Driver stories and your up-to-date guide on running your car, written by Caura’s experts. Keep up to speed with charge changes, new zones, insurance tips and much more. 

Welcome to the Roadeo - find stories, insights and tips for drivers across the UK.  

Be prepared for the Bristol Clean Air Zone

Part 4: Now you’re prepared, make sure your friends are too

Know someone who might need to pay for the Bristol Clean Air Zone? Head to the ‘Refer’ tab in-app and send them your referral link to download Caura. They can check if they’re liable to pay using our Bristol Clean Air Zone vehicle checker and from there, they can pay the CAZ charge in a matter of seconds, too.

That’s not all. Each friend that signs up to Caura using your referral code will also get £50 credited to their account, ready for them to use against their insurance renewal. When their insurance is expiring, they can get speedy insurance quotes from market-leading insurers in-app in under a minute!

Your account will also be credited with £50 for each friend that takes out a successful insurance policy with Caura. Remember, the more friends you share your link with, the more you can save on your insurance!

Want a quick way to share Caura with your friends? We’ve made a handy infographic you can share on your socials below! 

Part 1: How will I know if I have driven into the CAZ? 

Signs have already been put up across the city on the roads that lead into the Clean Air Zone. Some signs will indicate how far away the zone is, and others will let you know when the zone starts and ends. All signs will have a symbol with the letter D on it, indicating the class of the CAZ. View the image below for some examples of signs. 

In addition to looking out for these signs while you’re driving, we also suggest you familiarise yourself with where the zone is in place. 

The charging zone will extend across the city centre and harbourside, covering the area from Bristol Temple Meads to the A4176 Portway. The zone will operate 24/7, and like all other Clean Air Zones, the charge will only need to be paid once, even if you are entering the zone multiple times a day.

For more information about the boundary of the Bristol Clean Air Zone, read through our Bristol CAZ page here.

Part 2: How do I know if my vehicle needs to pay the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge?

Bristol is a Class D zone, meaning buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), vans, minibuses and cars are all included in the charge, provided they don’t meet the minimum national emission standards.

To be exempt from the charge, your vehicle must meet the following emission standards:

Petrol vehicle: Meet Euro 4 emission standards (typically 2006 onwards)

Diesel vehicle: Meet Euro 6 emission standards (typically 2015 onwards)

Hybrid vehicle: Meet the above standards depending on fuel type

If you’re not sure whether your vehicle meets these requirements, don’t worry! Apart from making it easier for you to pay the charge, we’ve also created a Bristol Clean Air Zone vehicle checker! 

All you’d need to do is download Caura (available on the Apple app store and Google play store) and enter your vehicle registration number into the app. Once the Bristol Clean Air Zone goes live on the 28th of November, you will see the CAZ charge in-app, telling you if your vehicle is exempt, or if you need to pay the charge. 

In the meantime, the best way to check if you’re exempt from the Bristol CAZ is by tapping ‘City Charges’ in-app and looking at the Birmingham CAZ charge. Since Birmingham is also a Class D CAZ affecting all drivers of non-compliant vehicles, if the app tells you your vehicle is exempt from the Birmingham CAZ charge, it will also be exempt from the Bristol CAZ charge. Click here to view a video tutorial on how to check exemption status using our Clean Air Zone vehicle checker.

If your vehicle is not exempt, Caura will let you know exactly how much you need to pay depending on your vehicle type, and you can go ahead and pay in a matter of just two taps. By doing it this way, you’ll never have to worry about getting a fine!

There are quite a few temporary exemptions in place that last until March 31st 2023 to support residents whilst they look for a more sustainable mode of travel. If you fall within any of these categories, you will not need to pay the charge even if your vehicle doesn’t meet the minimum emission requirements. You will need to apply for an exemption on the Bristol City Council website – applications are open now. 

Part 3: How much is the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge, and how do I pay it?

The charge is £9 for cars, vans, taxis, minibuses, and light goods vehicles (LGVs) and £100 for HGVs, buses, and coaches. Motorcyclists are exempt from the charge. 

If you need to pay for the Bristol Clean Air Zone, Caura is the quickest and simplest way to pay. Once you’ve entered your vehicle registration number into the app, tap ‘City Charges’ and select ‘Bristol CAZ’. 

In Caura, you can pay for yesterday’s, today’s or tomorrow’s travel – make sure you choose the right date and pay through either Apple pay, Google pay, or your preferred bank card.

