Birmingham's Clean Air Zone

The Government has declared a National Health Emergency over air pollution and tasked cities with introducing Clean Air Zones to tackle the problem.

Air pollution has a detrimental impact on health and contributes to over 900 deaths per year. Children are the worst affected as they are closer to the ground and therefore closer to exhaust fumes.

The Clean Air Zone will reduce air pollution and improve health. It also feeds into the council’s aim to become net Carbon zero by 2030. It is hoped that the Clean Air Zone will be an enabler of change, encouraging those living and working in Birmingham to change the way they travel.

Research by the council has found that 50% of journeys in Birmingham are made by car. Of these, 250,000 per year are less than one mile long.

The introduction of the zone aims to encourage residents and workers to consider the way they travel and to take the most polluting vehicles off the road.

Director of Public Health at Birmingham City Council Dr Justin Varney explains more about the dangers of air pollution in this video.

It applies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Bank Holidays. A day’s use runs from midnight to midnight.

Please note: as an example, if you make a journey into the zone in a non-compliant vehicle at 10pm and leave at 1am, you would be liable for two daily charges, as you would have entered the next daily charging phase (from midnight onwards).

It costs £8 per day for non-compliant cars, taxis (hackney carriages and private hire), LGVs and minibuses (up to and including 3.5 tonnes).

Heavier vehicles (over 3.5 tonnes) and buses/coaches are charged £50 per day.

You will only be charged if your vehicle isn't compliant. Check this before you travel by using the government’s vehicle checker. If your vehicle is compliant, you don’t need to do anything.

If you live or work in the Clean Air Zone, you may be eligible for an exemption.

There are several ways to pay the Clean Air Zone charge, including online on the government website and by phone with the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) National Helpdesk on 0300 029 8888.

You only have to pay the charge once per day, no matter how many times you leave and re-enter the CAZ, though note that a day’s use runs from midnight to midnight.

Payment must be made six days prior to the visit, the day of the visit or six days after the visit. Failure to do so will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice

Check whether your vehicle is compliant using the government’s vehicle checker. If your vehicle is compliant, you don’t need to do anything.

If your vehicle is not compliant, you might be eligible to apply for an exemption.

If you are not eligible for an exemption, you will be charged for driving into the zone. You may want to consider changing your vehicle or travelling by other means.

Exemptions are available for the following people and vehicles:

• Visitors to specified medical facilties, including Birmingham Children's Hospital.
• Community transport vehicles.
• Disabled vehicles.
• Historic vehicles.

See the latest information on exemptions on the Brum Breathes website.

You could be eligible for a grant package of up to £4,000 to scrap a non-compliant vehicle and use more sustainable travel options. Find out information here.

You can apply if: you have a non-compliant vehicle, you live in the Clean Air Zone or if you travel into the Clean Air Zone for work and earn less than £32,000 a year (working a minimum of 18 hours per week). 

See the full details on eligibility and how to apply on the Brum Breathes website. 

No, students are not exempt. You can apply for one of the other exemptions if they're appropriate, or the scrappage scheme if you're eligible. We encourage students who commute to uni to use more sustainable travel options like public transport wherever possible. 

The zone is aimed at tackling air pollution. The council has said revenue from the zone will be reinvested in transport-related projects and policies, such as:

• City centre pedestrianisation
• Improved cycle lanes
• Parking zones on the perimeter of the Clean Air Zone
• Funding for a hydrogen bus pilot scheme
• Enhanced programme of active and sustainable travel.

Walking, cycling, or public transport could be an option. Check out our sustainable travel pages for travel guides and more information.