Get an exemption or discount in Bath’s Clean Air Zone

National and local exemptions are available to support vital services and owners of hard-to-replace vehicles.

You do not need to apply for an exemption in Bath’s Clean Air Zone if your vehicle meets required emission standards or if it is a car or motorbike, unless it is a taxi or private hire vehicle.

National exemptions

You can check whether your vehicle is nationally exempt on the GOV.UK website. 

If your vehicle is eligible for a national exemption, you can drive freely in any clean air zone in England without further action.

Apply for a local exemption or discount

Local exemptions and discounts just apply to Bath's Clean Air Zone. These are applied for and managed using our MiPermit service. 

For example, once you have successfully registered for your exemption and you want to pay for a discounted journey or log an exempt journey for the fee to be waived, you must do this using MiPermit. 

Your local exemption or discount will not be applied at GOV.UK. 

You can pay the discounted charge or log exempt travel at MiPermit within the normal payment window, which is up to 6 days in advance, on the day the vehicle is driven in the zone, or in the following 6 days. 

Warning Applications must be made and authorised before the date of travel. Be aware, applications can take up to 14 days to be approved. Until then, you must pay the charge within 6 days of driving in the zone at GOV.UK.

Read more about how to pay, and how to manage your discount or exemption

When you make an application, you will need to upload evidence, including your V5C document. 

Select the correct exemption or discount below for more information, including what documents you will need to upload, if you apply online.

WarningThe following exemptions are no longer offered and expired on 14 March 2025: 

• Showman's vehicles
• General haulage vehicles
• Recovery vehicles
• Special vehicles
• Volunteer vehicles supporting the emergency services

You will need to pay the daily Clean Air Zone charge if you travel within Bath's Clean Air Zone from 00:00 hours on 15 March 2025.

The following exemptions are no longer offered and expired on 14 March 2023:

•    Wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles
•    Community transport
•    Blue Badge holders
•    Community health, education or social care workers
•    Exemptions under the terms of the Financial Assistance scheme (declined finance) 

 

Discounts for larger motorhomes and horse transporters that are PHGVs

Drivers of higher emission larger motorhomes and horse transporters that are classed as PHGV and are not being used commercially for hire or reward, can pay a discounted daily charge of £9 (rather than the standard £100) in Bath’s CAZ. Applications for this discount must be made and authorised before the date of travel. Be aware, applications can take up to 14 days to be approved. Until then, you must pay the charge within six days of driving in the zone at Gov.uk. Once registered with the council, you must pay for each journey using MiPermit.

There is no expiry for this discount, but you will need to renew your details with us each year.

Evidence required

When you apply, you will need to upload the following evidence:

• V5 certificate
• Photos of the front, back, sides and inside rear of the vehicle

This will need to be a digital file, or a photograph, scan or screenshot of the original document.

Exemptions for hard-to-replace vehicles

Agricultural or similar vehicles

This exemption applies to higher emission non-road-going vehicles, such as tractors, gritters, snow ploughs, mowing machines, and steam powered vehicles (on a case-by-case basis) that are not nationally exempt. Once registered with the council, you do not need to do anything else to activate your exemption.

There is no expiry, but you will need to renew your details with us each year

Exemptions to support health and emergency services

Emergency service vehicles

The exemption for higher-emission emergency service vehicles (police, fire, and ambulance) which are exempt from road tax, was originally set to expire on 14 March 2025. No further applications are being accepted.

Organisations requiring an extension for this exemption have now formalised their arrangements by signing Memorandums of Understanding with us. These organisations are working in partnership with us to ensure that fleet replacement plans are being delivered as per the signed agreements.

Health service vehicles

Higher emission health service vehicles that are exempt from vehicle road tax with an eligible tax class are also exempt from charges.

Once registered with the council, you do not need to do anything else to activate your exemption.

There is no expiry, but you will need to renew your details with us each year.

Evidence required

When you apply you will need to upload the following evidence:

• V5 certificate
• Photos of the front, back, and sides of the vehicle

This will need to be a digital file, or a photograph, scan or screenshot of the original document.

Warning These local exemptions and discounts only apply in Bath's Clean Air Zone. You may still be charged to drive in clean air zones in other parts of the UK.