FAQs

No. We are proposing to remove the END DATE from the discount to private hire vehicles and non-Oxford hackney carriages. This means that the 50 per cent discount will be in place indefinitely.

We consider the current charges are appropriate to achieve the objectives of the ZEZ pilot. The discount does not significantly affect the scheme’s objectives as it is applicable to a small proportion of the vehicles used in the ZEZ pilot area.

Expansion of the ZEZ is a key part of the county council’s Local Transport and Connectivity Plan, and will be subject to engagement with residents, businesses and other interested parties, assessments, consultation, and funding. The county council is currently working on proposals, taking into account other key priorities as well as Network Rail’s work for the upgrade to Oxford Railway Station. The proposals for the wider ZEZ will come for consultation in 2025. 

The ZEZ pilot is in operation on nine streets at the heart of the city centre. You can view the map and see the details on the county council website.

Use our vehicle checker on the county council website to check your vehicle and pay. The vehicle checker asks for your registration number and will take into account any discounts you may have. 

You can pay for trips into the zone up to six days in advance. Carefully check the dates you are travelling if you want to pay in advance. You can also pay on the day or up to six days later. Check your vehicle and pay

The charge covers the entire day, so you can use your vehicle within the area on multiple occasions on each day the charge is paid.

Income from the ZEZ is used to pay for its development and operation as well as to fund schemes that support the transport objectives of Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council.

Monitoring report on the ZEZ pilot was published in March 2024. Findings include:

• Air pollution levels dropped overall in the ZEZ pilot area in 2022 (12 per cent on New Inn Hall Street, 14 per cent on Cornmarket Street and 18 per cent on St Michael's Street, compared to an 8 per cent average reduction across Oxford the same year).
• Overall vehicle movements in the ZEZ dropped by about 28 per cent during the operating hours of 7am to 7pm. Outside of the operating hours, vehicle movements reduced overall too.
• There has been an overall shift towards the use of vehicles with less polluting engines and with lower CO2 emissions in the ZEZ.

The ZEZ pilot report is available to view at the county council’s website.