Bristol Clean Air Zone

The Bristol clean air zone is a designated area within the central part of the city that requires a vehicle to meet a certain emission standard to drive within it. The zone is designed to improve the air quality within the city as part of a government initiative. No vehicle is banned from driving within the zone, but those vehicles that do not meet the emission standard will be required to pay a daily charge. Unlike a congestion zone charge, which charges all vehicles, the clean air zone only charges the most polluting vehicles. 

Browse our current used wheelchair accessible vehicles for sale, read our WAV News articles for help and FAQ, Contact Us to arrange a forecourt viewing and test drive, or call us on 01934 820077 and chat to Mike direct with all of your requirements.

Bristol’s Clean Air Zone Location and charges 

The Clean Air Zone was introduced on Monday 28th November 2022.

Are wheelchair accessible vehicles exempt from the Bristol Clean Air Charges? 

Like any vehicle that enters the zone a wheelchair accessible vehicle needs to meet the Clean Air Zone minimum emission standard to avoid paying a daily charge, fortunately, according to the Bristol City Council Website National Clean Air Zone Exemptions section, all disabled tax class and disabled passenger tax class vehicles are exempt. 

However, because you need to have a certificate of entitlement to qualify for disabled tax, not all wheelchair accessible vehicles will be registered disabled and therefore will be charged to enter the Clean Air Zone if they do not meet the Clean Air Zone Emission Standard.

How to apply for free disabled tax

If you do not qualify for free disabled tax and your wheelchair accessible vehicle does not meet the Clean Air Zone emission standard there are some exemptions available on the Bristol City Councils’ website that you may be able to apply for. I have listed a few below that might be relevant.

  • Blue Badge Daily Exemptions
  • Blue Badge Holder Longer Term Exemptions
  • Resident Exemption
  • Hospital Patient Exemption
  • Hospital Visitor Exemption

Michael Harraway: Leading the Way in Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Travel Time to our Weston-super-Mare forecourt and showroom

Bristol: Approximately 30-40 minutes by car.
Bath: Roughly 45-60 minutes by car.
South Wales: Around 1-2 hours from major cities like Cardiff.
Somerset: Most locations within 1 hour.
Devon: 1-2 hours depending on the specific location.
Cornwall: 2-3 hours depending on the starting point.
South West UK: General range 1-3 hours.
Banwell: Less than 10 minutes.
Wiltshire: Approximately 1-1.5 hours.
Dorset: 1-2 hours depending on the area.

Opting to buy a used WAV from Michael Harraway not only ensures significant cost savings but also provides a reliable, high-quality vehicle backed by exceptional customer service and a robust warranty. Located on the outskirts of Weston-super-Mare in Banwell, the dealership’s prime location offers easy access for viewing, test driving, and purchasing vehicles.

Commitment to Quality

Michael Harraway prides itself on its meticulous standards. Every vehicle undergoes a comprehensive multi-point pre-delivery inspection and road test, including all wheelchair adaptations. Key points of the inspection include:

  • Checking and verifying all wheelchair adaptations.
  • Replacing any tyre under 3.5mm of tread.
  • Changing engine oil and filter if the last change exceeds 3,000 miles or 6 months.
  • Ensuring a minimum of 9 months MOT.
  • Replacing timing belt and water pump if due within the next 12 months or 10,000 miles.
  • Supplying every vehicle with two keys.

Professional Valet and Warranty

Every vehicle receives a professional interior and exterior valet, ensuring it looks and smells fresh and clean. Each sale comes with an in-house, no-nonsense comprehensive parts and labour warranty, aiming to cover all significant issues apart from usual wear and tear items. This approach ensures any problems are resolved swiftly and efficiently, with minimal inconvenience.

If your vehicle does not meet the clean air zone emission standard, you will have to pay a daily charge to drive into the zone.

Vehicle Type            

  • Private Car – £9 per day
  • Taxis – £9 per day
  • Vans – £9 per day
  • Heavy goods vehicle – £100 per day
  • Buses – £100 per day
  • Coach – £100 per day
  • Motorcycle – No charge

The zone operates 24 hours and day, 365 days a year. The charge is for a 24 hour period (midnight to midnight)

Clean Air Zone standards 

Only vehicles that do not meet the emission standards will be charged.

  • DIESEL: Euro 6 or better. Most new registrations after 1st September 2015.
  • PETROL OR LPG: Euro 4. Most new registrations after 1st September 2006.
  • GAS: Euro 6 or better.
  • FULLY ELECTRIC: (or Hydrogen fuel cell) 
  • HYBRID ELECTRIC: Diesel Hybrid must be Euro 6. Petrol Hybrid must be at least Euro 4.

Checking your vehicle meets Bristol Clean Air Zone Standards

To check whether the vehicle meets the emission standard for the Bristol Clean Air Zone by using the government’s vehicle checker.

https://www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones

Choosing a used WAV from Michael Harraway guarantees a reliable vehicle and exceptional service. With a prime location, comprehensive pre-delivery inspections, and a robust warranty, we are truly a one-stop destination for wheelchair accessible vehicles in the South West UK.

Contact Information

  • Telephone: 01934 820077
  • Website: Michael Harraway Cars
  • Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30 – 18:00, Saturday 9:30 – 17:00. Alternative hours available on request for Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Buying a Clean Air Zone Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

At Michael Harraway Car we stock a range of quality used wheelchair accessible vehicles that meet the current Bristol Clean Air Zone emission standard. We are based on the outskirts of Weston super Mare in the small village of Banwell. To view our current stock please visit www.michaelharrawaycars.co.uk or contact us on 01934 820077 to discuss your requirements.

If you decide to check if a wheelchair access vehicle is exempt from the Clean Air Zone charge prior to purchase the easiest way to do so is by using the government vehicle checker website. But beware when you check a vehicle as it may come back saying “This vehicle is exempt from charges in all Clean Air Zones”. The reason for this is that the vehicle is still recorded as Disabled tax class with the DVLA from the previous keeper. If, however you do not have a certificate of entitlement for free disabled tax then when the vehicle is transferred into your name the vehicles taxation class vehicle will change from Disabled to Diesel Car, Petrol Car or even PLG and therefore may not be exempt. I would always recommend checking the vehicle’s current taxation class to see if it is recorded as disabled.  If it is recorded as disabled tax class, then I would recommend checking the vehicle’s Euro Emission rating manually to confirm that it meets the minimum Clean Air Zone standard.  Ask us for more clarification on the latest legal updates.