Sheffield Clean Air Zone Grants & Financial Support

You can get grants and financial support to help with the Sheffield Clean Air Zone (CAZ). The council offers help to replace or upgrade any non-compliant vehicles so you meet the CAZ requirements.

This comes in the form of a grant, an interest-subsidised loan, or a combination of both methods. You must meet eligibility criteria, including replacing vehicles on a like-for-like basis where your old vehicle is sold, and worked out based on 30% of the net purchase price.

This is calculated on:

New vehicle purchase price minus old vehicle sale proceeds.

Find CAZ-Compiant Vans

If you have already applied for financial support before 27/02/23, check your emails as you should have received a message about your application.

If you can’t see it, check your junk. Still can’t see it? Get in touch with the Sheffield Council.

Already bought a cleaner vehicle?

There’s a different process if you have already bought a new vehicle that meets the CAZ regulations before applying. You’ll have to apply for a separate grant, which we detail below.

Jump to grants for cleaner vehicles you’ve already purchased

There are two stages to the Sheffield Clean Air Zone financial support application. Detailed below is stage one. You move onto stage two after your stage one application is accepted, where you may have to undergo a third-party credit check.

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Own a vehicle that you must pay to drive in a clean air zone
2. Have a valid MOT (or Vehicle Compliance Certificate for licensed taxis)
3. Owned it for 12 months at the point of application and before 12 December 2022
4. Have a UK bank account

You also must meet vehicle eligibility.

Vehicle eligibility

Coach

• Sheffield or Rotherham registered business
• Entered the CAZ at least twice a week each week for the last 12 months

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)

• Valid Vehicle Operator License at an operator depot in Sheffield or within 5KM of the CAZ
• Must have entered the CAZ at least twice a week each week for the last 12 months

Taxi (Hackney Carriage / Private Hire up to 8 seats)

• Sheffield or Rotherham registered business / self-employed individual
• Currently hold a taxi vehicle licence with She?eld or Rotherham Council for at least 12 months

If you are a Sheffield or Rotherham vehicle licence holder whose business is registered outside of Sheffield or Rotherham, please contact the council.

Van, Light Goods Vehicle (LGV), Motorhome, Campervan, Minibus

You are either

• Sheffield or Rotherham registered business, or
• A resident of She?eld or Rotherham using the vehicle for personal use, AND
• Have entered the CAZ at least twice a week each week for the last 12 months

The council has a set budget for each vehicle type, meaning that applications are assessed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Download the table here

You cannot apply for this scheme retrospectively. Always wait to hear back from the scheme before making any vehicle purchasing decisions.

• Three per business/resident
• You apply for multiple vehicle types
• One application per vehicle
• Vehicles can only be used once per grant application

You cannot apply if you meet any of the below criteria:

• Businesses registered outside of She?eld and Rotherham (except HGV depots and Sheffield or Rotherham council taxi vehicle licence holders)
• Residents outside of She?eld and Rotherham 
• Vehicle types not listed
• Non-compliant vehicles that have already received support from another CAZ scheme
• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking o? notice has been issued
• Businesses with over 250 employees (HGVs only)
• Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum subsidy control allowance

First, you need to enter the registration details of the vehicle you’re looking to upgrade or replace.

Once this has been submitted and confirmed, the council will ask for the following:

1. The V5C log book for the non-compliant vehicle (or V888 document if V5 is not available)
2. A recent UK bank statement from the last 3 months
3. Proof of address or address (home or business) if you are a resident using your vehicle for personal use

Your application is not considered until you provide the full list of evidence required.

You can also get a grant for a van or vehicle you’ve already bought. This counts for any low-emission vehicles bought after 26/10/2021.

For this type of grant, you must:

• Have a UK bank account
• Live or have a business registered in Sheffield or Rotherham
• Have sold a polluting vehicle and purchased a compliant vehicle
• Supply evidence of your vehicle purchase & sale
• Meet the criteria for both old and new vehicle types

You must meet the following new vehicle eligibility:

• The vehicle won’t be charged to drive in the Sheffield CAZ
• You purchased it after 26/10/2021 but before applications open for the scheme
• Provide evidence you purchased it within four weeks (before or after) the sale of your old vehicle
• Provide evidence that you’re the owner or registered keeper
• Agree to own the new vehicle for at least two years after purchase
• You purchased your vehicle at a dealership as part of a part exchange or purchased it privately
• Provide evidence of the sale date, price and payment through an invoice, purchase order, receipt or bank statement

Taxis must be licensed with Sheffield or Rotherham Council. 

• You also must meet the following old vehicle eligibility:
• The vehicle would be charged to drive in the Sheffield CAZ
• You sold or part exchanged it for a compliant vehicle within four weeks of (before or after) the purchase of the new vehicle
• Provide evidence that you were the owner or registered keeper at the point of sale
• You owned the vehicle for at least 12 months before the sale
• You part exchanged it at a dealership for a compliant vehicle or sold it privately
  
  • Provide evidence of the sale date, price and payment through an invoice, purchase order, receipt or bank statement

There are different options for taxis. E.g. you can transfer ownership or keep it as a private car.

If you’re transferring ownership, you must:

• Provide the vehicle log book (V5) must be provided
• Undergo an HPICAP check
• Have been licenced with Sheffield or Rotherham Council no more than 14 days before point of ownership transfer

If you’re retaining ownership, you must:

• Have had to pay to drive the old vehicle in the CAZ
• Provide evidence that you’re the owner or registered keeper for at least 12 months
• Have a valid MOT / Vehicle Compliance Certificate at the time your new vehicle was purchased 
• De-licensed your old vehicle with Sheffield or Rotherham Council before grant payment

Coach

• Sheffield or Rotherham registered business
• Have entered the Sheffield CAZ at least twice a week over the last 12 months

Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV)

• Have a valid Vehicle Operator Licence at an operator depot in Sheffield or within 5km of the CAZ
• Taxi (Hackney Carriage / Private Hire up to 8 seats)

Sheffield or Rotherham registered business

• Van or other Light Goods Vehicle (LGV), Motorhome, Campervan, Minibus

Sheffield or Rotherham registered business or resident

• Have entered the Sheffield CAZ at least twice a week over the last 12 months

Download the table here

• Three per business/resident
• You apply for multiple vehicle types
• One application per vehicle
• Vehicles can only be used once per grant application

You cannot apply if you meet any of the below criteria:

• Businesses registered outside of She?eld and Rotherham (except HGV depots and Sheffield or Rotherham council taxi vehicle licence holders)
• Residents outside of She?eld and Rotherham 
• Vehicle types not listed
• Vehicles that have already received support from another CAZ scheme
• Businesses that are in administration, insolvent or where a striking o? notice has been issued
• Businesses with over 250 employees (HGVs only)
• Businesses that have already received grant payments that equal the maximum subsidy control allowance

This grant is easy to apply for. First, you must have already replaced your old vehicle with a CAZ-compliant one.

You’ll have to provide the registration number, purchase date and confirm your new vehicle doesn’t get charged in the Sheffield CAZ.

You also have to provide details on your old vehicle. This includes the reg number, date of sale and confirming that it would be charged in the Sheffield CAZ.

Finally, provide your bank account details to submit your application. The following checks will then be carried out:

• V5C log book document for both vehicles (or V888 document if V5C not available) 
• Recent UK bank statement from the last 3 months
• Home address proof
• Proof of sale for the old vehicle
• Proof of transferring ownership (taxis only)
• Proof of purchase for your new vehicle 

Failing to provide any of the above details will prevent your application from moving forward.