No more faffing around with fiddly online forms and having to upload your personal details every single time you drive into the zone. Manage the CAZ with Caura instead.

Driving into Bristol soon? Whether you live locally or are going to visit Bristol for the first time, you’re going to need to be aware of the new Bristol Clean Air Zone (CAZ) that goes live on Monday, 28th November 2022. From this date, all drivers of non-compliant vehicles, including cars, will need to pay the daily zone charge specific to their vehicle type.

We understand that navigating a new CAZ is confusing. Don’t worry, we’ve made you a step-by-step guide detailing how to check if you’re exempt from the charge or how to pay it in a matter of seconds.

Navigating a new Clean Air Zone can be confusing. We’ve made you a step-by-step guide detailing how to check if you’re exempt from the Bristol Clean Air Zone charge or how to pay it in a matter of seconds!

Be prepared for the Bristol Clean Air Zone: A guide to navigating the CAZ | Caura

How have Clean Air Zones impacted drivers across the UK?

To get started, download Caura for free and enter the vehicle reg plate of your car. If you have more than one vehicle, you can add them all to the same account. When you tap ‘City Charges’, you will be able to see whether your vehicle is exempt from any charges. If your vehicle is not exempt, select the charge and date you wish to pay, and then pay using Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit or debit card. 

When you pay for an emissions charge in Caura, the money is directly sent to the end charge provider (TfL in London, Birmingham City Council in Birmingham). If you ever do need your payment receipt, you can find them all stored in-app under the ‘History’ tab. From there, you can even export receipts straight to your email. 

We want to help all drivers avoid ever having to pay a PCN again. Know friends and family affected by emission charges? Invite them to Caura by sharing your referral code and both of you could earn £50 off your next insurance policy!

[1] https://www.centreforcities.org/blog/is-birminghams-clean-air-zone-hurting-its-city-centre/#:~:text=This%20should%20be%20seen%20as,it%20recovers%20from%20the%20pandemic.

[2] https://www.brumbreathes.co.uk/news/article/94/clean-air-zone-interim-provides-evidence-of-impact-on-air-pollution

[3] https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/over-half-drivers-refusing-pay-25252453

[4] https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/concert-goer-universal-credit-unable-7536383

[5] https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/birmingham-clean-air-zone-sparks-24550295

[6] https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/environment/2022/10/21/expanded-ulez-costs-drivers-almost-100m

[7] https://media.rac.co.uk/pressreleases/expansion-of-londons-ulez-boosts-tfls-income-by-almost-ps100m-3212421

[8] https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/environment/2022/10/21/expanded-ulez-costs-drivers-almost-100m

[9] https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1615477/driving-law-changes-sadiq-khan-london-ulez-expansion-2023-bexley-car-tax-exclusive

[10] https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/environment/2022/10/21/expanded-ulez-costs-drivers-almost-100m

[11] https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2022-10-19/this-is-how-much-charges-and-fines-are-for-bristols-clean-air-zone

Why does Birmingham need a Clean Air Zone?

Before the CAZ was introduced in 2021, the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in Birmingham’s air was up to 50% higher than it should be. It was also estimated that air pollution was the cause of around 900 deaths per year in Birmingham alone [1]. To reduce the level of harmful pollutants in the air in the shortest amount of time, the Birmingham Clean Air Zone was introduced to protect the health of the city’s residents.

Around 500,000 fines have been dished out by Birmingham City Council in 2022

As the second UK city to launch a Clean Air Zone, the goal of the Birmingham CAZ was to reduce harmful emissions in the city and drive sustainable behavioural changes when it comes to how people choose to travel, and it’s working. Vehicles that meet the minimum emissions standards (so don’t need to pay the CAZ charge) have increased in the city centre since the CAZ went live, increasing from 79.8% at the beginning of June 2021 to 88.8% at the end of December 2021.  [2]

So, if there are more vehicles that don't need to pay the CAZ charge driving into the zone, why is the number of fines issued so high?

