Emission-based car parking charges mean that people with higher polluting vehicles are being asked to pay slightly more to encourage a shift to cleaner, more sustainable travel in the city. This applies to both season ticket holders and paying customers.
The aim is to reduce the number of higher-polluting vehicles driving into Bath where air pollution is a concern, especially for people with chronic heart and lung conditions.
The scheme only impacts car parks in Bath due to the higher levels of pollution found in the city. A similar, emissions-based charging structure is already in place for residents’ parking permits.
These new car park charges for more polluting vehicles are complementary to the objectives of Bath's Clean Air Zone, which aims to reduce NO2 levels only. The new charges aim to reduce all harmful emissions from the tailpipe, so even if your vehicle is compliant with the Clean Air Zone, you may have to pay more for parking in our car parks if other emissions from your vehicle are higher.
We have implemented a charging structure for council-owned car parks in Bath which is based on vehicle emissions. Not all drivers using our car parks in Bath are affected by the increase, only those with more polluting vehicles.
- Charges are based on a vehicle’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, in line with the DVLA Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) classifications. Where no VED emissions rating is available, including all vehicles registered before 2001, the charge is based on engine capacity.
- Drivers of electric vehicles and those with non-diesel-fuelled internal combustion engines that emit 130g/km or less of CO2 will not see any increase in their parking charges.
- Hours of operation are not affected.
- The changes apply to both paying customers and season ticket holders.
- Hotel parking permit charges (on-street or off-street car parking) are not be affected by the rate changes to car park charges because they provide both on street and car park parking depending on the premises location.
- You can read more details about this scheme and the results of the public consultation on our relevant consultation webpage.
The scheme aims to further improve pedestrian safety through improved air quality in Bath by encouraging owners of higher polluting vehicles to seek cleaner, more sustainable travel options rather than pay higher charges to park in the city centre.
It is one of a number of our policies and proposals that aim to encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport (including the city’s park and ride service where charges will not be affected) – or swap to cleaner vehicles – to help reduce air pollution, improve public safety and tackle the climate emergency.
Air pollution particles and gases enter our bodies and can damage cells in different ways. They usually get into our lungs first and can then move into our blood to reach organs such as our heart and brain. Any amount of pollution can be damaging to health, but the more that you are exposed to, the bigger the risk.
Some people are more vulnerable than others, including:
- Children
- Pregnant people
- Older people
- People with lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer
- People with heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart failure and high blood pressure
Air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths, over 20,000 respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions and 6 million sick days every year in the UK, at an estimated total social cost of £22.6 billion per year.
The MiPermit app and new pay and display machines will calculate the charge for your vehicle automatically based on DVLA records. You do not need to know your emissions or engine size when logging and paying for your stay.
Separate charging structures exist for diesel and non-diesel vehicles (with higher charges for more polluting diesel vehicles).
Foreign registered, or vehicles not registered with the DVLA, will be charged the highest price for the chosen duration. This is to encourage visitors to use sustainable alternatives such as our Park and Ride sites, and those with unregistered vehicles to adhere to the legal requirements.
The process for logging and paying for an emissions-based stay is as follows:
- Paying customers can log and pay for parking stays by using the MiPermit app or new pay and display machines (that accept cash, with some accepting debit and credit cards).
- The new pay and display machines require users to enter their vehicle registration before logging their stay. MiPermit already captures this.
- To establish the parking charge for your vehicle, the system checks your registration against data held by the DVLA. It calculates the correct charge based on the DVLA data.
- The machine displays the cost back to you, and then asks for payment.
- You do not need to display a ticket, but tickets are still available. All parking stays are visible on our Civil Enforcement Officer's handheld devices in real-time.
- Users of our MiPermit text service will have the exact charges confirmed after a parking stay has been created, due to technology limitations.
There is no need for you to know details of your vehicle's emissions. However, you can check your vehicle’s emissions rating or engine capacity for free online:
The tables below show:
- new charges for non-diesel vehicles
- new charges for diesel vehicles
Contents
| Length of stay | 0 to 130 g/km | 131 to 150 g/km | 151 to 170 g/km | 171 to 190 g/km | 191 to 225 g/km | 226 to 255 g/km | Over 255 g/km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1hr | £1.70 | £1.80 | £1.80 | £1.90 | £1.90 | £2 | £2 |
