Scotland’s Low Emission Zones (LEZs) - A complete guide
Last updated February 09, 2024
The Scottish Government has introduced Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee with a view to improving air quality for residents (and helping to achieve Scotland’s net zero carbon emissions goal by 2045).
Much like London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and the Clean Air Zones (CAZs) operating in other English cities such as Sheffield, Bradford and Bristol, the Scottish LEZs aim to discourage high-polluting vehicles from travelling within their designated areas. (However, rather than applying daily charges to non-compliant vehicles, Scottish LEZs issue fines of £60 or more.)
As of January 2024, Glasgow’s LEZ is the only such Scottish zone that is actively enforcing its rules. The other three Scottish LEZs are currently subject to ‘grace periods’, allowing residents and other commuters to ensure their vehicles meet the minimum emissions standards.
In this guide, we will clarify the key differences between Scottish and English LEZs. We’ll also cover which vehicles are subject to the Scottish LEZ rules (and which are exempt), the minimum emissions standards, the areas of operation for each city – and the penalties for travelling within a Scottish LEZ in a non-compliant vehicle.
Finally, we’ll explain how to check whether your car is Scottish LEZ compliant – and the grants available for getting a compliant vehicle.
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Scottish vs English LEZs – How do they differ?
- London’s LEZ charges apply primarily to large commercial diesel vehicles, such as buses, lorries and coaches.
- Brighton, Norwich, Nottingham and Oxford’s LEZ charges only apply to local buses.
- The Scottish LEZ rules apply to all types of motor vehicle except motorcycles and mopeds.
- Whilst English LEZs apply daily charges to non-compliant vehicles, those that fail to meet the Scottish LEZ requirements cannot travel within the designated zones at all.
- Any non-compliant vehicles caught travelling within Scottish LEZs will be issued fines.
What is a LEZ in Scotland?
Scottish LEZs are implemented to improve air quality in busy urban areas by prohibiting high-polluting vehicles from travelling within them.
The list of vehicles that may be liable for Scottish LEZ charges is similar to that for Class D CAZs in England:
CAZ class |
Vehicles that may be charged |
|---|---|
A |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles |
B |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) |
C |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses |
D |
Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans, minibuses, cars (English local authorities have the option to include motorcycles and mopeds.) |
All Scottish LEZs have the same minimum emissions standards in place as English CAZs:
Vehicle type |
Minimum emissions standard for Scottish LEZs/English CAZs |
|---|---|
Motorcycles and mopeds |
No minimum standard for LEZs (A minimum Euro 3 standard is optional for CAZ authorities.) |
Cars, vans, minibuses,taxis, private hire vehicles |
Euro 4 (petrol engine) and Euro 6 (diesel engine) |
Buses, coaches, HGVs |
Euro VI |
Ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEV) (i.e. vehicles emitting less than 75 grams of CO2 per kilometre) |
Automatically compliant |
However, there is a crucial distinction to make between English CAZs and Scottish LEZs; whilst non-compliant vehicles must pay daily charges if they enter a CAZ, they cannot travel within Scottish LEZs at all (and will be fined if caught doing so).
Where are Scotland’s LEZs?
Scotland’s LEZs are based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee. Their areas of operation are shown in the maps below:
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone map
Source: Aberdeen LEZ map
In Aberdeen, the LEZ covers a central plot around Castlegate to the East - and the Union Street area to the West (between Skene Street and Willowbank Road). The train and bus stations are outside of the LEZ area.
Dundee Low Emission Zone map
Source: Dundee LEZ map
In Dundee, the LEZ covers the centre of the city on the north side of the Tay. The LEZ is within the A991 ring road but doesn’t include the car parks at Bell Street and Wellgate Centre (or West Marketgait NCP).
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone map
Source: Edinburgh LEZ map
The LEZ in Edinburgh covers the city centre, from New Town down to Melville Drive and St Leonard’s Street.
Glasgow Low Emission Zone map
Source: Glasgow LEZ map
The LEZ in Glasgow is a square-shaped area covering the M8 (with the River Clyde, the High Street and Saltmarket).
