A lorry over 3.5 tonnes meeting the Euro VI standard enters the London LEZ and the English Clean Air Zones free of charge. Older diesels pay: in London 100 GBP per day (Euro IV or V) or 300 GBP, in CAZ cities 50 GBP per day (Birmingham, Bradford, Sheffield, Portsmouth, Tyneside) or 100 GBP (Bath, Bristol). Valid as of August 2026.
London: lorries fall under the LEZ, not the ULEZ
London causes plenty of confusion. The well known ULEZ applies to cars, motorbikes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes are covered by the older and much larger LEZ (Low Emission Zone), which spans nearly all of Greater London and operates around the clock, all year.
- A tractor unit or rigid with a Euro VI engine: no charge.
- Euro IV or V: 100 GBP for each day in the zone.
- Older than Euro IV: 300 GBP per day.
Separately from the LEZ, London runs the DVS scheme rating direct vision from the cab, with a three star or Progressive Safe System requirement. We covered it in our article on DVS in London. The Congestion Charge in the very centre is yet another scheme, payable regardless of emissions.
Clean Air Zones in England: seven cities
As of August 2026 seven English CAZ schemes charge lorries. Daily rates for vehicles over 3.5 tonnes below Euro VI:
- Bath: 100 GBP (the zone does not charge private cars).
- Birmingham: 50 GBP.
- Bradford: 50 GBP.
- Bristol: 100 GBP.
- Portsmouth: 50 GBP.
- Sheffield: 50 GBP.
- Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead): 50 GBP.
Each zone has its own boundary, usually the city centre and key arteries. Before a delivery into one of these centres it is worth running the registration through the government checker, because the fee must be paid proactively and ANPR cameras enforce it.
Scotland: a ban instead of a charge
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee took a different route. Their Low Emission Zones do not sell entry for a fee, they ban vehicles below the standard (Euro 6/VI for diesels). Entering with a non compliant vehicle brings a penalty charge that escalates with repeat breaches. For a modern fleet this changes nothing, for an older vehicle it means no access to the city centre at all.
What this means for UK deliveries
In practice, modern long haul vehicles running international routes meet Euro VI, so the daily charges mostly concern older local trucks. When we plan deliveries into city centres we still check three things every time: the emission zone, DVS requirements around London and the delivery restrictions of the street itself. That is part of pricing the route, not a surprise after the fact.
Sources
- TfL: Low Emission Zone (rates and standards for heavy vehicles)
- GOV.UK: Driving in a Clean Air Zone (zone list and charges)
- Low Emission Zones Scotland: the Scottish zones
We deliver into city centres across England and Scotland with vehicles compliant with the zones. See our delivery destinations or describe your route in the contact form.
