Use this page to understand why and how we're using measures of the emissions and size of vehicles to calculate prices for parking across Bath and North East Somerset.
Our residential parking permits are vehicle-specific, so our pricing depends on the vehicle(s) you register to the permit. We calculate the cost using:
- your vehicle's engine emissions
- its size (or area, also known as its 'footprint')
The information on this page will help you to understand the thinking behind our pricing policy, and what it's likely to mean in practice for you. All sample calculations here are a guide. When you apply, our online parking management system, MiPermit, will automatically calculate the exact amount you'll need to pay.
The charging scale for parking permits is designed to reflect the impact of your vehicle on the health and safety of other users of public space, and on the local and wider environment. Smaller and cleaner vehicles will attract a lower charge than larger or more polluting ones, because they:
- have lower (or less damaging) engine emissions, and so contribute less to air pollution and related health risks
- are less likely to cause death or injury in a collision
- take up less space on congested roads, both while parked and during use
We want to encourage greater use of active and more sustainable forms of transport and reduce unnecessary car owership. Thereby, this parking charging policy aims to contribute to a safer public environment for all road users, while also helping to tackle the climate emergency.
Explore the detail
View the background to this rationale, and more detail on how emissions and size are calculated, in our online support material for public consultations on parking charges:
- Emissions-based charging: Spring 2021 and Autumn 2021 public consultations
- Emissions-based charging in Bath car parks: Summer 2023
- Vehicle size-based charges and discounts: Autumn 2025 and Summer 2026 public consultations
Basic formula
Parking permit charges are the combined total of:
- a charge based on vehicle CO2 emissions (or engine capacity, where emissions figures are unavailable)
- a charge (or discount) based on vehicle footprint (the area of the car, including mirrors, based on UK vehicle data)
You can pre-register up to four vehicles per Residents Parking Permit (although only one vehicle can be in active use using the permit at any time). If you register multiple vehicles, we will automatically calculate the price to pay using a combination of:
- the emissions charge for the most polluting vehicle
- the size charge (or discount) for the largest vehicle
Other factors affecting your permit charge
The number of permits you buy
Most households in most residential parking zones can purchase up to two parking permits. If you purchase a second permit, the price will be around 60% higher than the single permit rate for an equivalent vehicle size and emissions.
The fuel you use
The emissions element for all permits for vehicles using diesel fuel are 25% higher than for those using petrol, as the higher rate of NO2 (nitrous oxide) emissions from diesel has a greater impact on air pollution.
We use UK vehicle data on your vehicle's emissions. For older cars, or where this data is unavailable, we use engine capacity. In each case, there are four possible baseline emissions-based permit charges: for first and second permits, and for petrol and diesel vehicles.
| VED band (g CO₂ per km) or engine capacity (cc) | Non-diesel vehicle permits | Diesel vehicle permits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st permit | 2nd permit | 1st permit | 2nd permit | |
| 0 to 130 | £120.00 | £192.00 | £150.00 | £240.00 |
| 131 to 150 | £126.00 | £201.60 | £157.50 | £252.00 |
| 151 to 170 | £132.00 | £211.20 | £165.00 | £264.00 |
| 171 to 190 | £138.00 | £220.80 | £172.50 | £276.00 |
| 191 to 225 | £144.00 | £230.40 | £180.00 | £288.00 |
| 226 to 255 | £150.00 | £240.00 | £187.50 | £300.00 |
| Over 255 | £156.00 | £249.60 | £195.00 | £312.00 |
| Pre-2001 engine capacity (cc) | ||||
| 0 to 1550 | £150.00 | £240.00 | £187.50 | £300.00 |
| 1551 to 1950 | £180.00 | £288.00 | £225.00 | £360.00 |
| 1951 to 2950 | £210.00 | £336.00 | £262.50 | £420.00 |
| Over 2950 | £240.00 | £384.00 | £300.00 | £480.00 |
Depending on the size of your vehicle, we will add a charge to (or subtract a discount from) the emissions-based charge for your vehicle. The size of the discount, or extra charge, varies for first and second permit prices.
- For first permits, cars with a footprint under 7m2 attract a discount. Larger cars attract an extra charge, calculated by a multiple of the footprint of the vehicle. This rises for larger cars, to a fixed maximum of an extra £112.80, for the largest vehicles.
- For second permits, all car sizes attract an extra charge, also based on a (higher) multiple of the vehicle footprint. This rises from £10 for the smallest vehicles to a fixed maximum of £308.22, for the largest vehicles.
