Almost a third of drivers either are not sure they understand the rules of Clear Air Zones (CAZ). The survey by Carwow found 50% of UK motorists don’t know which parts of the UK already have a CAZ in operation - including Birmingham, Bristol and Oxford.
One in five drivers are not sure if their car is CAZ-compliant for where they drive. John Rawlings, Consumer Editor at Carwow said: “Our research indicates there is clearly still much confusion among UK motorists when it comes to both current CAZ enforcement areas and those just about to change their status.
“In Scotland, for example, three cities (Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh) will soon introduce fines for non-compliant vehicles and I would encourage any driver unsure about whether their car is compliant (and potentially likely to incur charges in these areas) to check immediately.
“To shine a light on the issue, in Bristol for example, cars that don’t meet the requirements can be charged a £9 CAZ fee per day, which - if not paid by the driver within six days - can incur a far more hefty £120 Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).
“As we speed towards the one-year anniversary for Glasgow’s CAZ on 1st June, and reach London’s one-year milestone at the end of August, people’s knowledge of the rules and whether their cars are compliant is evidently lacking."
Carwow has launched tools to help drivers check if their cars are CAZ or ULEZ-compliant.
- To check if your vehicle is CAZ compliant and which cities operate CAZ, visit: https://www.carwow.co.uk/clean-air-zone
- To check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant (for driving in London), visit: https://www.carwow.co.uk/ulez-checker