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Original poster

Who knew you had to pay to drive in Birmingham?????

232 replies

NichyNoo · 21/08/2021 14:14

Went to Birmingham recently for a weekend mini break. Received a penalty notice in the post today as apparently Birmingham is a clean air zone and you’re supposed to know this and pay £8 per day to drive in the city. I’m guessing another fine is in the post for the Sunday when we drove out of Birmingham. We didn’t see this advertised anywhere so no idea how we were supposed to know - two fines of £120 Shock I know about the london congestion charge but do any other cities have this charge to drive so we don’t get caught out again?

OP posts:
Isawthathaggis · 21/08/2021 15:17

@NichyNoo have you read the whole letter?
On page three, in small writing, I believe there is a second opportunity to pay the £8 if you do within a few days of receiving the letter?

It was posted on our local fb group the other day, I don’t know if it’s true, but you might want to have a second look just in case.

Badabingbadabum · 21/08/2021 15:17

I know, but I live here! There are so many signs, all down the roads that go into the centre, all round the ring road which you have to use to get into the city. If you missed those what other signs do you miss when driving?

merlotbythefire · 21/08/2021 15:19

Completely agree with @Sparklingbrook. I live about an hour away and have not seen or heard anything obvious about the initiative at all. I certainly don’t expect to be leafleted by the City Council, but I don’t think they’ve spread the news all that far and wide.

OP I got caught out with a recent trip to the Jewellery Quarter where we passed signs saying we were approaching the clean air zone, but there was absolutely nothing that indicated when we’d actually entered it. We completed our trip and thought nothing more of it until the threatening letter arrived a month later. Once I’d calmed down enough to read it all through properly, I found on page 2 a bit that says you can pay the original £8 fee within 7 days, but it has to be done at a PayPoint or a Post Office, you can’t do it online. I went to the PO and paid without any problems, the lady at the counter said they’d been seeing a lot of these letters! Hopefully this part is still in your letter and you can sort it out ASAP.

Interested in this thread?

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Driving & parking
Sparklingbrook · 21/08/2021 15:19

@Badabingbadabum

I know, but I live here! There are so many signs, all down the roads that go into the centre, all round the ring road which you have to use to get into the city. If you missed those what other signs do you miss when driving?
Are they all illuminated at night?
ancientgran · 21/08/2021 15:20

I lived in Birmingham about 30 years ago, I now live 200 miles away and I heard about it. Checked and mine and DHs cars are exempt. He would be exempt anyway as disabled.

Galassia · 21/08/2021 15:21

I took a wrong turn and instead of bypassing London on the M25 I ended up driving through London from entering on the A13, driving over Tower Bridge and then having a lovely (sarcasm) scenic journey across London before exiting on the Hammersmith flyover before joining the M4.

I was recovering from a serious illness and very tired after a long visit to see family and distracted by my daughter talking! (Excuses! Excuses!)

When I got home I had the choice to phone up and pay the congestion charge or wait until they contacted me.

Things were very hectic and I forgot to call and I’ve never heard anything in over three years yet I must have gone through all the zones.

Galassia · 21/08/2021 15:23

@ancientgran

I lived in Birmingham about 30 years ago, I now live 200 miles away and I heard about it. Checked and mine and DHs cars are exempt. He would be exempt anyway as disabled.
Are diesel cars exempt?
Muddydoor · 21/08/2021 15:24

@Galassia nope

Badabingbadabum · 21/08/2021 15:25

Are they all illuminated at night?

Don't know, two small children prevent frequent night trips to town! I'll check when it gets dark early in winter! Grin

But lots of signs aren't illuminated; people can't use 'it was dark' as a reason for going over the speed limit.

DismantledKing · 21/08/2021 15:25

I really can’t see how anyone could have missed this. It’s been discussed on TV and in the newspapers.

ancientgran · 21/08/2021 15:27

@Galassia We have one diesel and one petrol. Both come up as exempt, they are fairly new though, I think one is 2 years old and one is 4, I think older cars are the target.

user1471530109 · 21/08/2021 15:28

I also didn't know about this and live about 40 mins away (lived there for over 10 years until recently) and travel to the children's hospital once a year. How long has it been the case?

