Explained: the Clean Air Zone in Birmingham
On June 1st 2021, the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will enter into effect in Birmingham, joining Bath to implement such a zone. At that date, some types of vehicles will have to pay a fee every day they enter the zone. If you have never heard of it, or are not exactly sure what it is, here’s an explainer about what are the cars exempted to pay, the prices and payment options, some of the possible exemptions one can apply for and where to gather more information.
- Launching: 1 June 2021
- Area covered: inside the A4540 Middleway (see map above)
- Goal: to improve the quality of the air we breathe, and our health. It will also reduce the levels of air pollution.
To put some context to that: on average, 2.8m journeys are made by residents of Birmingham with half of those from private cars, according to the West Midlands Household Travel Survey. About 0.5m private cars of people outside Birmingham come each day in the city centre. Meanwhile 250,000 residents use their car for trips lesser than a mile in the city.
- Cost: cars that pollute the most will have to pay if they enter the CAZ. Newer vehicles might be exempt. For cars and vans (LGV’s) it will be £8 per day, while for coaches and lorries (HGV’s) the price is £50 per day.
- Who will have to pay? Vehicles that do not fall into these categories:
Diesel — Euro 6 standard or better (end of 2015 and onwards)
Petrol — Euro 4 standard or better (around 2006 and onwards)
Gas — Euro 6 standard or better
Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell — none have to pay charges
Hybrid electric — the diesel/petrol engine has to meet the criteria from above
Motorcycles and mopeds won’t be charged if they enter the Clean Air Zone. If this sounds too technical or you are not sure if your vehicle may enter into one of these categories, you can always check it here, entering the details of your vehicle.
If I have to pay, how long does it last? Only for the day you enter the zone (from midnight to midnight the same day), no matter how many times you enter and leave the zone during that day. If on day X you enter late during the night (9pm) and leave the following day at 4am, you’ll have to pay two consecutive days.
But, there’s a caveat to that, if your car stays parked for several days and don’t use it, you won’t have to pay for each and every day you have it parked within the CAZ. The dedicated website about the Clean Air Zone says the following:
Your vehicle is only chargeable when in motion. The ANPR cameras record vehicles when they are moving, so you would receive a charge for each individual day the vehicle in question is picked up by the cameras.
Payment options
When and where do I pay? You can either pay up to 6 days in advance, the same day you plan on entering the zone, or even up to 6 days after you entered. Giving you a window of 13 days in total.
At the moment two ways to pay have been announced: either online or by calling the number of the Joint Air Quality Unit National Helpdesk: 0300 029 8888.
The payment will be of your responsibility and at no occasion you will be told that you entered the CAZ. All around the A4540 Middleway there will be signs indicating that you’re about to enter the zone.
If during the 13 days window you forget to pay, you’ll receive a fine of £120. This is for any type of car. If you pay it within 14 days, it will be reduced by half, to £60.
Different exemptions available
There are possible exemptions for residents, workers (who earn less than £30k and work at least 18 hours inside CAZ) and commercial vehicles. They can apply for a temporary exemption that does not exceed two years (renewable each year) depending on which category you are.
You can check here if you can apply (or want to apply) for an exemption.
Aside from those 3 categories, holders of a blue badge will not be exempt from being charged if their vehicle is not compliant. While cars built before 1981 can apply for a historic tax class.
For those going to the Children’s Hospital or a centre (e.g. for an appointment, to visit someone or drop off a patient), you’ll need to ask a voucher at those places so you can redeem it online and avoid any possible fine.
If you want to know more about these circumstances and others not mentioned, about an exemption not covered in this explainer which may apply to you, you will find more information here.
Webinars and other questions
The City Council is hosting different webinars until June (among others: for people working in the CAZ, for residents or an overview of it), explaining more in detail some other aspects not covered here.
You can register here for any upcoming webinar.
In case you are not able to assist to any of those, they are uploaded on their YouTube page. Here’s the latest they had, for people living inside the CAZ.
If you need more information about any other specificity, you will find more details on the Brum Breathes page dedicated to the Clean Air Zone.