Driving into Birmingham? Caura tells you if you're exempt or not, and lets you pay the CAZ charge in two seconds. No extra fees.

Everything in one place, from tax and MOT reminders to ultra fast toll payments. Caura saves drivers time, and money

Clean Air Zone payment sorted faster than you can say "CAZ". It takes two seconds, so you can get back to enjoying the journey.

Remember what you've paid for, and manage expenses easily. All receipts are automatically stored in-app

We're adding new Clean Air Zones to the Caura app as they launch, so you'll always know what you need to pay

One of best apps I’ve used, makes my life so much easier as I’m always in and out of CAZ - click of button I can pay for my charges, love it!

Check if you're exempt and pay the charge in two seconds using Caura. Manage all aspects of car admin from one easy to use app.

Pay Birmingham Clean Air Zone charges in seconds | Caura

One million UK drivers risk getting fined for not renewing their licence

“Appearances can change, and it’s important that photocard licences are updated every 10 years to ensure the police and other enforcement agencies have the best possible photograph to help them correctly identify when a licence is being used fraudulently.” – DVLA spokesperson

Why do you need to renew your driving licence every 10 years?

It’s important to renew your driving licence every decade for several reasons:

You will have the latest driving licence security features to protect you from fraud

It will help prevent driving licence impersonation

It will stop disqualified and dangerous drivers taking to the road

The consequences of not getting this renewed can be frustrating for drivers:

You won’t be able to get car insurance, which is legally required to drive on UK roads

Car hire firms will refuse to provide you with a vehicle

Your licence expiry date can be found on section 4b of your photocard licence.

How to renew your driving licence, and how much will it cost

There are three ways you can renew your licence:

Online - If you’ve got a valid UK passport, you can renew your licence online via gov.uk [1]. This is the cheapest way to renew, only costing you £14

Post - You can get a form known as the ‘D1 pack’ from the post office or order one from the DVLA. You will need to send a recent passport photo, your current licence, and a cheque for £17 with the application to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DH

Post Office - Once you receive a reminder letter from the DVLA in the post, you can take it to the post office to renew your licence. You’ll need to take your current licence with you, and it will cost £21.50

When should you renew your driving licence?

Renewing your licence late won’t prompt a fine, however it is advised not to drive until you have your replacement driving licence in-hand. If you’re caught driving without this, you may be issued a fine. 

Although you can renew your driving licence up to two months before it expires, the DVLA will send you a reminder in the post a month before. The DVLA suggests the best time to renew your licence is as soon as you receive this reminder

When filling out your driving licence application:

Ensure that your address is updated – if you’re stopped by the police and the address is incorrect, you could be fined up to £1,000

Make sure you’re using a recent photograph – it must be taken in the last month

If your title has changed, make sure this is reflected on your new driving licence

How long will it take to get your new driving licence?

The time to get your new driving licence depends on how you renewed:

Post / Post Office – the entire process could take up to four weeks.

Your new licence will be valid for 10 years from the date your renewal is approved, not from the date of your current licence. 

Can you drive while waiting for your replacement driving licence?

If your licence expires while your application for renewal is still processing, you can continue to drive vehicles you were entitled to on your previous licence. You must also meet all the following criteria:

You meet medical standards of fitness to drive

Your last licence was not revoked or refused for medical reasons

You are not currently disqualified by a court

That’s a lot to remember! Here’s what Caura can help with

Keep your digital driving licence with you at all times in Caura! When you add your licence details to the app, Caura syncs up with the DVLA so you always have all the information you need, right at your fingertips.

Check how many points or endorsements you have

Changing wheels? Find out what you are (and aren’t) eligible to drive

Keep a digital copy of your licence, held securely, and encrypted

It only takes a couple of seconds to add your licence to Caura. Tap on ‘Accounts’ in-app and follow the instructions on the screen. 

Calling all drivers who passed their driving test before 2014 – this one’s for you!

Recent figures show that nearly one million drivers in the UK possess an out-of-date licence. The DVLA has issued a warning to anyone nearing their 10-year licence renewal date to remind them to renew as soon as possible. If caught driving with an expired licence, drivers are at risk of a hefty £1,000 fine, or worse, having their vehicle seized. 

Don’t get caught out by the DVLA driving licence check – renew your licence as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary fines!

