Edinburgh LEZ map and charges
Area of operation
The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) covers a 1.2 square mile area surrounding Edinburgh's city centre. It stretches from Queen Street in the New Town to Melville Drive across the Meadows, and from Palmerston Place to Abbeyhill in the east. The zone does not include the streets on the boundary's perimeter.
LEZ charges and exemptions
Vehicles that do not comply with the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) regulations in Edinburgh will receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) of £60 upon entry. The fines double with each subsequent entry until they reach the upper limit. Cars and LGVs receive a maximum penalty charge notice (PCN) of £480, while buses and HGVs face up to £960. Motorcycles and mopeds are exempt from charges.
How to pay
For more information about the Low Emissions Zone payments and exemptions, you can also check Scotland's https://www.lowemissionzones.scot/ or Edinburgh's City Council website.
What is the Edinburgh Low Emissions Zone (LEZ)?
How Edinburgh's LEZ works
Along with Aberdeen and Dundee, Scottish Ministers approved Edinburgh's Low Emissions Zone in May 2022. The LEZ scheme aims to improve air quality in Edinburgh's most congested areas by encouraging the use of cleaner vehicles. When a driver enters or drives within the LEZ, one of the 100+ cameras throughout the zone will capture and read their number plates using ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) technology. If their car doesn't meet Euro 4 (petrol) or Euro 6 (diesel) emissions standards, they will receive a PCN.
Like Scotland's current LEZ in Glasgow and future ones in Aberdeen and Dundee, non-compliance penalties work on a sliding scale. For first-time entrants, the charge is £60 (which reduces to £30 if they pay within 14 days). If a non-compliant vehicle re-enters the zone within 90 days of the first penalty, the second charge is double (£120). After the fourth visit (£480) for cars and LGVs or the fifth visit (£960) for HGVs, buses and coaches, each additional charge is capped at the maximum amount.
Vehicles included in Edinburgh's LEZ
Edinburgh has implemented stringent measures to combat vehicle emissions with its Low Emissions Zone. The zone covers all types of regular vehicles, including private hire vehicles, taxis, vans, private cars, LGVs, HGVs, buses and coaches. Mopeds and motorcycles are not included. Nationwide exemptions are in place for Showman's vehicles, emergency services vehicles, military vehicles, and specialized construction/agricultural vehicles. Disabled passenger and disabled tax class vehicles are also exempt from LEZ charges.
Aside from nationally-exempt vehicles, Blue Badge holders can apply for exemption online using the government's website or by contacting their call centre. Historic vehicle owners may also register for exemption if their vehicle is over 30 years old and is a model that is no longer in production. The majority of vehicles are already compliant. Most petrol vehicles manufactured after January 2006 and diesel vehicles manufactured after September 2015 should meet the necessary emissions standards to avoid charges. Of course, it's still best to check using our online tool.
Benefits of using our Edinburgh LEZ compliance checker
Know your Edinburgh LEZ compliance status right away
Stay on top of changes and updates
Plan your route to avoid the Edinburgh LEZ
Plan for business/personal expenses
User-friendly and accessible
Avoid paying expensive penalty charges
Which cars are exempt from Edinburgh's LEZ charges?
Different rules apply to different types of vehicles when it comes to LEZ daily charges in Edinburgh.
LEZ-compliant petrol cars
- Must meet Euro 4 emissions standards.
- Typically, manufactured after 2006.
LEZ-compliant diesel cars
- Must meet Euro 6 emissions standards.
- Typically, manufactured after September 2015.
LEZ-compliant LGVs and HGVs
- LGVs: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)
- HGVs: Euro 6 minimum
LEZ-compliant buses, minibuses and coaches
- Buses: Euro 6 minimum
- Minibuses: Petrol (Euro 4), Diesel (Euro 6)
- Coaches: Euro 6 minimum
View other Low Emissions Zones (LEZ)
Live elsewhere? Check below for information on other Low Emissions Zones in the UK.
Check other low emissions zones
Live somewhere else? See which emissions zones and regulations affect your city.
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Common FAQs about the Edinburgh Low Emissions Zone
Once you've entered the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ), daily charges will be automatically applied to your vehicle unless it qualifies for exemption or meets the necessary emissions standards. If you were wrongfully charged, you can appeal your penalty.
To do this, you will have to provide proof of your vehicle's exemption or compliance status. This may include documentation such as a valid Blue Badge, evidence of your vehicle's emissions standards, or proof of a specific exemption you've previously applied (and been approved) for.
All petrol vehicles that do not meet the Euro 4 emissions standards and diesel vehicles that do not meet the Euro 6 emissions standards must pay a daily charge when entering Edinburgh's Low Emissions Zone. For buses, coaches and HGVs, the minimum emission standard is Euro 6.
The only vehicles exempt from Edinburgh's LEZ are those exempt from all other UK LEZs, such as historic vehicles (vehicles built before 1973), agricultural, construction and military vehicles. Additionally, residents within the LEZ who own non-compliant cars can apply for a temporary exemption until they are able to upgrade their vehicle.
Since the Low Emissions Zone only covers Edinburgh's city centre (and not the roads around its periphery), avoiding it is entirely possible if you don't have to enter the zone. It's important to note, however, that if you live within the LEZ boundaries, you will still be subject to charges even when driving within your residential area.
If you do have to enter the Low Emissions Zone for work or personal reasons, plan accordingly by checking your vehicle's compliance status and considering alternative routes or modes of transportation. Keeping yourself informed means you can avoid paying unnecessary charges.
No, the Low Emissions Zone in Edinburgh isn't only for diesel cars. It applies to all types of vehicles, including petrol and diesel cars, buses, minibuses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles. All these vehicles must meet the LEZ standards to avoid the daily charge.
There are some exemptions. Motorcycles and mopeds, for instance, are not subject to these restrictions and can pass through the zone without having to meet specific emissions standards or pay charges.
Getting out of the Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) fine in Edinburgh is feasible under certain circumstances. If you believe you've been wrongfully fined, you can file an appeal with Edinburgh City Council. You'll have to back this claim with concrete evidence, like proof of your vehicle's emission standards or documentation of a previously granted exemption.
Another way to dodge the fine is if your vehicle is exempt from the LEZ charges. For most drivers, this applies to petrol vehicles that meet Euro 4 emissions standards or diesel vehicles that meet Euro 6 standards.
It's crucial to note once you've entered the LEZ with a non-compliant vehicle, there's no way to avoid the fine. To avoid this situation, we highly recommend proactively verifying your vehicle's compliance status.