Clean Air Zones - Birmingham
What is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is a designated zone in the city centre that implements targeted actions to improve air quality. The Birmingham clean air zone policy was introduced to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by implementing a surcharge on non-compliant vehicles, e.g. vehicles that have a high level of emissions such as diesel and petrol cars. This policy is meant to discourage the public from purchasing and using cars with larger carbon footprints within defined clean air zones in Birmingham. This incentive helps to promote to the public that they ought to use electric cars as they become even cheaper to run compared to petrol and diesel alternatives.
Introduction to the Birmingham City Clean Air Zone
Birmingham was due to implement its clean air zone policy from 2020, but due to interruptions caused by COVID-19, the Birmingham city clean air zone came into effect from the 14th of June 2021. This clean air zone is intended to reduce levels of Nitrogen dioxide produced by vehicles to improve air quality within dedicated clean air zones. This policy comes under the umbrella of a wider set of UK policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gases by 68% by 2030.
Birmingham Clean Air Zone Car Checker
If you are unsure if your car is compliant with new standards on emissions, you can use this free tool on the government website to verify if you will be charged under the new policy. The Birmingham clean air zone car checker will help you establish if public transport, or an EV are a better option for commuting to the city for work or leisure.
For those due to visit Birmingham and who are looking to avoid the expense, why not look at hiring an electric vehicle? Likewise, if you live near to the city, Volt-Age can help you sample an EV with self-drive hire options on some of the very latest models.
Pay the Clean Air Charge for the Birmingham Zone
Within the Birmingham clean air zone rules, owning and operating a diesel or petrol car is slightly more difficult, as you must pay a daily congestion charge to drive within the CAZ. The Birmingham CAZ payments vary depending on the type of vehicle that you operate, and its size.
Birmingham Clean Air Zone Contact Number
To pay the Birmingham clean air zone charges, you can make payments through the government online payment system or by calling the National Contact Centre at 0300 029 8888.
What are the Birmingham Clean Air Zone Charges?
The cost of the Birmingham clean air zone charges are as following:
• £8 per day for cars, taxi and LGVs
• £50 per day for coaches, buses and HGV
Birmingham Clean Air Zone Fines
These payments must be made within an allotted 13 day payment window spanning 6 days before entering the zone to 6 days after entering the zone, otherwise you may face a fine of £120, which can be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Why Is Using an Electric Car a Good Idea?
The government has implemented clean air zones, which encourages more people to use electric cars for environmental reasons; however, using an electric car is a good idea for many more reasons. Upgrading to an electric car is not only better for the environment but better for your wallet, too.
While initially, an electric car may cost more than an equivalent petrol or diesel car, the lifetime cost of an electric car tends to be much cheaper. Firstly, the running costs of an electric car are far lower than a diesel or petrol car as they do not run on expensive natural gases. Secondly, because of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the government subsidies the purchase of some electric cars, and even offers grants to install home charging points.
The new policy of introducing surcharges on diesel and petrol cars in clean air zones makes an electric car, more than ever, the wisest choice because you can avoid expensive daily congestion charges.
Birmingham Clean Air Zone Exemptions
There are some exemptions to the Birmingham clean air zone charge, for residents, businesses, and workers.
If you are a resident: If you live within a clean air zone and own a non-compliant vehicle, you can apply for a temporary exemption permit, wherein you will not be charged for the first two years that a zone is in operation.
If you are a worker: If you earn less than £30,000/annum, work in a CAZ at least 18 hours per week, and own a non-compliant vehicle, you can apply for a temporary exemption or financial support.
If you are a business: If you have a registered business address within a CAZ, and have non compliant vehicles that are registered to the business and will be subject to the charge, you can apply for a temporary exemption on up to two commercial vehicles.
Exemptions are also available for:
• Vehicles with a medical voucher
• Specialist vehicles
• Community and school transport
• Disabled passenger tax class (tax class 85)
• Historic and military vehicles
• Showmans' vehicles
• Visitors to certain medical centres that offer 24/7 emergency care
Avoiding the Expense of the Brum Clean Air Zone
In conclusion, it’s a huge hassle to spend time and money making daily manual payments in order to operate a non-compliant car, so you may as well avoid this headache altogether and rent an electric vehicle, even with a view to buying one when you have found a model that matches your requirements.
With the financial impact of diesel and petrol vehicles under the Birmingham clean air zone policy, and the rise in the popularity and range of electric vehicles available, it is now more attractive than ever to upgrade to an electric car, whether you are purchasing, or renting. The jump to an electric car is not only a budget friendly choice, but also an environmentally conscious one, too, so you can save money and feel good about your means of transport.
Better still, given the recent fuel shortages – you can save the new ‘fuel anxiety’ and plug in instead.
Volt-Age EV Hire For Customers In Birmingham
At Volt-Age Hire, we provide access to the best electric cars on a self-drive basis anywhere in the UK, including Birmingham. Our models on offer range from Teslas, Nissans, BMWs, Hondas, and many others.
By using Volt-Age hire for journeys to and from Birmingham, you can reduce emissions, save money on fuel and avoid congestion charges when you plan to visit the clean air zone. At Volt-Age Hire, we offer an EV rental service to provide residents of Birmingham the opportunity to get a feel for driving an electric vehicle before making any decisions about buying, or leasing an electric car on a long term deal. Our experts are only too happy to advise and answer any EV questions too.
Don’t hesitate to check our EV hire availability or contact us for a discussion today!