Got your driving licence before 2014? You may be on route to a £1,000 fine if you don’t renew as soon as possible! Find out how to renew your driving licence and how much it will cost you here.

Don’t get caught out by the DVLA driving licence check | Caura

Pay your Heathrow drop off PCN in 2 steps

Once you’ve downloaded Caura, enter your vehicle registration number, select ‘Roads & Tolls’ and tap the Heathrow drop-off charge. Select the date you drove into the zone and choose whether you want to pay for 1 or 2 visits. You’ll then have the option to pay by Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit or debit card.

If you’re entering a London charging zone on your journey to Heathrow, you can also pay the London Congestion Charge, London ULEZ charge or London LEZ charge in Caura, too. Find out more about London City Charges here.

All receipts for payments made in Caura are stored in-app. You can find any receipt in the ‘History’ tab of your app. From there, you can also export a copy any receipt to your email.

Find out more about the Heathrow drop-off fee here.

[1] https://heathrowdropoffpcnpayments.apcoa.com/pcnonline/index.php

How does the terminal drop off charge work?

Heathrow drop off charges apply 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There will be signs on the roads in and around the airport to let drivers know when they are entering chargeable zones. There are no toll barriers at Heathrow. Instead, Heathrow uses automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to record vehicle movements. As soon as you enter the drop off zone, you will incur a charge and will be liable to pay.

Remember, the Heathrow drop off fee applies every time you enter the zone. So, if you exit the drop off area and enter a second time, you will need to pay the charge again.

Read more about the Heathrow drop-off fee here.

How to make Heathrow drop off PCN payments

If you forgot to pay the Heathrow drop off fee, you will be liable for a £80 Parking Charge Notice (PCN). This will be sent to the address your vehicle is registered to.

Once you’ve received the PCN, follow these steps:

Step 1: Head to the official Heathrow PCN payment website [1]. 

Step 2: Enter the PCN number and your vehicle registration number and pay the fee. 

We recommend paying the Heathrow drop off PCN within 14 days to reduce the cost of the fine to £40.

If you think you’ve been fined unfairly, you can appeal the charge. Options on how to contest a Heathrow drop off PCN include:

Challenging the PCN or requesting a refund via email at refunds.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com

Calling the Heathrow drop off customer service at 0333 200 7459

Challenge the PCN by writing to DRPL, PO Box 230, Manchester, M34 0DW

How to pay for future Heathrow drop off charges

The fastest way to pay the Heathrow drop of fee is by using the Caura app. Available on the Google Play Store or App Store, download Caura here.

Launched in November 2021, the Heathrow drop off fee is a £5 charge that applies to all drivers entering drop-off zones at all Heathrow terminals. There are some exemptions in place for some drivers, you can find a full list of exemptions here.

Forgot to pay the Heathrow drop off fee? Find out how to pay the Heathrow drop off PCN as well as the fastest way to make future terminal drop off charge payments.

Received a PCN for the Heathrow drop off fee? Don’t stress! Find out how to pay the PCN. Caura is the fastest way to pay for future Heathrow drop off charges. Find out more here.

Pay your Heathrow drop off PCN in 2 steps | Caura

What’s happening in Sheffield city centre?

Do I need to pay the Sheffield Clean Air Zone charge?

Private cars and motorcycles are exempt from paying the Sheffield Clean Air Zone charge. This means that even if you drive an older vehicle, you will not need to pay a daily fee to drive in the zone.

For all other vehicles, you must meet the following emission standards to be exempt from the charge:

Taxis – Diesel car registered after September 2015, petrol cars registered after 2005

Vans/LGVs – Diesel cars registered after September 2016, petrol cars registered after January 2006

HGVs, buses and coaches – petrol or diesel vehicles registered after 2014

There are also some local and national exemptions in place. You can find a full list of Sheffield CAZ exemptions here.

Drivers are required to check if their vehicle is exempt from the charge and if not, will need to pay the fee within the given timeframe. The consequence of non-payment? A hefty £120 PCN sent straight through the letterbox.

Still confused? Caura will be adding the Sheffield CAZ charge to the app on the 27h of February, the day the zone launches. Add your vehicle to Caura and go to City Charges to check if your vehicle is compliant.

