The zone itself extends to cover all roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, though not the road itself. This covers popular areas such as Digbeth, the city centre, and the Jewellery Quarter. The zone is sign posted to show drivers that they are about to enter the zone.
The charge is of £8 per day for cars, vans and taxis or £50 a day for coaches, buses and HGVs. We enforce Birmingham's Clean Air Zone using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) which record the registration plate of vehicles travelling within the A4540 Middleway (but not the Middleway itself).
How do I pay the congestion charge for Birmingham city centre?
You can pay online using the Government's payment system, or you can call the Government's Clean Air Zone team on 0300 029 8888 for assistance. Please do not contact Birmingham City Council as we cannot process your payments.
What cars in Birmingham do not pay congestion charge?
Which cars avoid Congestion Charge in Birmingham? Cars that typically avoid the Congestion Charge in Birmingham include electric vehicles (EVs), registered disabled passenger vehicles, and vehicles meeting specific low emission standards (euro 6 for diesel and euro 4 for petrol).
What year cars are allowed in Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
The CAZ operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and affects diesel cars not meeting Euro 6 emission regulations (mostly those sold prior to 2016), and petrol models not meeting Euro 4 rules (mainly pre-2005/6 cars). Over 300 warning signs with a green-and-white cloud surround the zone.
Does Birmingham City Centre have a Congestion Charge?
No vehicle is banned in the zone, but vehicles that do not meet the emission standards for the zone are subject to a daily fee. The Clean Air Zone is in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and covers an area of the city centre within the A4540 Middleway.
How do I know if I need to pay Congestion Charge Birmingham?
Check your vehicle online to see if you'll need to pay to drive in the Clean Air Zone. You'll need to know your number plate. There are cameras inside the Clean Air Zone to spot vehicles that need to pay. You might be able to apply for a temporary exemption permit if you live or work in the Clean Air Zone.
How do I know if I've entered the congestion charge zone? The congestion charge zone is signposted as you enter with a white 'C' in a red circle. This will be displayed on signposts and on road markings.
How do I know if I need to pay for a Clean Air Zone?
Bristol's Clean Air Zone started on Monday 28 November 2022 , you'll need to pay a charge if your vehicle doesn't meet the zone's emission standards unless you have an exemption. You can use the government's checking tool to check if you will be charged to drive your vehicle in Bristol's Clean Air Zone.
There are road signs that tell you if you are approaching or entering the Clean Air Zone. These are at regular intervals as you approach the zone boundary. Signs have a clearly marked green cloud with the letter 'D' inside.
From 1st June 2021 onward any vehicle that is not compliant with the Clean Air Zone will incur a charge to enter Birmingham city centre. Getting on the bus is the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to avoid Clean Air Zone charges plus you are helping to improve the environment and air quality in our local communities.
Does my car qualify for Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
If you drive a petrol or petrol hybrid your car will need to meet the Euro 4 emission standards. Cars produced after 2005 will meet this standard. Diesel vehicles that meet the Euro 6 emission standards are also exempt.
In central Birmingham, parking fees often continue to apply in the evening, with rates typically ranging from £2 to £5 per hour, depending on the location and duration of your stay. Always verify the parking rules to avoid fines.
Parking in Birmingham city centre is easier than you might think. There are more than 3,000 parking spaces in central Birmingham, so you're never more than a few minutes' walk from the huge selection of shops, restaurants, and activities the city has to offer.
How do I avoid the congestion charge in Birmingham?
Use Public Transport: Utilize buses, trams, and trains for city travel to bypass the charge. Car Pooling: Share rides with others to reduce individual charges. Off-Peak Travel: Plan your visits during non-chargeable hours (e.g., evenings or weekends).
What happens if you forget to pay congestion charge Birmingham?
You may receive a £120 penalty charge if you have driven a chargeable (i.e. non-compliant) vehicle in the Clean Air Zone and have not paid the relevant daily fee or have a valid exemption in place.
What happens if you forget to pay a Clean Air Zone Birmingham?
If you forget to pay the fee, you'll get a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) in the post for a £120 fine. This is reduced to £60 if you pay it within 14 days. If your vehicle meets the emission standards, the app will automatically tell you that you're exempt and you don't have to pay the charge.
You must pay the charge by 11:59pm on the sixth day after driving into the zone. You can pay up to 6 days before you travel. If you do not pay the charge in this time, you may get a penalty charge notice ( PCN ). The maximum payment that can be made in a single transaction is £5,000.
What happens if you forget to pay the Congestion Charge?
If you do not pay the PCN within 28 days of the date of service, the original penalty amount will increase by 50% and a charge certificate will be sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle. You have 14 days from the date of service in which to pay this.
Locations inside the zone include Bullring, Grand Central, the world's biggest Primark, Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Business District, and Centenary Square where the German Market takes place outside Birmingham Council House and next to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The general rule is that to travel within a CAZ without a charge, a petrol vehicle has to meet at least the Euro 4 emission standard (mandatory from January 2006) and a diesel vehicle has to meet at least Euro 6 standards (mandatory from September 2015).
Only non-compliant taxis, including private hire vehicles, vans, minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs are affected. To find out whether you would be charged to drive in the CAZ you can check your vehicle using the government's online vehicle checker. Enter your registration number at www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones.
Though this question is asked regularly online, a car's registration year isn't a deciding factor on whether it is compliant. To be ULEZ compliant, petrol cars must meet Euro 4 emissions standards. Most petrol cars registered after January 2006 meet these standards.
