Emission-based car parking charges

Emission-based car parking charges mean that people with higher polluting vehicles are being asked to pay slightly more to encourage a shift to cleaner, more sustainable travel in Bath and North East Somerset. This applies to both season ticket holders and paying customers.

The aim is to reduce the number of higher-polluting vehicles driving into our urban areas where air pollution is a concern, especially for people with chronic heart and lung conditions.

An emission-based charging structure was introduced in January 2022 for residents’ parking permits; in Bath car parks in September 2023; in other locations across the area from November 2024;- and for on-street Pay and Display parking in Bath, and in car parks in Midsomer Norton and Radstock, in March 2025.

These car parking charges for more polluting vehicles are complementary to the objectives of Bath's Clean Air Zone, which aims to reduce NO2 levels only. The new charges aim to reduce all harmful emissions from the tailpipe, so even if your vehicle is compliant with the Clean Air Zone, you may have to pay more for parking in our car parks if other emissions from your vehicle are higher.

Summary of the scheme

We have implemented a charging structure for council-owned car parks, on-street Pay and Display parking and residents on-street permits which is based on vehicle emissions. Not all drivers are affected by the increase, only those with more polluting vehicles.

• Charges are based on a vehicle’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, in line with the DVLA Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) classifications. Where no VED emissions rating is available, including all vehicles registered before 2001, the charge is based on engine capacity.
• Drivers of electric vehicles and those with non-diesel-fuelled internal combustion engines that emit 130g/km or less of CO2 will not see any emission-based increase in their parking charges.
• Hours of operation are not affected.
• The changes apply to both paying customers and season ticket holders.
• Hotel parking permit charges (on-street or off-street car parking) are not affected until January 2025.
• You can read more details about this scheme and the results of the public consultations on our relevant consultation webpages:
  • On-street resident permits
  • Bath car parks
  • All other paid-for parking areas

Aims of the scheme

These proposals aim to improve air quality through a major shift to sustainable transport, walking and cycling and incentives to reduce the use of more polluting vehicles. This aligns with the vision and outcomes from our Journey to Net Zero Transport Strategy, by promoting sustainable transport and reducing CO2 emissions and the intrusion of vehicles, particularly more polluting vehicles, into our historic urban centres.

It is one of a number of our policies and proposals that aim to encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport (including Bath’s park and ride service where bus service charges are not affected) – or raise awareness of the impact of more polluting vehicles, influencing people to swap to cleaner vehicles where they can; to help reduce air pollution; improve public safety; and tackle the climate emergency. These include the introduction of Bath's Clean Air Zone and our Liveable Neighbourhoods policy.

Traffic emissions pose a significant threat to clean air. Vehicles with petrol and diesel-based internal combustion engines emit a wide variety of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM10), which have an increasing impact on urban air quality.

These pollutants from traffic may not only prove a problem in the immediate vicinity where they are released but can be transported long distances.

While there are national targets and legal limits for air pollution and air quality, there is no safe limit. Any measures that aim to reduce the impact of vehicle emissions will have a beneficial impact on human health and the environment.

The effects of air pollution on health

Air pollution particles and gases enter our bodies and can damage cells in different ways. They usually get into our lungs first and can then move into our blood to reach organs such as our heart and brain. Any amount of pollution can be damaging to health, but the more that you are exposed to, the bigger the risk.

Some people are more vulnerable than others, including:

• Children
• Pregnant people
• Older people
• People with lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer
• People with heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and high blood pressure

Air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths, over 20,000 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions and 6 million sick days every year in the UK, at an estimated total social cost of £22.6 billion per year.

How the scheme works

The MiPermit app and new pay and display machines will calculate the charge for your vehicle automatically based on DVLA records. You do not need to know your emissions or engine size when logging and paying for your stay.

Separate charging structures exist for diesel and non-diesel vehicles (with higher charges for more polluting diesel vehicles).

Foreign registered, or vehicles not registered with the DVLA, will be charged the highest price for the chosen duration. This is to encourage visitors to use sustainable alternatives (including our Park and Ride sites when visiting Bath) and those with unregistered vehicles to adhere to the legal requirements.

The process for logging and paying for an emissions-based stay is as follows:

1. Paying customers can log and pay for parking stays by using the MiPermit app or our pay and display machines (that accept cash, with some accepting debit and credit cards).
2. The pay and display machines require users to enter their vehicle registration before logging their stay. MiPermit already captures this.
3. To establish the parking charge for your vehicle, the system checks your registration against data held by the DVLA. It calculates the correct charge based on the DVLA data.
4. The machine/MiPermit displays the cost back to you, and then asks for payment.
5. You do not need to display a ticket, but tickets are still available. All parking stays are visible on our Civil Enforcement Officer's handheld devices in real-time.
6. Users of our MiPermit text service will have the exact charges confirmed after a parking stay has been created, due to technology limitations.

There is no need for you to know details of your vehicle's emissions. However, you can check your vehicle’s emissions rating or engine capacity for free online:

How season tickets are affected

Prices for season tickets are already linked to the daily charges in our car parks. This means that the new emission-based charging structure will also apply to season tickets, with higher parking charges for the more polluting vehicles. The increased charges do not apply to everyone and are delayed for current season ticket holders.

Terms

• The emission-based charges, which include increased charges for more polluting vehicles only apply to new purchases at the agreed date of implementation.
• Emission-based season tickets will continue to be available on a 1-month, 3-month and 6-month basis, chargeable pro rata, as well as for 12 months.
• Emission-based season tickets only apply to pre-registered vehicles (vehicles registered at the time of purchase).
• If you have multiple vehicles on the season ticket, you will be charged the rate which applies to the most polluting vehicle you have registered (i.e. the vehicle with the highest emissions classification).
• You will be able to make changes to an existing emission-based permit to accommodate changes in car ownership but only for less polluting vehicles. If you are thinking of changing your vehcile in the near future, you may wish to consider a shorter duration permit.
• There is a £10 administration fee to make any vehicle changes on an existing permit that we accept. You can only make a change by calling or emailing Parking Services.
• You will have to cancel your current permit and purchase a new season ticket if you changed to a more polluting vehicle. Refunds are available for any complete months remaining on the permit you are cancelling. A £10 administration fee applies.