Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

Birmingham has had a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in place since the summer of 2021 in a bid to improve the air quality across the entire city for all residents. Known as #brumbreathes, let Scrap Car Comparison guide you through everything you need to know about the system, from eligibility, charges and whether it’s in your best interest to scrap your old car to find something a little greener and save money in the long run.

Where is the CAZ in place?

Birmingham’s CAZ is in place within the A4540, otherwise known as The Middleway – the ring road that surrounds the city centre, although the A4540 itself is not included.

There are no exceptions to when this CAZ is in place, meaning no matter when you are on the road, if you are in a chargeable car then you will need to pay, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Do I need to pay the daily fee?

You will only need to pay the daily CAZ fee in Birmingham if you are driving one of the vehicles covered within the scheme. The CAZ in Birmingham is a rare Class D system – find out more about the different CAZ class types.

Being a Class D means all vehicles can be eligible to pay the fee, even private cars. The only vehicles exempt from paying the daily fee are the following:

• Diesel-powered vehicles of Euro 6 standard or better
• Petrol-powered vehicles of Euro 4 standard or better
• Gas-powered vehicles of Euro 6 standard or better
• Hybrid electric vehicles meeting the above criteria

GOV.UK offers a service where you can check if charges apply to your vehicle, although this service is only available for vehicles registered in the UK. Charges will still apply to vehicles registered outside of the UK.

For a breakdown of what each class of CAZ means, we’ve put together a handy guide, breaking down what qualifies for each type of scheme.

How much will I pay?

All vehicles that do not meet the emission standards set by the Birmingham CAZ must pay the following fees:

• Cars, taxis and vans (light goods vehicles) – £8
• Coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles – £50

The scheme is chargeable once per day, and runs from midnight to midnight. This means that even if you enter the zone at 11pm and leave again at 1am, you will be required to pay the fee for both days.Certain exemptions apply if you live or work within the CAZ, but there are additional criteria to be met – the BrumBreathes website has a full breakdown on how to apply for an exemption.

Can I get a grant to get a compliant vehicle?

The Birmingham council has introduced a number of financial incentives to replace your current car, known as the ‘Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Scheme’. Providing you meet all of the following criteria:

• You have been the registered keeper of the non-compliant vehicle since 10 September 2018
• You live outside of the CAZ but work at least 18hrs/week within the zone.
• Earn less than £30,000 a year

If you qualify, the scheme will provide you one of two options in return for scrapping your car through the scheme’s required partner. You can either exchange your car for £2,000 worth of Travel Credits, offering the equivalent of three years of free travel on public transport, or alternatively you can put the £2,000 towards the purchase of a compliant vehicle.

Scrap your car in Birmingham and the West Midlands

If you’re facing the prospect of having to pay the daily fee within the Birmingham CAZ and do not meet the criteria to qualify for an exemption or a grant, then Scrap Car Comparison is here to make life much easier for you.

We have no restriction on who you are, where you live or what you drive – we’ll take any car, no matter its condition, and provide you with the very best price possible. The money is paid directly into your account, meaning there are no restrictions on what you can do with it.

Our easy scrapping process means we show you the best scrap prices across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. Our network of nationwide scrappers will collect your vehicle from your driveway and recycle the vehicle ethically and legally. Payment is made directly to you on the day the vehicle is collected.

To find out just how much your car could be worth as scrap, get in touch with our friendly team today and  get a price in less than 60 seconds for your old gas-guzzler, and with buyers in all four corners of the country, we’ll even come and collect it from you at no additional cost. The entire process only takes a handful of days, meaning you’ll be able to put the money towards a compliant car as soon as possible, saving you £8 a day – or £2000 a year.