Caura is the fastest way to check exemption status or pay the charge

All you need to do is enter your vehicle registration number into the app, and the app will tell you if your vehicle is exempt. 

If you need to pay, Caura will display the correct charge (either £10 or £50) depending on the type of your vehicle, and you can go ahead and pay in two taps using Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit or debit card.  

The annual cost of air pollution to the UK is £20 billion and contributes to 500 deaths in Sheffield alone. 

After considering a variety of different ways to improve air quality in the shortest time possible, data collected showed that a Class C charging zone would bring down air pollution faster than any other option.

Sheffield is not the first city to implement a Class C Clean Air Zone. Back in March 2021, Bath introduced the first-of-its-kind Class C CAZ. Since its launch, the Bath Clean Air Zone has successfully lowered levels of nitrogen dioxide by 21%, with more than 90% of HGVs, buses, coaches and taxis now compliant with emission standards. [1]

The Sheffield Clean Air Zone is hoped to do the same - encourage drivers of non-compliant vehicles to change to cleaner models.

Financial support is available for affected drivers and business owners

Sheffield City Council has made financial support available to help affected drivers change their vehicles to a compliant model.

The amount of funding you can receive is dependent on your vehicle type:

Support will be in the form of a grant and funding can only be used to purchase a compliant vehicle that meets government set emission standards.

Applications can be made online via the council website here [2]. The application process has 2 stages. 

Stage 1: This will involve things like making sure your car has a valid MOT and various other vehicle type eligibility checks. 

Stage 2: If the initial eligibility check is passed, applicants will move on to the next stage where a detailed credit check by a third party may be required. 

The number of vehicles you can get support for is limited to 3 per business / resident.

You can’t apply for financial support if:

Your business is registered outside of Sheffield and Rotherham

You’re not a resident of Sheffield and Rotherham

Your vehicle has already received support from another CAZ scheme

Your business has over 250 employees (HGVs only)

Your business has already received grant payments that equal the maximum subsidy control allowance

4)  I’ve been approved for support and am waiting for my compliant vehicle, what happens next?

If your application has been approved, you will receive an ‘Agreement in Principle letter’ and a temporary exemption will automatically apply to your non-compliant vehicle. There are three types of temporary exemptions:

Vehicle search exemption: This is applied once an agreement for financial support has been approved by the provider. The exemption will be for 3 months to allow enough time for the applicant and provider to find a suitable vehicle

Delivery exemption: This is applied following receipt of the order confirmation for a compliant replacement vehicle. The exemption will start from the order date and will last 2 weeks after the delivery date to pre-empt any supply chain issues.

Failed credit check exemption: If an applicant passed the initial eligibility check but failed the credit check undertaken by the finance provider, the vehicle will be granted a 6-month exemption

In a bid to reduce harmful emissions caused by the most polluting vehicles, Sheffield is implementing a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on the 27th of February. The zone will cover the Sheffield city centre and inner ring roads. You can view a map of the Sheffield Clean Air Zone here.

The Sheffield CAZ will be a Class C zone meaning only drivers of non-compliant commercial vehicles (taxis, vans, LGVs, buses, HGVs and coaches) will be charged a daily fee to drive in the zone.

The Sheffield Clean Air Zone will see drivers of non-compliant vehicles (excluding cars) be charged a daily fee to drive within the bounds of the city centre. Find out how to apply for financial support or check exemption status here.

A new CAZ is coming to Sheffield city centre | Caura

Lloyds Banking Group invests £4 million in Caura

Kirsty Rutter, FinTech Investment Director at Lloyds Banking Group, said: “This significant investment represents another important step forward in our plans to work closely with fintech’s and technology partners to bring together data-driven insight and technologies to help our customers.

Caura’s experienced management team have a relentless focus on customers, and we are excited to work with them to support the development and growth of this ground-breaking simple-to-use app.”

Dr Sai Lakshmi, CEO and Founder of Caura, said: “As part of our mission to take the pain out of driving, we have already simplified payments for tolls, city charges and vehicle excise duty. Our next step is to apply our technology to overhauling the car insurance and maintenance processes which have remained antiquated and resistant to change. Lloyds Banking Group and their proactive approach to innovation is incredibly exciting, and the cross-pollination of ideas between our respective teams will allow us to deliver an innovative suite of products and services that the market has not seen before to customers ranging from drivers through to vehicle manufacturers.”