| 2hrs | £3.40 | £3.50 | £3.60 | £3.70 | £3.80 | £3.90 | £4 |
| 3hrs | £5.10 | £5.30 | £5.40 | £5.50 | £5.70 | £5.80 | £6 |
| 4hrs | £6.80 | £7 | £7.20 | £7.40 | £7.60 | £7.70 | £7.90 |
| 6hrs | £10.20 | £10.50 | £10.80 | £11 | £11.30 | £11.60 | £11.90 |
| 8hrs | £13.60 | £14 | £14.30 | £14.70 | £15.10 | £15.40 | £15.80 |
| 24hrs | £17.10 | £17.60 | £18 | £18.50 | £18.90 | £19.40 | £19.90 |
| Evening charge (Charlotte Street car park): 6pm to 8pm | £1.50 | £1.60 | £1.60 | £1.70 | £1.70 | £1.70 | £1.80 |
| Overnight charge: 8pm to 8am | £1.50 | £1.60 | £1.60 | £1.70 | £1.70 | £1.70 | £1.80 |
| Length of stay | 0cc to 1550cc | 1551cc to 1950cc | 1951cc to 2950cc | Over 2951cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1hr | £1.80 | £1.90 | £2 | £2.10 |
| 2hrs | £3.60 | £3.80 | £4 | £4.20 |
| 3hrs | £5.40 | £5.70 | £6 | £6.20 |
| 4hrs | £7.20 | £7.50 | £7.90 | £8.30 |
| 6hrs | £10.80 | £11.30 | £11.90 | £12.40 |
| 8hrs | £14.30 | £15 | £15.80 | £16.60 |
| 24hrs | £18 | £18.90 | £19.80 | £20.80 |
| Evening charge (Charlotte Street car park): 6pm to 8pm | £1.60 | £1.70 | £1.80 | £1.90 |
| Overnight charge: 8pm to 8am | £1.60 | £1.70 | £1.80 | £1.90 |
| Length of stay | 0 to 130 g/km | 131 to 150 g/km | 151 to 170 g/km | 171 to 190 g/km | 191 to 225 g/km | 226 to 255 g/km | Over 255 g/km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1hr | £2.20 | £2.30 | £2.30 | £2.40 | £2.40 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
| 2hrs | £3.90 | £4 | £4.10 | £4.20 | £4.30 | £4.40 | £4.50 |
| 3hrs | £5.60 | £5.80 | £5.90 | £6 | £6.20 | £6.30 | £6.50 |
| 4hrs | £7.30 | £7.50 | £7.70 | £7.90 | £8.10 | £8.20 | £8.40 |
| 6hrs | £11.20 | £11.50 | £11.80 | £12 | £12.30 | £12.60 | £12.90 |
| 8hrs | £14.60 | £15 | £15.30 | £15.70 | £16.10 | £16.40 | £16.80 |
| 24hrs | £18.10 | £18.60 | £19 | £19.50 | £19.90 | £20.40 | £20.90 |
| Evening charge (Charlotte Street car park): 6pm to 8pm | £2.00 | £2.10 | £2.10 | £2.20 | £2.20 | £2.20 | £2.30 |
| Overnight charge: 8pm to 8am | £2.50 | £2.60 | £2.60 | £2.70 | £2.70 | £2.70 | £2.80 |
| Length of stay | 0cc to 1550cc | 1551cc to 1950cc | 1951cc to 2950cc | Over 2951cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1hr | £2.30 | £2.40 | £2.50 | £2.60 |
| 2hrs | £4.10 | £4.30 | £4.50 | £4.70 |
| 3hrs | £5.90 | £6.20 | £6.50 | £6.70 |
| 4hrs | £7.70 | £8 | £8.40 | £8.80 |
| 6hrs | £11.80 | £12.30 | £12.90 | £13.40 |
| 8hrs | £15.30 | £16 | £16.80 | £17.60 |
| 24hrs | £19 | £19.90 | £20.80 | £21.80 |
| Evening charge (Charlotte Street car park): 6pm to 8pm | £2.10 | £2.20 | £2.30 | £2.40 |
| Overnight charge: 8pm to 8am | £2.60 | £2.70 | £2.80 | £2.90 |
Prices for season tickets are already linked to the daily charges in our car parks. This means that the new emission-based charging structure will also apply to season tickets, with higher parking charges for the more polluting vehicles. The increased charges do not apply to everyone and are delayed for current season ticket holders.
Terms
- The emission-based charges, which include increased charges for more polluting vehicles only apply to new customers at the agreed date of implementation
- If you hold a valid season ticket at the time of implementation, you will be able to renew your season ticket for up to 12 months at the same cost. Thereafter the new charges and terms and conditions apply
- New emission-based season tickets will continue to be available on a 1-month, 3-month and 6-month basis, chargeable pro rata, as well as for 12 months
- New emission-based season tickets only apply to pre-registered vehicles (vehicles registered at the time of purchase).
- If you have multiple vehicles on the season ticket, you will be charged the rate which applies to the most polluting vehicle you have registered (i.e. the vehicle with the highest emissions classification. See the summary of charges)
- You will be able to make changes to an existing emission-based permit to accommodate changes in car ownership but only for less polluting vehicles (not subject to increased charges according to the table below)
- There is a £10 administration fee to make any vehicle changes on an existing permit that we accept. You can only make a change by calling or emailing Parking Services.
- You will have to cancel your current permit and purchase a new season ticket if you changed to a more polluting vehicle. Refunds are available for any complete months remaining on the permit you are cancelling. A £10 administration fee applies.
We are delaying any increased charges for 12 months on renewal of your current season ticket (for those that hold a valid permit at time of implementation) in recognition of recent charge increases in November 2022 and to give customers time to adjust to the new scheme.
Summary of charges
The current 12-month charge for a 7-day season ticket is £4,056.98. This charge will remain the same for less polluting vehicles.
The tables below show the emissions-based season ticket charges:
| CO2 band | Non-diesel | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 130 g/km | £4,056.98 | £4,294.23 |
| 131 to 150 g/km | £4,175.60 | £4,412.85 |
| 151 to 170 g/km | £4,270.50 | £4,507.75 |
| 171 to 190 g/km | £4,389.13 | £4,626.38 |
| 191 to 225 g/km | £4,484.03 | £4,721.28 |
| 226 to 255 g/km | £4,602.65 | £4,839.90 |
| Over 255 g/km | £4,721.28 | £4,958.53 |
| Engine size | Non-diesel | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 0cc to 1550cc | £4,270.50 | £4,507.75 |
| 1551cc to 1950cc | £4,484.03 | £4,721.28 |
| 1951cc to 2950cc | £4,697.55 | £4,934.80 |
| Over 2951cc | £4,934.80 | £5172.05 |