Bristol City Council has secured a further £11 million from government to help provide more financial support for those travelling through the Clean Air Zone.
The additional funding secured will support more people who earn under £30,000 a year and businesses with larger fleets of more than five vehicles.
Financial support can significantly reduce the cost of replacing or adapting vehicles that don’t meet the emissions standards of the zone as set by national government. The council has already allocated almost £15 million to help people change to a cleaner vehicle.
Funding can include a grant, a contribution towards the interest on a loan, or a combination of both. There is up to £2,000 available to help upgrade a car and up to £4,500 for a van.
Vehicles don’t have to be brand new – replacement vehicles can be second hand as long they meet the zone’s emissions standards. Euro 4 petrol vehicles (roughly 2006 onwards) and Euro 6 diesel vehicles (roughly end of 2015 onwards) are not charged in the zone.
More information about financial support and how to apply can be found on the council’s website.
The Clean Air Zone was introduced in November 2022 after the government required Bristol City Council to meet legal levels of air pollution in the shortest possible time. The zone will help bring harmful nitrogen dioxide within legal limits by encouraging people to switch to cleaner vehicles or change how they travel.
No vehicles are banned from the zone, but older and more polluting vehicles must pay a daily charge to drive in a central area of Bristol.