For example:
A Kia Picanto with a footprint of around 5.8m2 will make a first permit £10 cheaper, and add around £23 to the cost of a second permit.
A Nissan Qashqai with a footprint of around 9.2m2 will add around £28 to the cost of a first permit, and around £112 to the cost of a second permit.
| Band | Area (m²) | 1st permit discount or charge | 2nd permit charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 to 5 | £20 discount | Area × £2 = 0 to £10 charge |
| 2 | 5.01 to 6 | £10 discount | Area × £4 = £20 to £24 |
| 3 | 6.01 to 7 | £10 discount | Area × £6 = £36 to £42 |
| 4 | 7.01 to 8 | Area × £1 = £7 to £8 charge | Area × £8 = £56 to £64 |
| 5 | 8.01 to 9 | Area × £2 = £16 to £18 | Area × £10 = £80 to £90 |
| 6 | 9.01 to 10 | Area × £3 = £27 to £30 | Area × £12 = £108 to £120 |
| 7 | 10.01 to 11 | Area × £4 = £40 to £44 | Area × £14 = £140 to £154 |
| 8 | 11.01 to 12 | Area × £5 = £55 to £60 | Area × £16 = £176 to £192 |
| 9 | 12.01 to 13 | Area × £6 = £72 to £78 | Area × £18 = £216 to £234 |
| 10 | 13.01 to 14 | Area × £7 = £91 to £98 | Area × £20 = £260 x £280 |
| 11 | 14.01+ | £112.08 (fixed maximum) | £308.22 (fixed maximum) |
The simplest way to buy your permit is to pay an annual price, and renew it every 12 months. For your convenience (either to spread out payments, or if your circumstances are likely to change) you can also buy permits with durations of 1, 3, or 6 months.
Six-month and three-month permits are charged pro rata, at the annual charge rate. If you've applied for one of these shorter duration permits, the arrangement will automatically renew, unless you state that you want to limit the permit to the initial period.
If you buy your permit on a monthly basis, the cost will include a small surcharge to cover transaction charges. This amount is fixed, and is not a percentage of the total permit cost.
Use our online permit management service, MiPermit, to find out the exact price you'll need to pay.
Check how your vehicle rates for size and emissions
Use the information in this section to give you an approximate idea of how your car rates within our charging structure for parking.
The figures on this page are for guidance only. In all cases, your exact charge will be calculated using our online parking payment service, MiPermit.
You can check your vehicle’s emissions rating or engine capacity with the DVLA, free of charge, online. Results appear as CO2 emissions, measured in g/km.
For example:
The table gives an idea of the typical footprint (expressed in m2) of different classes of car.
| Car class | Area (m2) | Length x width (m) | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| City car | 5.8m2 | 3.5m x 1.65m | Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo |
| Hatchback or supermini | 7.6m2 | 4.3m x 1.78m | Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf |
| Large family car or SUV | 8.8m2 | 4.7m x 1.88m | BMW 3 Series, Nissan Qashqai |
| Luxury or executive car | 10.8m2 | 5.1m x 2.15m | Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Range Rover |
| Van or truck | 12.1m2 | 5.5m x 2.2m | Toyota Hilux, Ford Transit |
If you're unfamiliar with the idea of vehicle footprint, the Automobile Dimension website can give you an approximate idea of typical sizes for comparable models.
This website's data and calculation formula is independent of MiPermit, so you should only use it as a rough guide. MiPermit will supply accurate final calculations for your vehicle and permit cost.
A single permit for a large diesel family car
- Emissions of 149 g/km = £126
- + 25% (diesel fuel) = £157.50 emissions-based element
- Size 4.48m long x 1.88 m wide (= area 8.44m2) + £18
= £175.50 total permit cost
Two permits for a compact city car and a camper van, both using petrol
Permit 1: Compact car
- Emissions of 120g/km = £120 emissions-based element
- Size 3.94 long x 1.75m wide (area = 6.9m2) - £10 discount
= £110 first permit cost
Permit 2: Camper van
- Emissions of 185g/km = £220.80 emissions-based element (second permit rate)
- Size 5.2 m long x 2m wide (area = 10.4m2) + £140
= £360.80 second permit cost
These calculations are for guidance only, to give you an idea of how our charges work. In all cases, your exact charge will be calculated using our online parking payment service, MiPermit.