Quick answer: As of 2026, 12 Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are active in England and 4 Low Emission Zones (LEZs) operate in Scotland. London's ULEZ covers all 32 boroughs. HGVs operating in London require a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) safety permit — Phase 2 requirements have been in force since October 2024, requiring a minimum 3-star rating or Progressive Safe System (PSS) fitment. Non-compliant HGVs face charges of up to £100 per day in some zones. For mobile pressure washing contractors, fleet cleaning operators, drain jetters and cleaning van fleets, CAZ and DVS compliance is now a day-to-day operational cost — not a future consideration.
The UK's urban emissions enforcement landscape has changed fundamentally over the last three years and continues to expand. For cleaning contractors operating mobile pressure washing rigs, drain jetting vehicles, industrial vacuum bowsers or fleet cleaning units, the combination of Clean Air Zones, ULEZ and the Direct Vision Standard creates a compliance picture that affects route planning, vehicle procurement and operating costs directly.
Clean Air Zones — where they operate and what they charge
As of 2026, Clean Air Zones are active in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) — seven English cities, with expansion predicted through 2026 and beyond. Scotland operates a parallel Low Emission Zone system in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, with stricter rules — Scottish LEZs do not allow a daily payment to enter, so non-compliant vehicles are simply prohibited.
The charging structure varies by zone class and vehicle type. For HGVs and larger vehicles in charging zones, daily charges can reach £100 per day. For vans and LCVs, typical charges are £9–£12.50 per day. The compliance standard for diesel vehicles is Euro 6 — most diesel vans registered from September 2015 and diesel cars from the same date meet this standard. Older diesel vehicles do not.
For a mobile pressure washing operator sending one non-compliant van into Birmingham or Bristol five days a week, that is up to £3,000 a year in daily charges per vehicle — before any fines for failure to pay.
London ULEZ — all 32 boroughs
London's Ultra Low Emission Zone expanded to all 32 London boroughs in August 2023 and remains the largest and most stringent scheme in the UK. The ULEZ applies to cars, vans, motorcycles and specialist vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Diesel vehicles must meet Euro 6 standards; petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4. Non-compliant vehicles are charged £12.50 per day.
For cleaning contractors operating in London — vehicle valeting, fleet cleaning, pressure washing, drain jetting — ULEZ compliance is not optional. Any vehicle that regularly operates in London and does not meet the standard is accumulating daily charges every time it enters the zone.
Direct Vision Standard Phase 2 — HGVs in London
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) is a separate TfL scheme applying specifically to HGVs over 12 tonnes operating in Greater London. Phase 2 came into force on 28 October 2024. Under Phase 2, all HGVs must either achieve a minimum 3-star DVS rating or fit the Progressive Safe System (PSS) — a package of camera monitoring systems, sensors and safety equipment designed to compensate for limited direct vision from the cab.
Permits issued under the previous Phase 1 requirements expired at 23:59 on 27 October 2024. Any HGV currently operating in London without a valid Phase 2 permit is non-compliant. Permits for vehicles rated 3 stars or above are valid until 2030.
For cleaning contractors operating bowser units, drain jetting HGVs or large vacuum tankers in London, DVS compliance is part of the operating licence. Vehicles that do not meet the standard cannot legally operate in the capital without a valid permit.
What this means for mobile cleaning contractors
- Check every vehicle — use the official GOV.UK vehicle checker and the TfL DVS portal to confirm the status of every vehicle in your fleet that operates in CAZ or ULEZ areas. Do not assume compliance based on vehicle age alone.
- Route planning — for non-compliant vehicles, route planning that avoids charging zones reduces daily charge accumulation. Telematics and routing software can build zone avoidance into driver dispatch.
- Vehicle procurement — new diesel van and HGV procurement should specify Euro 6 as a minimum for CAZ compliance. For London HGVs, specify 3-star DVS rating or PSS-ready where possible.
- Battery and electric alternatives — battery-powered pressure washing equipment eliminates the CAZ compliance issue for the cleaning unit itself, even where the transport vehicle is diesel. V-TUF battery pressure washers and cordless extraction equipment remove the generator or mains dependency from the job. See: Battery and cordless cleaning equipment →
Related guidance
Fleet and logistics hub →
Battery and cordless pressure washers →
Environmental Permitting and washdown runoff →
Vehicle valeting hub →
Cleaning trade hub →
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