Many blame this on poor communication from the council, slow payment websites, and ineffective signposting of the zone. Still to date, around 1,600 Clean Air Zone fines are being issued daily to drivers in Birmingham. [3]

"I didn't see any signs. If I did it was just a sign of a cloud and I didn't know what that meant. I'm using Google Maps and that's not telling me anything. I'm concentrating on the traffic and the sat-nav." – Gemma Simm, visitor travelling to Birmingham from Leicestershire. [4]

Gemma owes over £300 in fines to the council for failing to make Birmingham Clean Air Zone payments, and Gemma isn’t the only one. Around 470,000 fines were issued in Birmingham in just the first 8 months of the CAZ, generating the council a revenue of nearly £20 million from the zone – way above the forecasted £13.2 million. [5]

Expanded ULEZ costs drivers of non-compliant vehicles almost £100m

This isn’t, however, just a Birmingham problem! London was the first city to introduce emission zones to reduce the number of harmful pollutants in the city. Currently, there are three active emission charges in London: Congestion charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) & Low Emission Zone (LEZ). 

The London ULEZ was first introduced in 2019 covering only Central London but was later expanded to (but not including) the North Circular (A406) and South Circular (A205) roads. Since the ULEZ expansion in 2021, it is estimated that drivers of non-compliant vehicles have paid nearly £100 million to TfL in emission charges. [6]. 

The expanded zone resulted in the rate of vehicle's meeting the emission standards fall from 13.1% to 6.9% [7], and in the first eight months alone, an estimated 1.6 million PCNs were issued, compared to just 253,357 in the eight months prior to the boundary changes. [8]

Earlier this year, TfL announced a potential further expansion of the ULEZ from August 2023 that will cover all of London’s 33 boroughs, including parts of the M1 and M4 motorways (but not the M25). If these plans go ahead, it’s estimated that the 135,000 drivers will be liable to pay the £12.50 charge, leaving more drivers liable to massive fines. [9]

RAC Head of Roads Policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While we accept that action is needed to reduce toxic emissions from vehicles, the cost-of-living crisis is hurting drivers in the pocket and there is a risk that further enlarging the zone will be hugely costly for those with older vehicles who can least afford to change them for something newer”. [10]

What’s the next big Clean Air Zone that’s coming?

On 28th November 2022, Bristol is introducing a category D Clean Air Zone which means that drivers of all non-compliant vehicles entering the zone, of which there are an estimated of 75,000 per day [11] in Bristol, will need to pay a £9 daily fee. 

Based on what we’ve seen happen to drivers in London and Birmingham, and the confusion around all the temporary exemptions in place for the Bristol CAZ, it is likely that many drivers in Bristol will also be stung by Clean Air Zone fines.

Paying for ULEZ and CAZ charges via fiddly website forms that require you to fill out 15+ steps means that drivers are likely to wait till they get home to pay the charge, that is if they remember to. 

Caura eliminates this tedious process, and allows you to pay for all emission charges, roads, and toll charges in a matter of seconds. Two taps and you’re done. Making payments in an app on your phone whilst you’re on the go also means you’re less likely to forget. Wave goodbye to ever receiving another PCN

Clean Air Zones have taken their toll on drivers in Birmingham and London, and the stats are eye-watering. Birmingham and London are Class D zones, affecting all drivers of non-compliant vehicles, not just commercial ones. This means that the number of drivers liable to pay the charge are much higher than in other Class C or Class B Clean Air Zone (CAZ) cities like Portsmouth or Bath. However, separate to the number of drivers paying the daily CAZ charge, thousands of drivers have been hit with hefty fines reaching as high as £160.

We know that cleaner air has a price, but to what extent? And where does Caura fit into all of this?

Drivers in Birmingham and London have been stung by Clean Air Zones, leaving them liable to pay hefty fines. The Bristol Clean Air Zone is launching on the 28th of November, and we don’t want the same thing happening to drivers in Bristol. Find out how much Clean Air Zones have impacted drivers in the past, and how Caura can help you avoid getting another PCN.

Bristol Clean Air Zone: Residents share their opinions on the upcoming CAZ

If you know friends in Bristol likely to be impacted by the upcoming CAZ, refer them to Caura and you’ll both get £50 off your next insurance renewal too! 

Currently, around 70% of vehicles travelling into the zone comply with emission standards. The remaining 30% will need to pay a daily £9 fee, and the consequence of non-payment – a hefty £120 fine. 

We spoke to Kate who lives just outside the city centre, she said:

“I’m totally for the Clean Air Zone, however, I think the shape of it is ludicrous. There are lots of inner-city residential areas that are not covered by the zone. Parts along the Portway that lead out of Bristol are within the zone. How does that make sense?”