Download Caura on the App Store or Google Play Store here

What does this investment mean for Caura drivers?

This is big news for Caura, and for drivers all over the UK. Looking back at 2022, we added new Clean Air Zones like the Bristol CAZ to the app, introduced our referral scheme to help drivers save on their car insurance and gave the app a bold new look and feel. (Read more about everything we accomplished in 2022).

This investment with help us to build new products and features on both iOS and Android, thus edging us closer to being the only app you need for your car. 

We’ve already uncomplicated city charge, roads, and toll payments across the UK – providing an easy way for drivers to check exemption status and make ultra-fast payments for any of the emission zones. 

Our focus for 2023 is to do the same for vehicle admin tasks like MOT and car insurance. 

Our immediate focus will be placed on improving current MOT and Insurance processes

When UK drivers sign up to Caura and enter their vehicle registration number, Caura automatically syncs up with the DVLA to give drivers timely reminders for when their MOT and car tax is expiring. 

Back in November 2022, we launched our partnership with ClickMechanic, allowing all Caura drivers an easy way to book an MOT via a link in-app. We want to make this booking process even easier by building a platform that will allow drivers to book MOTs and any additional car servicing directly in Caura. 

On insurance, Caura partners with 7 top-tier insurers: Aviva, Sabre Insurance, Ageas, ERS, Markerstudy, LV= Broker, Premier insurance. We’ve reduced the number of questions needed to get a successful quote by 75%, which means any driver looking to get an insurance quote can do so directly in the Caura app in less than a minute!

Caura is also authorised and regulated by the FCA, and if Caura policy holders need to get in touch about anything insurance related, they can do so directly in the app with minimal wait time. 

Our next efforts for insurance will be focused on getting drivers the best quote prices from market leading insures, as quickly as possible, with everything managed in the app.

Funding from Lloyds Banking Group plc (LBG), the UK’s largest retail and commercial financial services provider, will help accelerate plans to simplify MOT and Insurance processes, fast-track plans to embed financial services like motor loans in-app and build a SaaS product for fleet managers.

Caura has secured a £4 million investment from Lloyds Banking Group, edging us closer to being the only app you need for your car! Read more about how we plan to use this additional capital to improve MOT and Insurance processes for drivers across the UK.

10 pre-checks you should be doing before booking an MOT

10 MOT pre-checks you can do yourself to minimise the risk of failing your test

We understand some checks can be quite tricky, so we've made a list of 10 checks you can do before you send your car off for its MOT:

Some examiners refuse to carry out MOTs when your car is not clean. This includes both the inside and outside of your car! Make sure to de-clutter your car, including your boot, before you send your car for its MOT

Number plates need to be readable to pass an MOT. Give them a quick clean

Ensure windscreen wipers are in a good condition, with no wear and tear

Check all your vehicle’s lights are in working order. Ask a friend or family member to stand outside and confirm that the lights function properly

Remember to check tyre tread using the 20p tyre test

Top up your screen wash fluid, brake fluid and oil

Give the car horn a quick honk to make sure it's working properly

Ensure that all your mirrors are intact and secure. Double check you can adjust them easily if you need to

Make sure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in your car’s V5C logbook matches that marked on the bodywork of your car

Check that the drivers seat slides back and forwards. It’s also important to check that all seat belts work properly and can be adjusted by tugging. 

Got an MOT due? Download Caura, head to the MOT tab and book a test as early as the next day!

In Caura, you can also manage upcoming renewals for things like your car tax and car insurance. We’ll send you reminders for when they’re due, and you can sort them directly in-app, too. 

Download Caura on the Apple App Store of Google Play Store today!

Any car over three years needs to pass an MOT test every year. The test will act as an annual check-up on your car to make sure that it’s still safe to drive on the road. MOT tests do not detect vehicle health issues such as problems with the clutch or engine that could cause a vehicle breakdown in the future. 

Find out more about what gets tested when your car goes for an MOT here.

It’s particularly important to remember that driving without an MOT is illegal. If caught, drivers could face up to £1,000 in fines in addition to points on your licence. 