Those that are saying Portsmouth. I've just got back from Portsmouth! I didn't see any signs but I was trying to concentrate on sat Nav instructions...now worried (petrol qashqai).

OP, I agree that BCC haven't done a very good job of advertising the fact. I don't care if residents think they have been told. Surely Bham has 1000s of visitors weekly Hmm. (Tbf, I've driven in London loads and also never had a fine. Guessing you'd have to be driving an obvious massive diesel?).

ExtremelyDisorganised · 21/08/2021 15:28

I live about 100 miles away from Birmingham and read about this a few months ago, it has been in the national press.

Sparklingbrook · 21/08/2021 15:29

@Badabingbadabum

Are they all illuminated at night?

Don't know, two small children prevent frequent night trips to town! I'll check when it gets dark early in winter! Grin

But lots of signs aren't illuminated; people can't use 'it was dark' as a reason for going over the speed limit.

It's just that the OP was driving in at night. Sat Navs can tell you speed limits but you generally know those anyway.
ancientgran · 21/08/2021 15:31

Diesels made since 2015 are exempt apparently, just checked.

NeverTalkToStrangers · 21/08/2021 15:31

Portsmouth hasn’t started yet user, no need to worry, it’ll be later in the year. I also don’t think they were selling Qashqais fifteen years ago so you’ll almost certainly be exempt anyway.

ExtremelyDisorganised · 21/08/2021 15:32

Portsmouth's will only be for commercial vehicles not private cars.

ancientgran · 21/08/2021 15:32

@user1471530109

I also didn't know about this and live about 40 mins away (lived there for over 10 years until recently) and travel to the children's hospital once a year. How long has it been the case?

Those that are saying Portsmouth. I've just got back from Portsmouth! I didn't see any signs but I was trying to concentrate on sat Nav instructions...now worried (petrol qashqai).

OP, I agree that BCC haven't done a very good job of advertising the fact. I don't care if residents think they have been told. Surely Bham has 1000s of visitors weekly Hmm. (Tbf, I've driven in London loads and also never had a fine. Guessing you'd have to be driving an obvious massive diesel?).

I read hospital visit are exempt but not sure how it works, I mean they won't know why you are going into the city. Maybe you apply on line in advance but worth you finding out, the hospital might be able to advise.
meadowbleu · 21/08/2021 15:32

For anyone around London the ULEZ charge of £12.50 a day is expanding outwards on 25th October.
tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone

The penalty charge is £80/£160.

ULEZ is on top of the Congestion Charge.

GoWalkabout · 21/08/2021 15:33

Most of the schemes are currently aiming at vans and lorries so mostly hitting commercial drivers and the odd camper van conversion, however Birmingham chose to include certain types of cars because their particular pollution problem is massively contributed to by these vehicles. So do check when travelling to other cities (the government has made it mandatory for them to introduce these schemes so more will follow) but most will not affect private cars.

Mintjulia · 21/08/2021 15:37

I didn't know either but sounds like a great reason not to go to B'ham.

I haven't driven into London since they introduced the congestion charge either. If I have to go, I get the train but only for work, don't bother for leisure. Much better places to visit elsewhere.

user1471530109 · 21/08/2021 15:38

I've just checked on the gov site and car wouldn't be charged in any of the three cities.

OP, I'm sorry you've been fined. I hope the PP are correct and you're able to pay the original £8 charge.

I follow the news daily (admittedly through a news app rather than watching the news) and I honestly have not seen this mentioned.

Mintjulia · 21/08/2021 15:42

I have a 4 year old 2l diesel and it's exempt so I assume it's older more polluting engines

Sparklingbrook · 21/08/2021 15:44

I only used to get the train into Birmingham to go to John Lewis and they have closed that so I don't think I'll be going back any time soon. I certainly won't be driving in, charge or not.

Original poster
NichyNoo · 21/08/2021 15:46

No, unfortunately the letter makes no mention of being able to pay the £8. Will check the next letter that I guess I’ll receive in a couple of days from when we drove from the hotel back out to the M6.

OP posts: