Three new Low Emission Zones have come into force across Scotland, preventing the most polluting vehicles driving within cities.
Enforcement of the schemes in Aberdeen, Dundee and Edinburgh is now underway, joining the existing LEZ in Glasgow and following a two-year grace period.
Dundee’s LEZ came fully into force on 30 May, followed by Aberdeen and Edinburgh on 1 June – exactly a year after Glasgow’s own scheme started.
The zones tackle air pollution concerns and require all vehicles entering the city centre zone area to meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge. There are some exemptions and grace periods for zone residents.
The emission standards for LEZs in Scotland require at least Euro 4 compliance for petrol vehicles and Euro 6 for diesel vehicles – as a rule of thumb, diesel-engined vehicles registered after September 2015, and petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards will meet the required LEZ standards.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The best advice to drivers is to use Scotland’s Low Emission Zone checker to see if their vehicle is compliant. There are some exemptions, for instance for Blue Badge holders and owners of historic vehicles, although it may be necessary to apply for the exemption to avoid having to pay the charge.”
All Scotland’s LEZs use the same penalty charge structure, which means that if motorists fail to pay the daily charge, they’ll instead face a fine which starts at £60 but gets progressively higher for future breaches.
Williams added: “While motorists were given a two-year grace period to prepare for these new LEZ enforcements, it’s important to realise they’ve had 24 months of extremely high fuel prices, an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and insurance premiums at an all-time high, making it very challenging for drivers of older vehicles to upgrade.
“Those on low incomes who live within 12 miles of a LEZ boundary may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,000, so it’s well worth checking the Energy Saving Trust’s website.”
The EST site also details various support funds for businesses and sole traders impacted by the zones.
