Low emissions zones (LEZs) have been launched in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow today, 31^st May 2022.

LEZs have been introduced in these four Scottish cities today - heralding the start of Nicola Sturgeon's war on motorists, the ambition is to improve air quality, with many older vehicles banned from city centres.

Charging is not being introduced immediately to allow a grace period:

Glasgow

Low emissions zone charging for Glasgow commences 1^st June 2023 unless you are a resident of Glasgow and you get an extra grace period up to 1^st June 2024

Edinburgh

Low emissions zone charging for Edinburgh commences 1^st June 2024

Dundee

Low emissions zone charging for Dundee commences 30^th May 2024

Aberdeen

Low emissions zone charging for Aberdeen commences 1^st June 2024

Charges have not yet been made public although the penalties for entering the zones with a non compliant vehicle have been initially set at £60, reduced to £30 if paid within 30 days.

To avoid charges or any potential penalties you need to have either a petrol car or van with an engine that meets the Euro 4 standard, which generally applies to vehicles registered after 2006.

If you drive a diesel fuelled car or van this will need to be at the Euro 6 standard, mainly applying to vehicles registered after 2015.

Of course it goes without saying that

CarsVansandBikes.com has thousands of compliant cars or vans which you can see by selecting these links:

For ULEZ compliant cars select: https://www.carsvansandbikes.com/results?vehicleType=CAR&showULEZ=true

For ULEZ compliant vans select: https://www.carsvansandbikes.com/results?vehicleType=VAN&showULEZ=true

BACKGROUND

Using the powers under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (and accompanying regulations), local authorities will introduce, operate and enforce their LEZ schemes using Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras. All four cities propose schemes operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Penalty charges are also consistent across the four cities. For non-compliant vehicles found to have been driven within the zone the initial penalty is set at £60, with a subsequent doubling for each contravention, capped at £480 for cars and light good vehicles, and £960 for bus and HGV. The penalty charge is reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days. Where there are no further contraventions detected within the 90 days following a previous contravention, the penalty is reset to £60.

There are a limited number of specific vehicles that are exempt from LEZ regulations as follows:

• Police
• Ambulance
• Scottish Fire and Rescue
• Her Majesty’s Coastguard
• Military vehicles
• Vehicles for disabled persons (including blue badge holders)
• Historic vehicles
• Showman’s vehicles

Motorbikes and mopeds are also not within the scope of Scotland’s LEZs.

Blue badge holders are also exempt from LEZ requirements.