The four most common reasons your car could fail its MOT

The most common cause of MOT failures is due to blown bulbs. Checks are done on all your vehicle’s lights, including the fog lights, indicators, and rear reflectors. Here’s what you can do to make sure you meet the test requirements:

Make sure the lights are positioned correctly and securely

Check that pairs of lights (for example, your headlights) emit light of the same colour. A simple visual check should suffice.

Check that lights turn on with a single operation of the switch

Springs, shock absorbers, suspension arms and joints will all be inspected during an MOT. This is one of the trickier ones to check yourself, but if it’s possible, double check both front and rear suspenders by making sure:

No components are excessively damaged or broken

Shock absorbers are secure and not leaking

Your tyres must have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm to pass your MOT [1]. Key issues involving tyres include:

Conducting a basic check by walking around the car to check for any tyre damage is encouraged. 

For a more thorough check of tyre tread, we highly recommend doing the '20p tyre test'. The way the test works is simple:

Take a 20p coin and place it into the main tread grooves of your tyre. 

If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit

If the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyres may be unsafe and should be checked by a qualified mechanic. 

Remember to check at least three locations around each tyre.


Another common reason for MOT failures is faulty brakes. Checks are done to ensure:

Your brakes, pedals and levers are in good condition

Make sure to test all three things before sending your car for an MOT.

Has your car ever failed its MOT? We understand how frustrating it can be when you end up having to pay for additional work you hadn’t previously budgeted for. We want to make things easier for you. So, we've compiled a list of the most common reasons your car could fail its MOT along with our top 10 tips for you to avoid this happening to you in the future.

Remember - if your MOT is due soon, sort it fast by downloading Caura and booking via the link in the MOT tab. If booked with an additional service, you’ll get £55 off!

Has your car ever failed its MOT? We understand how frustrating it can be when you end up having to pay for additional work you hadn't budgeted for. Read more about the different reasons your car could fail its MOT test, and how you can avoid this happening to you in the future.

Pre-checks you should be doing before booking an MOT | Caura

Forgot to pay the Mersey toll? Here’s what to do next

Download the app and enter your vehicle registration number. Then, select ‘Roads & Tolls’ and choose the Merseyflow toll charge. 

In Caura, you have the option to pay for ‘2 crossings’ in the same transaction, so if you’re planning on making a return journey then choose this option. If not, go ahead and pay for a single crossing using Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit, or debit card.

Two tap payments on your phone, making it easier for you to pay when you need to

All receipts are stored in-app in the ‘History’ tab, ready for you whenever you need them. From there, you can even export a copy of the transaction straight to your email

When you enter your registration number, Caura will automatically send you reminders for upcoming renewals like your MOT and car tax, and you can sort these quickly in the app

Get quotes from market leading insurers in under a minute, and manage your policy in the app

When you create an account with Caura, you’re signed up to our monthly newsletter – rounding up all the important news, driving law changes and any other important information you’ll need to be aware about!

For more information about the Mersey toll, click here.

Or download the Caura app and get started on your journey of easy driving across the UK!

[1] https://www.merseyflow.co.uk/pay-penalty-charge

I forgot to pay the Mersey toll, what happens now?

If you drive across the Silver Jubilee Bridge or Mersey Gateway Bridge and forget to pay the charge by midnight the day after you cross, you’ll be liable for a £40 PCN. This will be sent to the address your vehicle is registered to. 

Once you receive a PCN, head to the Merseyflow website [1] where you will be required to enter the Penalty Charge Notice number and your vehicle registration number. You will then be asked to pay the PCN. We advise you to pay the Mersey toll penalty within 14 days to reduce the cost of the fine to £20.

How do I submit a Merseyflow fine appeal?

If you think you have been fined unfairly, you can submit a Merseyflow fine appeal by following the instructions on the back of the PCN. Here are some important things to keep in mind when submitting a fine appeal:

A challenge must be made within 28 days of receiving the PCN

Merseyflow will respond to your appeal within 56 days

The Penalty Charge number, which will start with the letters ‘XM’

The registration number of the vehicle that is referred to in the Penalty Charge Notice. 

You will also have the option to include any supporting evidence, for example:

A receipt or unique transaction number for your payment

The name and address of the person you sold your vehicle to, along with a proof of sale document

A death certificate if the registered keeper is deceased

Sufficient evidence that the vehicle was in a different location at the time of the fine.

BIRMINGHAM CAZ PAID IN SECONDS