Birmingham Clean Air Zone
Introduction
A Clean Air Zone (or CAZ) is an area where targeted action is being taken to improve air quality and a number of local authorities are introducing such zones.
In England, there are four zone types, A through D and each stipulate the minimum emission standard necessary to drive within the zone. If a vehicle does not meet the required standard then a charge may be payable in order to drive within the zone.
In Scotland, such areas are referred to as Low Emission Zones (or LEZ) and non-compliant vehicles are prohibited from entering such zones and a penalty charge notice will be issued each time this occurs with the penalty increasing upon each infraction.
Clean Air Zone Details
This is a Type D Clean Air Zone. Charges apply to all vehicles except motorcycles.
Vehicle Details
Charges will apply for the following vehicle types if they do not meet the minimum emission standard required.
Check Your Vehicle
Charges Apply
Payment
To make a payment for a Clean Air Zone journey, use the Government portal at:
Payments can be made up to 6 days in advance and any charge due must be paid by 11.59pm on the sixth day after driving into a zone.
More Information
Map of Charging Zone
Exemptions
National
You're automatically entitled to a national exemption and do not have to pay a charge, if you have:
- A vehicle that is ultra low emission
- A disabled passenger tax class vehicle
- A disabled tax class vehicle
- A military vehicle
- A historic vehicle
- A vehicle retrofitted with tehnology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
- Certain types of agricultural vehicles
Local
The list of locally exempt vehicles in Birmingham are shown below. All exemptions will need to be applied for and are not automatically granted.
- Residents (you live at an address within the zone and are a keeper of a vehicle that does not meet the emissions standards and the vehicle is registered to the same address you live at. This exemption is available until 31 May 2023)
- Community and school transport vehicles
- Visitors to the following hospitals (Birmingham Children's Hospital, Attwood Green Health Centre, Badger Medical and Millennium Point for Covid vaccinations. This scheme is administered via a voucher which can be used to pay the daily fee)
- Emergency service vehicles representing the police, fire and ambulance services which do not meet the emission standards will be exempt from all Clean Air Zone charges
- Recovery vehicles which will be subject to a Clean Air Zone charge can apply for a permanent exemption (only if used exclusively for vehicle recovery and over 3.5 tonnes)
- Showman’s vehicles that do not meet the emissions standards and would be subject to a charge can access a local exemption