Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
Everything you need to know about the Birmingham CAZ:, where it is, and what times it operates
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What is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has one main goal – to improve air quality by reducing the number of polluting vehicles in the area.
Vehicles like cars and lorries can have a nasty impact on our environment. They create air pollution through exhaust emissions that aren’t ideal for our health, and studies show that clean air zones are one of the best methods for tackling this.
So, if you’re travelling in Brum soon and have been asking, ‘does Birmingham have a Clean Air Zone?’ read our guide below to get all the answers.
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Where is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone covers a wide area of the city centre within the A4540 Middleway – but not the Middleway itself.
There are over 300 road signs to mark the Birmingham CAZ, with two different types to look out for.
One shows information before the zone boundary, and the second type marks the boundary itself. This way, you’ll have plenty of warning before you approach the zone, and then again right before you enter it.
When did it come into effect?
The Clean Air Zone was introduced in Birmingham on 1 June 2021.
Just a month after the Zone launched, Birminhgam City Council shared a report that stated the number of non-compliant vehicles entering the zone had reduced from 18.7% in the first two weeks to 12.4% near the end of the month.
As of October 2024, the Zone is still up and running.
Why is it needed?
Clean air zones help to reduce the amount of harmful exhaust emissions and air pollution we're exposed to as the public.
Petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles produce harmful emissions that can seriously impact our health, worsening and even causing some respiratory conditions. This is especially true in built-up areas like Brimingham city centre.
CAZs also help towards reaching wider net carbon goals and boost the local economy by encouraging people to use public transport.
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Birmingham Clean Air Zone rules and times
The Birmingham CAZ operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All vehicles are allowed into the area, but there’s a daily fee based on the vehicle’s emission standards.
The Birmingham CAZ is a category D clean air zone. This means that buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses and cars are included, and the local authority can also choose to include motorbikes.
Category D is the most stringent type of CAZ – so you know Birmingham is serious about seeing improvements.
How do I know if I’ve entered the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
You’ll know if you’ve entered the Birmingham CAZ as you’ll see plenty of signage. Like we said earlier, there are signs on the run-up to, and at the boundary of, the CAZ, so it’s easy to spot where it begins.
You might also get an alert from your sat nav before the Zone, but always check ahead of time just in case your software doesn’t have this feature.
Is Birmingham Airport in the Clean Air Zone?
Nope, Birmingham Airport isn’t in the Clean Air Zone. The CAZ applies to the city centre, and the airport is just outside of this.
You might want to bear in mind that you could still drive through the CAZ on your way to the airport, depending on where you’re coming from.
Is Birmingham Children's Hospital in the Clean Air Zone?
Birmingham Children’s Hospital is located inside of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, but visitors to the hospital are able to apply for a temporary exemption permit. This means you don’t have to pay the CAZ fee if you’re visiting the hospital.
You can also apply for a voucher if you’re visiting other NHS services within the zone.
You’ll just need to grab a voucher from the hospital while visiting, and then you can type that code into the Brum Breathes website to cancel the charge.
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What are the Birmingham Clean Air Zone charges?
Vehicles driving in the Birmingham Clean Air Zone that don’t meet the emission standards and don’t have an exemption will need to pay a daily fee when travelling through the Zone.
The CAZ charge for cars, vans and taxis is £8 a day, or £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs.
How to pay the Birmingham CAZ
You can pay the CAZ fee on the gov.uk website or by calling 0300 029 8888.
You’ll need to pay the CAZ charge up to six days before you travel within the Zone, on the day you drive, or no more than six days after you’ve driven in the Zone.
For businesses, you can make a business account on the government’s clean air zone portal and check several vehicles at the same time.
How do I know if I have to pay CAZ?
You can check if you need to pay CAZ charges by using the online government service. You’ll need to type in your number plate, and it’ll let you know if you need to pay.
Birmingham Clean Air Zone fines
If your car doesn’t meet the emission standards, you don’t have an exemption, and you haven’t paid your daily fee, then you can be fined for driving in the Birmingham CAZ.
The standard penalty charge is £120 with 28 days to pay. If you pay within 14 days of the date of issue, this will be discounted to £60.
You can pay your penalty charge notice on the Birmingham City Council website.
Which cars are exempt from Clean Air Zone Birmingham?
Cars with ultra-low emissions are exempt from CAZ charges, but you’ll need to double-check this ahead of time to make sure yours qualifies.
You’ll automatically have a national exemption to the CAZ charge if:
You drive a disabled passenger tax class vehicle
You drive a disabled tax class vehicle
You drive a military or historical vehicle
Your car has been retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS)
There have been other exemptions for the Birmingham Clean Air Zone in particular. These include:
Exemption for residents living in the CAZ for two years from the launch of the Zone
Low-income workers (earning less that £30,000 per year) who work within the CAZ were exempt for one year from the date the Zone launched
Two commercial vehicles registered within the CAZ can apply for a one-year exemption
Commercial vehicles with an existing finance agreement beyond the commencement of the CAZ that are registered within the Zone
Community or school transport vans and minibuses can apply for ongoing exemption if they’re registered for Section 19 or 22 operation within Birmingham
As the Zone was introduced in 2021, most of these exemptions are now outdated and not available. There is still financial support available surrounding the CAZ, such as the commercial vehicle grant scheme, though.
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Other clean air zones in the UK
Birmingham Clean Air Zone isn't the only one in the UK – there are other CAZs to be aware of.
There are clean air zones across the country, including in Bath, Bristol, Newcastle and Sheffield, and of course the CAZ and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London.