Traffic filters

Traffic Filters are a trial scheme to reduce the congestion and pollution caused by the growing number of private car journeys through Oxford. This was affecting businesses, buses and emergency services to the extent that the newspapers were calling out the 'nightmare roads'. Traffic filters were first proposed in January 2015 as a way to reduce traffic through the city, but still allow access to any point in the city.

The Traffic filter trial in Oxford will start on Monday 28th September 2026.

Journeys by bus, cycle, van, lorry, taxi and any other vehicle apart from by private cars are not affected by the traffic filters.

  • There will be no physical barriers. It’s done by camera, just like the Temporary Congestion Charge points.

  • You will only need a pass, exemption or to pay a fee if you drive through the camera points that are numbered on the map. If you already have a permit for the temporary congestion charge, we will transfer your permit to a traffic filters permit. You don't need to reapply.

  • The filters have been located so you can drive to every part of the city without going through a filter, but it might mean driving a different route than you normally would.
    All filters will operate 7am - 7pm, 7 days a week,

  • The traffic filters will be located at the following locations. The map of the locations can be found on the Oxfordshire County Council website here.

    • Thames Street

    • Hythe Bridge Street

    • St Cross Road

    • St Clements

    • Marston Ferry Road

    • Hollow Way

  • Traffic levels a bit like they are during school holidays. But all the time.

  • Like the Temporary Congestion Charge, if you live inside Oxford you will get 100 free passes a year.

  • If you live in Oxfordshire but outside Oxford, you will get 25 free passes a year.

  • A free pass means you can drive through all of the filters, as many times as you wish, for a day.

  • Many people will be fully or partly exempt from the filters, including those pictured below. For a complete list of exemptions and more details about them, please see the County Council’s website.

  • If you go through a filter, and have used all your free passes and are not exempt, then you will be charged £70 (reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days). See more on the County Council’s website

  • See our FAQ page for answers to common questions about the filters. Or check out out our video that breaks down the changes and how they might affect you. This video was created before the Temporary Congestion Charge was put in place because of the delay to the Traffic Filter Charge but is still relevant.

Impacts of the filters

Many people who rely on their cars more will be exempt from the filters.

Illustration showing six groups of people who are exempt from the traffic filters: care and health workers, people having frequent hospital treatment, business vans, emergency services, blue badge holders, and informal carers.

The filters will speed up the buses so they can be a choice we can rely on.

Illustration showing three main effects of the traffic filters: faster and more predictable buses, two new outer loop bus routes, and 159 new electric buses which will improve Oxford's air quality.

How might ordinary people’s journeys change?

Here are some examples of journeys people take around Oxford.
Some of their journeys don’t change, and some do.

  • Illustration of a woman with curly hair and a blue shirt in a square that says "no change"

    Mandy is a home carer and is only paid for her time in each home, not the travel time in between. Like all carers she has an exemption from the filters, and is spending far less time in traffic—which means she can fit extra visits in and waste less unpaid time.

  • Illustration of a man with curly hair, brown skin, and a green shirt surrounded by a square that says "no change"

    Graham is a plumber. He drives a van for his business, so he has an exemption from the filters. The lower traffic levels are great for him to get to appointments and get spare parts more quickly.

  • Illustration of a woman with straight black hair and a pink shirt surrounded by a square that says "big change"

    Beverley lives in Berinsfield and works at the Westgate. She used to drive in, but now parks and rides at the Redbridge Park & Ride, as the Abingdon Road is so much faster. She’s also bumped into an old friend on the bus and catches up with her most days.

    Reduced 500 journeys a year

  • Illustration of a woman with short hair, orange earrings, and a blue shirt surrounded by a square that says "some change"

    Sarah lives in East Oxford and visits her mother-in-law once a week. She uses one of the 100 free passes on this day, and also combines it with a big shop, instead of making a separate journey. This reduces some miles too.

    Reduced 100 miles a year

  • An illustration of a man with curly black hair, a beard, and a white button-up shirt surrounded by a square that says "big change"

    Dave lives off Donnington Bridge Road and works in IT at the Churchill. He used to drive via Hollow Way, but wow the roads are quieter it’s prompted him to cycle, and he’s got much fitter. He always meant to start cycling but was too worried about how many cars there were. He’s reversed his pre-diabetes markers so he’s thrilled 😊

    Reduced 500 journeys a year

  • An illustration of a man with glasses and wearing a suit surrounded by a square that says "no change"

    Bal is a blue badge holder, as he is disabled. He has an exemption from the filters, so still drives whenever he needs to. He’s noticed there is less traffic, so he gets to work faster.

  • An illustration of a woman with short black hair and an orange turtleneck surrounded by a square that says "big change"

    Jos is a teaching assistant in East Oxford and lives near Horspath Driftway. She used to drive down Hollow Way and Cowley Road. Now she uses a Voi scooters monthly pass. She’s found a peaceful route via Barracks Lane and the main roads are clearer, so she feels safe and comfortable. The pass costs less than the petrol would’ve been, so she is actually saving some money.

    Reduced 400 journeys a year

  • An illustration of a man with a scruffy beard and a yellow t-shirt surrounded by a square that says "no change"

    Stuart is a car mechanic. He has a business van, so is exempt from the filters. He finds getting to the garage and back every day much faster, and parts which are delivered by other businesses arrive much faster too.

  • An image of a woman with brown curly hair, brown skin, and a pink-striped shirt surrounded by a square that says "some change"

    Jaz is a mum in Headington who used to drop her daughter off at Spires, going via St Clements, before going to work in Abingdon. As the filters changed this, she and her daughter decided on a safe, residential route for her daughter to walk by herself, and now Jaz goes out on the ring road a section earlier. The slight extra distance is much less than the school run was! It saves her about 45 minutes a day, and her daughter gets some exercise which has helped her focus at school, too.

  • Illustration of a woman with long hair and a pink shirt surrounded by a square that says "no change"

    Sandra lives in Islip and comes to Oxford about once a month to go shopping. She uses one of the 25 free passes to get to the Westgate Centre from the Banbury Road, taking the same route she did before.

  • Illustration of an older woman with glasses and a yellow shirt surrounded by a square that says "some change"

    Judy lives off the Abingdon road and looks after her grandkids three times a week on the Botley Road. She used to drive via Thames Street, but now the filters are in, she can’t do that all the time. She has decided to save her free passes for winter, and walk in summer. She’s more than halved her car journeys, discovered some pretty routes along the river, and got a bit fitter too! 


    Reduced 150 journeys a year.

  • Illustration of a man with tan skin and a green shirt surrounded by a square that says "no change"

    AJ is a taxi driver and has an exemption. The reduced traffic levels means all his fares are much faster, so more people are using taxis.