Birmingham's Clean Air Zone
Helping to create a future without air pollution
Clean Air Zone
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.
DID YOU KNOW? Cars are the number one cause of roadside air pollution, which has reached illegal levels. In fact, in UK city centres alone, poor air conditions contribute to 40,000 deaths each year. – making it the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK.*
Find out if you can claim £2,000 in FREE bus travel!
If you are the owner of a vehicle that isn't compliant with the CAZ and meet the following criteria, you can sign up for the Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Scheme. This could make you eligible for £2,000 in travel credits that can be redeemed across bus, train and metro. The travel credits can also be used by more than one nominated person so could be shared amongst family members.
- Have been the registered owner/ keeper of a non-compliant vehicle since 10th September 2018
- Live outside of the Clean Air Zone but work at least 18 hours per week at premises based within it
- Earn less than £30,000 a year
Why is bus a great solution?
- Our existing fleet is already more environmentally friendly as our buses have been retrofitted with new exhaust systems (Euro VI) to reduce vehicle emissions. This means the air coming out of the bus exhaust is cleaner than the air outside!
- Last year, our route 6 (Solihull - Birmingham) service was replaced with new electric vehicles and along with another service in Coventry these vehicles have already helped prevent over 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere.
- We are collaborating with Birmingham city council to introduce 20 new hydrogen powered buses to our fleet. Hydrogen buses consume 4 times less fuel than standard diesel buses in addition to emitting water vapour so no carbon dioxide or other harmful gases are being emitted into the air.
- We're already low emissions but we have pledged to have a fully zero carbon fleet of buses by 2030.
Clean Air Zone FAQs
What is a Clean Air Zone?
A Clean Air Zone is when significant action has been taken to improve air quality in a certain area. In this instance pollution from vehicles in Birmingham city centre. Vehicles that fail to comply with the emission standard will be charged when entering the city centre from 1st June 2021. You can find out if your vehicle is compliant or not here.
When will the Birmingham Clean Air Zone come into operation?
The Clean Air Zone will begin in Birmingham city centre from 1st June 2021. Visit Birmingham City Council's website Brum Breathes for more information
Where will the Birmingham Clean Air Zone be?
The Birmingham Clean Air Zone will operate on all roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road but not on the Middleway itself.
What are the charges?
The charges for the Birmingham Clean Air Zone are as follows:
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Cars and LGVs £8 per day
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Coaches and HGVs £50 per day.
You will only need to pay once for the day (midnight to midnight) but the charges will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Are there any exemptions?
If you are the owner of a non-compliant vehicle and meet the following criteria, you can sign up for the Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Scheme.
- Have been the registered owner/ keeper of a non-compliant vehicle since 10th September 2018
- Live outside of the Clean Air Zone but work at least 18 hours per week at premises based within it
- Earn less than £30,000 a year
This could make you eligible for £2,000 in travel credits that can be redeemed across bus, train and metro. The travel credits can also be used by more than one nominated person so could be shared amongst family members.
Will your business or commute be within the Clean Air Zone? Did you know that businesses can sign up to a corporate partnership to help their team save money and make a more sustainable commute!
Find out more
- Visit our sustainable travel page to learn more about what we are doing as a business to support the environment.
- For more information about the Birmingham City Council Clean Air Zone head to the #BrumBreathes website.
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