Kate wasn’t the only resident we spoke to who voiced this opinion. Residents understand why there are cameras along the route heading into Bristol, but if the point of the Clean Air Zone is to reduce emissions within the city, the confusion lies in why there are also CAZ cameras along the route going out of Bristol. 

This concern was addressed by city Mayor Marvin Rees, who said: “Taking the Portway out, it’s not just about what it does to traffic flow on the Portway, it’s the role the Portway plays in encouraging behavioural change and the change of vehicles within the overall city fleet, both private vehicles and commercial vehicles, and that’s part of what the modelling takes into account.”

Looking at the current Bristol Clean Air Zone map and its placement, nitrogen dioxide levels are estimated to reduce to the city’s legal limits by 2023. If the council had to remove Portway from the zone, it would take a year longer to achieve this. 

Some residents also believe that traffic along other popular commute routes will worsen as people find alternative routes to avoid the £9 fee. 

“People will use even more fuel to drive around the CAZ causing further congestion and more emissions.” – James, student at the University of Bristol.

Many were for the Bristol Clean Air Zone too, stating that it is the right way forward to keep the city’s air clean. Jan, a health care worker living just outside the zone said:

“There’re just so many cars on the roads these days, increasing pollution and making our city smoky. Anything that can be done to stop this is always a good thing. We must think carefully about our kids and the generations to come.”

Approximately 5 people die in Bristol every week due to toxic air pollution, those most vulnerable include children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. The zone will protect such residents by reducing particulate matter concentrations and, therefore, reduce the number of premature deaths caused by pollution. 

When asking residents if they would typically drive into town, Kelly, mum of four said:

“I used to drive into town because the bus services are terrible, the drivers are always late. Plus, if my husband, kids, and I had to travel by bus, it would work out to be quite expensive.”

Another common sentiment shared amongst other residents. Bristol has one of the UK’s most underused public transport services, and most residents blame this on overcrowding and overpricing. 

Mayor Rees has acknowledged this and promised that public transport plans are in place to improve bus infrastructure.

“We’re continuing to make transport in Bristol more environmentally sustainable to support people to switch to cleaner ways of travelling. We’re working with First Bus to introduce biogas-powered buses, which cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85%”

When asked how Kelly plans to drive to the city centre once the zone is live, she said:

“We can’t afford to buy an electric vehicle large enough for our family, it would be like buying a house. I will just reduce my visits to the city centre, avoiding the CAZ where I can. My biggest hope from all of this is that it speeds up the process of adding additional bus routes that we can use as a greener alternative.”

Concerns were also raised for elderly and vulnerable people, those who the zone is thought to help protect. Residents were confused by all the temporary exemptions, and many felt like there aren’t enough in place to support those who need it most.  

“I read that the exemption for Blue Badge Holders won’t last very long. Most of these are people with disabilities and can’t afford to buy a new car that complies. I am in favour of the Clean Air Zone, but only if the right support is available. Making such exemptions permanent won’t have a huge impact on the general effectiveness of the scheme.” – Ian, retired professional living within the CAZ.

Vehicles that are nationally exempt do not need to apply for an exemption. In addition to national exemptions, Bristol Council announced a list of temporary exemptions that will expire on March 31, 2023. These exemptions were originally due to expire at the end of 2022, however were extended in order to give residents more time to prepare.

“We need to reduce harmful pollution in the city and reach the legal limits set by government in the shortest time possible, but we also want to give those who need it a bit more time to prepare. That could mean upgrading or changing a vehicle or trying out different and more sustainable ways to travel instead.” – Mayor Rees

You can view a full list of Bristol Clean Air Zone exemptions here. If your vehicle falls under any of these categories, you will need to apply for a temporary exemption via the Bristol City Council website. There have been no further announcements on whether you will need to apply for exemption again after March 31, 2023.

“I run a warehousing business in Bath and come to Bristol often because my son studies here. I’m already being stung by the Clean Air Zone charges in Bath, and now I can’t drive down and visit my son as easily either.”

Introduced in March 2021, the Bath Clean Air Zone has successfully lowered levels of nitrogen dioxide by 21%. However, business owners in Bath making frequent commutes into Bristol will be hit twice as hard.

Find out all you need to know about the Bath Clean Air Zone here.

We can’t help you avoid the CAZ, but we can help you avoid the £120 Penalty Charge Notice! 

Caura is the fastest way to pay for emission charges and being able to pay quickly means you’re less likely to forget paying the charge!

