Driving charges · Low emission zone
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone
City centre: boundary runs from Tollcross in the south to Palmerston Place in the west, along Queen Street in the New Town to Picardy Place, around Abbeyhill onto Holyrood Road, along the Pleasance in the east and back along the Meadows to Tollcross. The boundary roads themselves are outside the zone.
Who pays
All vehicles except motorbikes, mopeds and fully electric vehicles must meet: Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans; Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans; Euro VI for diesel buses, coaches and HGVs; Euro IV for petrol buses, coaches and HGVs. Hybrids are treated like the petrol/diesel equivalent. Rough guide: petrol from about 2006, diesel from about September 2015.
When it applies
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year (including public holidays such as Christmas Day).
How much
| Vehicle | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| All non-compliant, non-exempt vehicles (cars, vans, minibuses, buses, coaches, HGVs) | No charge to pay (fines apply) | No daily charge and no way to prepay - non-compliant vehicles are not allowed in the zone and are fined (see penalty). Tiers: £60 / £120 / £240 / £480 (cars, vans, special purpose vehicles capped at £480); minibuses, buses, coaches, HGVs go on to £960 from the 5th contravention. |
Discounts and exemptions
- National exemptions: vehicles for disabled people (Blue Badge holder driving or carried - register the vehicle on mygov.scot before midnight on the day of travel; disabled / disabled passenger tax class vehicles are recognised automatically)
- Emergency service vehicles
- Naval, military or air force vehicles
- Historic vehicles (first registered at least 30 years ago, no longer in production, preserved in original state)
- Showman's vehicles (must register with the council)
- Motorbikes, mopeds and fully electric vehicles are not affected
- Local time-limited exemptions (up to 12 months) only for specialised HGVs (road-rail maintenance vehicles, fragile artwork transport) and some events; personal vehicles cannot apply; taxi retrofit-delay exemptions closed 12 September 2024
How to pay
You cannot pay to enter - there is no daily charge or prepayment. PCNs are paid to the council: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/paylezpenaltychargeform
Payment deadline
Not applicable (no entry charge). PCN: pay within 14 days for 50% discount; pay or make representations within 28 days of the PCN.
If you don't pay
PCN of £60 for the first contravention, reduced by 50% (to £30) if paid within 14 days. The charge doubles for each further contravention by the same vehicle in the same LEZ within 90 days: £120, £240, £480, capped at £480 for cars, light goods vehicles (N1) and special purpose vehicles, and at £960 (5th and later) for minibuses, buses, coaches and HGVs. Resets to £60 after 90 days with no contravention. Maximum one PCN per vehicle per day (midnight to 11:59pm). If not paid within 28 days a charge certificate increases the penalty by 50%.
Good to know
Enforcement started 1 June 2024. Council confirms a charge certificate adds 50% if unpaid after 28 days and a further 14 days before debt recovery. PCN payment also by phone 0131 589 2744.
Sources: www.mygov.scot/low-emission-zones · www.mygov.scot/low-emission-zones/vehicles · www.mygov.scot/low-emission-zones/exemptions · www.mygov.scot/low-emission-zones/fines · www.transport.gov.scot/news/low-emission-zones-introduced-ac · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/lowemissionzone · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/low-emission-zone/lez-works · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/low-emission-zone/lez-penalty-charges · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/low-emission-zone/lez-penalty-charges/2 · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/low-emission-zone/lez-penalty-charges/3 · www.edinburgh.gov.uk/low-emission-zone/lez-exemptions/2