Clean air zones can cost off-road cars: half a million drivers may not be able to afford fees

Up to half a million motorists in London and Birmingham are being pulled off the road due to the clean air zone fees.

The AA said drivers who use their cars for important journeys may not be able to afford city driving fees.

Birmingham will introduce a clean air zone on June 1st, while the London low emission zone will be expanded on October 25th.

Drivers must enter certain areas in vehicles that do not meet the minimum emission standards. Daily fees are £ 12.50 in London and £ 8 in Birmingham.

The AA estimates that the capital’s residents own between 250,000 and 300,000 non-compliant cars.

Another 100,000 vehicles responsible for the charge typically enter the city from outside the expanded Ulez zone every day, with the same number of affected cars belonging to people living in Birmingham.

That means that up to half a million drivers will be denied access to the two inner cities or charged with charges, according to the AA.

Edmund King, AA President, commented: “Millions of drivers in London will be on the wrong side of the street if the Ulez system is expanded.

Birmingham is introducing a Clean Air Zone on June 1st, where motorists will charge £ 8 to enter

The ultra-low emissions zone of London, which currently covers the same area in central London as the congestion charge zone, is slated to expand to the north and south district roads from October. The daily fee is £ 12.50

“There is a very real risk that many people who rely on their cars for important journeys will be pulled off the road.

“With the whole country locked again, this is likely to have an even bigger impact than previously thought as more people will try to avoid public transport with private cars.”

He added that leasing a new car from the AA – one that meets the latest emissions standards – can be cheaper than paying the daily fees to access the city.