With cities across the UK set to emulate London and introduce Clean Air Zone charges, a new government website has been launched which will let you check if your car is exempt.

London’s ULEZ has raised millions in additional revenues since being introduced and later this summer both Birmingham and Leeds are set to introduce similar schemes. And with more big cities looking at clean air charges it may be the right time to check whether your vehicle might be in line for some fairly hefty penalty charges.

While the schemes are set to target older, more polluting vehicles, such as buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles, but some other vehicles may be phased into the scheme which will mean there could be plenty of web traffic visiting gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone-charge.

A statement on the website says: 'Tackling high pollution levels is a serious challenge for communities across the UK which is why the government is providing financial and expert support to local authorities to help them clean up their air.

'As well as the online vehicle checker, the government has already provided around £60 million to Leeds and Birmingham to retrofit buses and support businesses and drivers affected by the charge.

'The online vehicle checker is available now to help drivers and businesses to check how they will be affected.'

However, some motoring organisations are pointing out that there are some discrepancies between vehicles being exempt from city to city.

Rod Dennis from the RAC said: “With the first clean air zones outside London coming into force this summer, it’s essential drivers can quickly and easily find out if their car is affected.

“We’ve been calling for an online emissions checker for more than two years, so this is a step in the right direction.

“Drivers of some early Euro 6 diesel vehicles for example will face a strange situation where this website tells them their car is not compliant for Birmingham’s clean air zone. But if they were to use London website checker, where the Ultra Low Emission Zone standard operates to the same Euro 6 standard, they will find it is compliant.

“This explains why the new website carries a notice that asks drivers to check back on the site closer to the time new clean air zones come in.

“In short, a number plate is not a reliable way of finding out a car’s Euro emissions standards so we recommend drivers double-check with their vehicle manufacturer to be sure.”

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