vehicles are being towed.
“Vehicle owners should make sure they update their accounts promptly to reflect any changes in ownership or vehicle status to avoid unwarranted fines."
The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone, which is still under review, would have been around 493 square miles and included Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
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The delayed Manchester Clean Air Zone was met with severe backlash
GETTYIn the most recent update, Clean Air Greater Manchester said the Clean Air Plan proposals will not include a charging Clean Air Zone based on evidence.
It instead calls for an investment-led strategy that will improve air quality faster than a charging Clean Air Zone, without "causing hardship to residents or businesses".