Available on the App store and Google Play store, download Caura for free, check if you’re exempt from any Clean Air Zone charges, or pay the charge in two taps. Plus, all transaction receipts are stored in-app, ready for you whenever you need them

The lowdown: What’s happening in Bristol? 

Nitrogen dioxide levels in Bristol have risen above the legal health limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with some towns reaching levels of 16.6 micrograms per cubic meter. To protect the health of its residents, the elderly and the most vulnerable, Bristol City Council announced the implementation of a Clean Air Zone bordered around its most polluting regions. 

But how do Bristolians feel about the Bristol Clean Air Zone? Are they for or against it, and how will this impact the way they travel? We went to Bristol to find out!

We asked residents in Bristol to share their thoughts on the upcoming CAZ. Most agree that it’s a good idea but badly executed. Find out what they said here!

Residents share their opinions on the upcoming Bristol   Clean Air Zone | Caura

A proper Brummie, he’s a strong, kind, cheeky chap that will be the heartbeat of the Games, overseeing the events and entertaining more than a billion people watching from Australia to India.     

The Commonwealth Games isn’t just a stadium event. It aims to inspire the whole city and spread vibrancy and life across high streets, neighbourhoods, parks and waterways with traditional art forms and more abstract bigger picture visions. 

The arts festival’s cultural programme will encourage people to explore, play and discover the region’s heritage. Plus, it’ll inspire young people to find ‘common ground’ in the Commonwealth through its three themes:

Stories of Birmingham & the West Midlands

The Urban Festival will embrace youth and diversity with music, free running, skateboarding, BMX, street dance and sport climbing. 

Zipping between venues means you’ll be all over the city. So, make sure you remember to pay the Clean Air Zone charge unless your vehicle is exempt. 

Tickets to the 2022 Commonwealth Games can be bought through ticket ballots until the end of July. To apply for tickets, create an account on the official Commonwealth Games website. You’ll then be updated on everything Games related and won’t miss out on any of the action.

Driving culture
On top of the global sporting prowess, Birmingham will also host a festival of culture, encouraging about 2.5 million people to get involved in an inspiring programme of creative opportunities across the West Midlands.

Who’ll be first out of the blocks? What new world records will be set? And who on earth is Perry the Bull? Continue reading and find out in our lightning guide to enjoying the Commonwealth Games.

Plus, while we’re talking about setting records, discover how to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone charge in just 5 seconds. Now that’s what you call a Personal Best in car management. 

Aquatics - Diving, Swimming & Para Swimming

Basketball 3x3 & Wheelchair Basketball 3x3

Who’s competing?
From Staffordshire swimmer Adam Peaty to Birmingham-born basketball player Myles Hesson, Birmingham 2022 has an impressive line-up of athletic stars. Joining them will be Brummie gymnast Joe Fraser, Solihull cricketer Amy Jones and over 400 more English athletes that have achieved qualifying performances. 

Where are the venues?
The Commonwealth Games will run between Thursday, July 28th and Monday, August 8th 2022 across a dynamic range of venues in the West Midlands. Arenas, stadiums and parks being used for the Games stretch from Coventry to Solihull, Leamington Spa to Sutton Coldfield.

The main sporting action and opening/closing ceremonies will take place in Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr.

Catch every foot-strike, stroke and shoot of the action here: 

University of Birmingham Hockey and Squash Centre, Birmingham

Named after Perry Barr (a suburban area in North Birmingham and the site of the stadium itself), Perry the Bull is the official Commonwealth Games mascot.

Driving in those zones means you’ll incur a fee unless your vehicle is exempt. If your vehicle meets the following emissions standards, you will not need to pay the daily CAZ charge:

For diesel / petrol electric hybrids, the vehicle should meet the relevant emission standards

Fully electric or hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles will not need to pay the charge

Still unsure? You can read more about the Birmingham CAZ and check whether your vehicle will be charged here.

Lee Valley Velopark, London falls under the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ). You can check if you're exempt from this charge by downloading the Caura app and entering your vehicle registration number.

Will my car be charged driving in the Clean Air Zone? 

To meet sustainability goals and create a greener world for tomorrow, Birmingham has a Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

The CAZ covers all roads within the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, but not the Middleway itself. This includes the A38 and tunnels. The zone operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

If you’re heading to watch the events in Birmingham, these are the venues that would fall within the Clean Air Zone:

You can also follow us on our social media channels for regular updates, new app features and so much more! Find the links below:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caura

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/caura

How can I pay CAZ charges quickly and easily?

