Birmingham Clean Air Zone: what you need to know

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone is now live and certain older cars will be charged to enter the city. We explain the rules and costs.

Birmingham Selfridges

Drivers may now be charged to enter Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. The UK’s second CAZ went live on 1 June 2021, but no charges were levied for the first two weeks. This was to allow motorists “time to adjust”.

Cars, taxis and vans that don’t meet the required exhaust emission standards will be subject to an £8 daily charge, rising to £50 for coaches and HGVs.

The Bath Clean Air Zone was Britain’s first CAZ and, following Birmingham, more are set to be introduced in Manchester, Oxford, Bradford and other cities.

Not all Clean Air Zones are the same. Here, we detail all you need to know about the Birmingham Clean Air Zone.

Why is there a Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

The government is committed to reducing deaths due to air pollution, which causes up to 36,000 deaths a year across the UK – and a reported 900 a year just in Birmingham.

People who live close to busy roads are particularly vulnerable – as are children.

Because children are closer to the ground than adults, scientists say they are exposed to three times more air pollution as a result.

Birmingham has been defined as an air pollution hotspot, due to persistent breaches of statutory NOx levels, and is obliged to take targeted action.

When did it go live?

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone went live at midnight on 1 June 2021 and charges were introduced from 14 June 2021.

Where is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Simply, the Birmingham CAZ is everywhere within the A4540 Middleway ring road – but not the Middleway itself.

Every entrance to the zone will be clearly marked so motorists should know that they have entered it – and alternative routes will be open for those who wish to avoid it.

Importantly, motorists will not receive any alert or message if they enter the zone in a non-compliant vehicle: it is up to car owners to know this.

ANPR cameras throughout the Birmingham CAZ will monitor vehicles for compliance.

How much is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Charges for cars, taxis and light goods vehicles (small vans) are £8 per day. For heavy goods vehicles and coaches, the charge is £50 per day – unless a valid exemption is in place.

Motorists can drive in and out of the zone as many times as they wish once they have paid it – but the charge works day-by-day, not on a 24-hour basis.

Those who drive into the zone at 11pm and leave it at 1am will therefore have to pay the charge for two days, not one.

The zone operates 365 days a year.

How can I check if I need to pay?

A government online Clean Air Zone checker is now live.

Motorists can enter their vehicle registration and check if they will be charged.

How do I pay for the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Motorists will pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone charge online.

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone charge can be paid six days prior to a visit, on the day of the visit, or six days afterwards.

Motorists who fail to pay the charge within this time will receive a Fixed Penalty Notice.

What is the fine for not paying the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Failure to pay the charge results in a £120 Fixed Penalty Notice.

This is reduced to £60 for those who pay it within 14 days of receipt.

Which vehicles are included in the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone is a ‘category D’ zone. All vehicles are included: cars, non-compliant buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans and minibuses.

A Category D CAZ is the only Clean Air Zone to include cars. Local authorities also have the option to include motorcycles, but Birmingham has chosen not to.

The council estimates that one in four vehicles currently driving within the zone will be subject to the charge, although other studies have suggested up to 60 percent of the 200,000 vehicles entering the city each day could be affected.

Which cars will be charged in the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Euro 4 petrol vehicles – that’s most models from 2006-onwards – and Euro 6 diesels – most vehicles from September 2015 – are compliant with the Clean Air Zone.

Pre-Euro 4 petrol models and pre-Euro 6 diesels will be charged in the Clean Air Zone as they are not compliant.

As a rule of thumb, pre-2006 petrols and pre-September 2015 diesel cars may be charged – but motorists must check their registration online to be sure of their car’s status.

Diesel vehicles have traditionally been worse for NOx emissions, which is why the age limit is much stricter for diesels. Newer diesels are as clean as petrol cars.

Is there a Birmingham Clean Air Zone Scrappage Scheme?

Motorpoint Clean Air Zone Scrappage Scheme

Car retailer Motorpoint has been selected by Birmingham City Council to deliver a Scrappage Scheme. People working within the CAZ for more than 18 hours a week, earning less than £30,000 a year, can scrap their old car and receive a £2,000 credit towards a new vehicle from Motorpoint.

The scheme runs at its Aston and Oldbury branches.

The £2,000 can also be spent as a mobility credit to use on public transport via Transport for West Midlands’ Swift Card scheme.

Is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone a Congestion Charge?

Birmingham City Council is keen to stress the Clean Air Zone is not a London-style Congestion Charge.

Only non-compliant vehicles are charged, rather than all vehicles. What’s more, the money raised has to be used in emissions-reducing projects and can’t go into general council coffers.

“If the scheme doesn’t raise a single penny, that’s fine by us,” council communications manager Jemma Callow told Motoring Research. “It will mean it’s doing its job in tackling pollution.”

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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