What are Scotland’s LEZ charges?
If you have a non-compliant vehicle (that is not exempt), you cannot travel within the Glasgow LEZ. If caught doing so, you will receive a fine of £60, halved to £30 if paid within 14 days. (Fines will be increased for subsequent offences.)
The LEZs in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh are still subject to ‘grace periods’, meaning that non-compliant drivers won’t be fined for travelling within the designated zones.
However, this will change on 1st June 2024 in Aberdeen and Edinburgh (and 30th May in Dundee), when the enforcement of fines will begin.
Residents within all Scottish LEZs (including Glasgow) are subject to an automatic grace period, which will end on 1st June 2024.
Grants for getting a LEZ compliant vehicle
Scotland launched a LEZ support fund in 2021 - and £8 million in funding has been allocated so far. Grants are available to residents and businesses based within 20km of a Scottish LEZ with no option to change or retrofit their vehicles.
Affected households may be offered grants of up to £3,000 (allocated as £2,000 towards scrapping a non-compliant vehicle at an Authorised Treatment Facility [ATF] and up to £1,000 towards sustainable travel options such as bikes and public transport tickets.)
These grants are available for one vehicle per adult/household in receipt of means-tested benefits from the Scottish Government (and cannot be used to scrap vehicles with Statutory Off Road Notification [SORN] status).
Sole traders and micro businesses may be eligible for £2,000 grants towards scrapping a non-compliant, non-SORN vehicle. However, to qualify for this grant, the following conditions must be met:
- The vehicle must have been purchased before 17th September 2020 and used for business purposes.
- Sole traders and micro businesses (who have less than nine full-time employees) - within 20km of the LEZs are eligible for this scheme.
- These businesses can also get a grant of up to £1,000 from the Travel Better Fund for a cargo bike or e-cargo bike.
Grace periods for LEZ residents
- Non-Glasgow residents cannot travel within the city’s LEZ in non-compliant vehicles, or they will be subject to a £60 fine (increased for each subsequent offence up to a maximum of £480 for cars or £960 for buses or HGVs).
- The Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh LEZs are still subject to ‘grace periods’, meaning that non-compliant drivers won’t be fined for travelling within their designated zones.
- However, this will change on 1st June 2024 in Aberdeen and Edinburgh (and 30th May 2024 in Dundee) when the enforcement of fines for non-compliant drivers will begin.
- Residents within all zones (including Glasgow) are subject to an automatic grace period, which will end on 1st June 2024.
Scottish LEZ exemptions
Certain vehicles are exempt from Scottish LEZ charges (similar to ULEZ exempt cars) including:
- Motorcycles and mopeds.
- Disabled tax class or disabled passenger tax class vehicles.
- Police vehicles.
- Ambulance and emergency service vehicles.
- Scottish Fire and Rescue vehicles.
- His Majesty’s Coastguard vehicles.
- Military vehicles.
- Registered historic vehicles.
- Registered showman’s vehicles.
How do I check if my car is Scottish LEZ compliant?
Enter your reg number into the Vehicle Checker tool from Low Emission Zones Scotland to confirm whether your vehicle is Scottish LEZ compliant.
What are my options for selling a non-compliant vehicle?
If you have a non-compliant vehicle and regularly travel within chargeable zones, it may be beneficial to sell your car and make the switch to a greener alternative.
Get started with webuyanycar by entering your reg number into our free car valuation tool.
How do I pay for a Scottish LEZ charge?
You can pay a Glasgow LEZ fine via the Glasgow City Council website. If you pay the fine within two weeks, it will be halved.
When the grace periods for other Scottish LEZ authorities come to an end, it is expected that they will make similar payment facilities available on their websites.
Will Glasgow introduce a congestion charge?
The Glasgow LEZ could be followed by a congestion charge. Ricky Bell, Deputy Leader of Glasgow Council has held discussions with the Scottish Government about the possibility of levying a congestion charge to motorists travelling into Glasgow from affluent suburbs that were formerly part of the city.