Just like the athletes, the app is performance-ready, enabling you to hurdle over complex obstacles on the road ahead.

From tolls to taxes, MOTs to insurance, Caura covers everything under one hood. Our unified app tracks, pays and never forgets. So, you can get on with enjoying the open road. Check it out here.  

The adrenaline is racing. Athletes are prepped and ready to perform. And the city is gearing up for a thrilling showcase of sport. The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will soon be kicking off.

With almost 300 events set over 11 days, 5,000 athletes from 72 competing nations and over 13,000 volunteers, this year’s Games are shaping up to be epic.

Headed to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games? Find out all about who's competing, tickets info and how to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone charge easily using Caura.    

The full Commonwealth Games 2022 Schedule | Caura

Combatting the rising cost of car ownership

If you forget to renew your vehicle tax, MOT or car insurance, then you’re liable to a hefty fine. Renewal reminders can be hard to miss if you’re relying on post, and some are not automatically sent.

Caura automatically syncs with the DVLA to show you when MOT and tax are due to expire and adding your insurance renewal date takes a second*. We’ll then send you renewal reminders over email, and in-app, when it’s time to think about renewing. Gone are the days of driving without valid tax because you didn’t know it was overdue. Insurance and tax payments are quick and easy to make, with competitive insurance rates and no hidden costs. 

Create your Caura account today: https://dl.caura.com/links/app

Your friend gets £50 off their car insurance when they sign up to Caura with your unique referral code. You’ll also get £50 of insurance credits to use at your next renewal when they make an insurance purchase. Keep inviting friends and watch your credits build up. Invite enough friends, you can end up bringing your insurance renewal cost down to £0!  

Not only can you bring your insurance renewal down to £0, you’re also getting a great insurance product and experience too. Quotes in 60 seconds from a panel of market leading insurers, quick policy payments in-app via Google or Apple pay (or credit card if you prefer), all your documents stored in-app and dedicated customer service from the Caura team at the touch of a button. You can find out all about our referral scheme here.

Download the app, head to the Invite tab and start sharing your code!

*You’ll need to give us your insurance renewal date so we can get in touch at the right time. 

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/jun/08/price-of-uk-petrol-makes-biggest-daily-jump-in-17-years

[2] https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/car-industry-news/2022/06/17/fuel-prices-hit-new-record-as-wholesale-costs-fall?utm_campaign=17_06_2022_FN_daily_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=FN%20-%20Newsletter%20-%20Daily&utm_source=adestra&utm_term=Fuel%20prices%20hit%20new%20record%20as%20wholesale%20costs%20fall&gutid=299425

[3] https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/news/vehicle-excise-duty-changes-april-2022

If you drive through a toll road or into a congestion or Clean Air Zone and don’t pay within the small window offered, you’ll receive a Penalty Charge Notice from the charge operator. Penalty Charge Notices can be up to £120 in Birmingham and £160 in London per offence. To make matters worse, government websites set up to allow drivers to pay these charges are slow and cumbersome, requiring as many as 20 steps to successfully make payment.

We’ve made it incredibly easy to pay these charges, it literally takes two seconds with Caura. No more filling out five pages of personal details every time you need to make a payment, you can pay in two taps on the app all with no processing fee or additional charges. Caura is the best way to be sure that you won’t receive a Penalty Charge, and because receipts are automatically stored in-app it’s also the easiest way to keep track of what you’ve paid. 

In London, you can set up AutoPay on Caura for ULEZ, LEZ and Congestion Charge. This means that every time you drive into a chargeable London zone, we’ll take the payment automatically depending on what your vehicle is liable for. No confusion, no fines. Keep your costs down while giving yourself one less thing to think about. 

Look at what charges you can pay for in two taps here: https://caura.com/payments/

The cost of living is increasing rapidly, faster than at any other time in recent years. One expense that’s rising is owning a car. 

Last week, we saw the cost of filling up the average UK car exceed £100 for the first time [1], and prices are continuing to rise with petrol now costing 187.51p per litre and diesel soaring to 194.17p per litre [2]. With fuel prices rising, April’s car tax increase [3] and Clean Air Zones being introduced across the country, car owners are seeing the cost of running their vehicle increase like never before.

