Should I Pay or Appeal Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN?

If you’ve received a Birmingham Clean Air Zone Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and you’re unsure whether to pay or appeal, this guide is for you. Every month, over 32,000 people come here wanting help with tickets and fines. We will help you through the process. In this article, we will:

• Explain what the Birmingham Clean Air Zone is.
• Show you how to know if you’ve entered the Zone.
• Discuss how much the Zone charge is.
• Guide you on how to pay the fine.
• Help you understand how to appeal your PCN.

We know that getting a PCN can be worrying, but you can rest easy now, as we have a lot of experience dealing with similar cases. We’re here to help you make the best choice for your Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN. Let’s dive in.

Birmingham Clean Air Zone rules

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone rules state that no vehicle is banned from entering the zone, but drivers of vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards will have to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone fee for each day they drive within the zone. 

The general rule is that petrol vehicles that were registered before 2006 and diesel vehicles that were registered before September 2015 will be subject to the fee. You can check your vehicle online.  

The day rate is applied from midnight to midnight, so you may have to pay the fee twice if you use the CAZ late at night. Some vehicle owners hold a payment exemption or temporary exemption, such as residents within the zone. 

The Clean Air Zone is in effect 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So there is no let-up and the Clean Air Zone Birmingham is always in effect. 

How do I know if I have entered the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?

Road signage will alert you when you’ve entered the Birmingham Clean Air Zone. The local council uses two types of signs to help drivers avoid using the zone if needed. 

These are:

1. Warning signs that alert drivers that they’re approaching the boundary of the Clean Air Zone. These signs should give drivers enough time to choose a different route and avoid entering the zone if desired. 

2. Boundary signs that alert drivers that they’re entering the boundary of the zone and charges will apply to vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards. 

Both signs include an icon of a cloud on a green background with the letter “D” inside the cloud. 

Alternatively, you can visit this page for a more visual understanding of the Birmingham Clean Air zone boundaries. 

How much is the Clean Air Zone in Birmingham?

The Birmingham Clean Air Zone daily fee is £8 for cars, taxis and vans. Drivers or company owners of coaches, buses and HGVs will pay £50 per day for using the CAZ. 

How to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone fee

You can pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone fee up to six days before you use the CAZ or within six days after using the CAZ. 

You can pay over the phone by calling the Birmingham CAZ payment hotline on 0300 029 8888, or pay online via the UK Gov website here. 

Be aware that the line to pay over the phone is only open on weekdays between 8am and 4.30pm.

What happens if I don’t pay the Birmingham clean air charge?

You will be issued a Birmingham Clean Air Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) if you don’t pay your daily fee on time. 

Do I have to pay Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN?

You should pay or appeal a Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN within 28 days – or as otherwise stated on the notice. 

The initial cost of the fine will be £120, but this is halved to £60 if you make payment within 14 days of the PCN being served to you. 

If you don’t pay the PCN by the deadline, the council will increase the fine by 50% and even get a court order to make you pay, which could escalate to bailiffs and more fees. 

So, you should pay or appeal the CAZ PCN, but never ignore it! 

Should I pay or appeal my Birmingham Clean Air PCN?

Appealing a PCN for not paying the CAZ fee can be tough as the council will have footage of your vehicle using the zone. You can even look at these images before lodging your appeal online. 

The most common reason for an appeal is if you have an exemption to the daily fee and you don’t have to pay. Or when your vehicle meets the emission standards and the council has made an error. 

It’s a personal decision, but consider how likely it is that you’ll win the appeal. Otherwise, it may be better to pay within 14 days and get £60 knocked off the fine. 

How to appeal a Birmingham Clean Air PCN

You appeal a Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN online using the same portal as to pay the PCN (see above). You’ll need to give a sufficient reason why you want to appeal and often need to supply evidence. 

Don’t delay making your appeal or you could lose your opportunity to appeal without a good reason. 

Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN appeal rejected – what next?

When your appeal is rejected you can accept the decision and pay the fine, which will now be £120. Or you can escalate the appeal to an independent tribunal for an overruling decision. The council must provide details on how to do this when they reject your first appeal. 

How to pay a Birmingham Clean Air PCN

Pay your Birmingham Clean Air Zone PCN over the phone by calling the payment line on 0121 667 4964. This is an automated service and therefore lines are always open. 

Alternatively, you can pay by cheque in the post, by cash or online. Details of these payment options can be found on the council’s website here. 

If you have lost the PCN and want to pay, you should call 0121 675 2000 to retrieve your details. This number is only open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm. 

Dealing with a parking ticket as well?

If you’re also fighting a parking ticket in Birmingham or anywhere else, you might be interested to read my How to Appeal a Parking Ticket guide too.