Some costs are unavoidable, but there are ways you can run your car and save money at the same time.

At Caura, we’re helping drivers keep their car admin costs in check – offering ways to save money on car insurance, as well as making it easy to avoid unnecessary fines.

Insurance is a significant annual cost associated with car ownership, and you can’t drive without it. We’ve launched a referral scheme that lets you offset that cost, and even bring your insurance renewal down to £0!

When you refer your friends to Caura you give them £50 credit to use on car insurance, and you'll earn £50 credit for yourself if they buy a policy from one of our market leading partners. You can stack your credits, so by sharing Caura with everyone you know you could offset your entire renewal cost when you buy insurance via the app. 

Another cost category that is all too common is unexpected fines, from missing expiry dates (tax and MOT) and increasingly from tolls and city charges that can be hard to spot and easy to forget about. Fines come as a surprise and aren’t accounted for in drivers' monthly budgets – meaning they can have a serious financial impact. We’re working to help drivers avoid hefty fines by making sure they’re up to date on their admin, and can pay charges quickly with no hassle.  

Cost of living payments are on the rise, and the costs associated with vehicle ownership are increasing too. Caura streamlines car admin and can save you money on your car insurance when you refer your friends.    

Combatting the rising cost of car ownership | Caura

A van driver we spoke to who didn’t want to be on camera said he bought his diesel vehicle when “the government told us to buy diesels,” and he wants to hang onto his as “it’s better for my longer journeys, now I have to change and I can’t afford an electric car, It’s money-grabbing.”
Indeed in the early 2000s Gordon Brown as Chancellor introduced a new way of determining a vehicle’s excise duty (car tax). The amount a vehicle owed was determined by the CO2 output. A metric that favours diesel vehicles, but doesn’t take into account the other pollutants harmful to health that diesel vehicles emit more off such as nitrogen oxides and particulates. The result was an increase from 3 to 9 million diesels on the road. Millions of which are now liable to charges such as ULEZ. [3]

The health benefits of the ULEZ expansion and the desperate need for cleaner air in London cannot be ignored and the evidence is clear. The current ULEZ has reduced NO2 levels by 44% within its boundaries already. In Birmingham the effect since the introduction of their own Clean Air Zone in June has been similar. NO2 levels have fallen within the zone  by 20%, see our blog on Birmingham's CAZ here for more. Whilst the current ULEZ has made a difference, London remains the worst affected city in the UK, with concentrations of NO2 exceeding the limit by up to 95% in its most polluted areas. Research shows the expansion could prevent up to 614 deaths per year and London could see an additional £48m yearly benefit from the planned extension. [4]

It’s not just lives that will be saved, a study published in the British Medical Journal found that living in areas of London with the highest levels of NO2 pollution was associated with a 40% higher risk of dementia than living in one of the least polluted parts of the city, a shockingly high disparity. [5]

Florida is certainly not alone in having this opinion, TfL already makes £392.8m annually from the Congestion Charge and ULEZ, accounting for 16.4% of TfL’s total income in 2021. With the ULEZ zone increasing to include many less affluent areas, some people are viewing it as a tax on people who cannot afford to change to a newer vehicle. [2]

For some people like Terry, it has accelerated the inevitable.

“Me personally I’ll have to buy a new car, it’s coming to the end of its life, but would have probably got another 2 years out of it, so for me personally it’s not worked out very well”

Throughout our research into ULEZ one unsurprisingly prevalent theme has developed. Those with vehicles affected consider the financial impact first, and those who either don’t drive or have compliant vehicles largely praise the expansion’s health benefits. We asked the simple question on the London subreddit, ‘How’s the ULEZ expansion going to affect you?’ The majority of responses spoke directly to the cleaner air element of ULEZ and praised it.

Whilst not aware of the finer details Terry was aware of the ULEZ expansion in general. However many more motorists we spoke to had no idea the expansion was happening so soon. If there's one thing we have learnt from Birmingham's CAZ launch in June it's that fines for motorists forgetting to pay for ULEZ will go through the roof. In July alone Birmingham council issued 113,000 penalty charge notices to motorists forgetting to pay. With such a larger density of population and far larger zone, the number of fines could easily eclipse this.

Asked if he knew how he’d go about paying the ULEZ charge he wasn’t sure but when informed of Caura’s features: “Yes that would be very useful.” 

[1] https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/opinion/355032/londons-ulez-expansion-could-fundamentally-alter-uks-used-car-market
[2] https://content.tfl.gov.uk/tfl-annual-report-9-august-2021-acc.pdf
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41985715
[4] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/04/uk-clean-air-zones-save-lives-and-money/
[5] https://airqualitynews.com/2021/09/20/hidden-harms-the-impacts-of-air-pollution-on-the-mind/

The laborious process to pay for the ULEZ charge using Transport for London's (TfL)  site is undoubtedly responsible for generating fines in its own right. It's a fiddly process, best tackled on a computer which often means waiting until back home at the end of a day and remembering to pay the charge. It's a 15+ step process that involves manually entering your numberplate, card details and email address. We built Caura to rebalance this process in the favour of motorists. By allowing effortless ULEZ payments in just two-taps you can easily make the payment whilst on the go during your day, meaning you're less likely to forget. Find out more about the London ULEZ charge here or download Caura below and get set up in seconds.

On 25th October 2021, London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expands to become 18x larger. The new 140sq mile zone grows outwards from central London, to cover everything within the North & South circular roads. According to TfL this will mean 565,000 cars in London will be liable for the daily £12.50 charge. [1] To put that in perspective, if each of the 565,000 cars drove within the expanded zone every day of the year, TfL would generate a staggering £2.5 billion in revenue. In other words, more than the entirety of their current income combined. [2]

With the expansion representing the largest change to London’s road network since the introduction of the Congestion Charge in 2003, we decided to take to the streets to hear from people who will be most affected and try and get a better understanding of the sentiment towards the expansion. What quickly became apparent was, despite a large advertising campaign by TfL, there is still a lot of confusion, unawareness and in some cases anger towards the change.

We first headed to an out-of-town shopping centre in East London, located a couple of miles within the expanded zone. With a full car park, it didn’t take us long to find motorists driving vehicles that will be affected.
We spoke to Florida (pictured below) about how the ULEZ expansion and £12.50 charge would be affecting her.

 “I won’t be coming here anymore, I can’t change my car now, because it’s a lot of money.”

We also asked her if she knows how to pay the new charge: “no, I know absolutely nothing…” After explaining it can be paid with two taps on Caura, Florida appreciates the functionality but still concludes the financial burden of the charge:“it’s just putting people down.”

Caura takes to the streets of London to spread awareness and talk to residents about the ULEZ expansion on 25th October 2021.

The fastest way to check if your car is exempt from the   ULEZ

If your vehicle is exempt, Caura will automatically notify you and make the charge unclickable. 

If your vehicle is not exempt, you can simply select the charge and pay using your preferred payment method. Once you’ve paid, the money will get sent to our service provider (TfL) straight away. 

You will also be able to view the receipt of the payment in the ‘History’ tab in-app. If you need to pay for both the Congestion & ULEZ charges, you can select both charges and pay for them in the same, single transaction.

If your car is not ULEZ compliant, Caura is the quickest way to get AutoPay setup for all London City Charges. This means that anytime you drive within the Congestion, ULEZ or LEZ, TfL will automatically charge your preferred card, and Caura will notify you of each journey in-app.

Find out more about the London ULEZ here.

Download Caura on the App Store: https://caura.com/download

Download Caura on the Play Store: https://caura.com/download

The London ULEZ came into force in 2019, charging all non-compliant vehicles a daily fee to driver into the zone. In order to reduce air pollution levels even further, a ULEZ expansion took place in 2021, covering a much larger area within the bounds of the North (A406) and South (A205) circular roads.

With fines for non-payment now a reality for non-compliant drivers, make sure you don’t get caught out.

For your vehicle to be considered as ULEZ compliant, it must meet the following emission standards:

ULEZ compliant petrol cars: Must meet Euro 4, Euro 5 or Euro 6 emissions standards. These vehicles are generally registered after January 2006.

ULEZ compliant diesel cars: Must be Euro 6 compliant. These vehicles were generally registered after September 2015.

ULEZ compliant hybrid & electric cars: Must meet Euro 6 standards with diesel engines, or Euro 4 standards with petrol engines

ULEZ compliant vans & motorbikes: Diesel vans must be Euro 6 compliant, Petrol vans must be Euro 4 compliant and motorbikes must be Euro 3 compliant.

ULEZ compliant cars, motorbikes or vans can drive into the zone without having to pay the daily fee.

There are some further exemptions in place for a few other vehicle types. These include vehicles like:

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