Will Your Vehicle Comply with Glasgow's LEZ?

Overview

Glasgow's LEZ is being phased in to give everyone the chance to prepare:

• Phase 1 (buses only) was introduced on 31 December 2018

• Phase 2 (all vehicles) will be enforced from 1 June 2023

• Enforcement for zone residents will start on 1 June 2024. The vehicle must be registered to a residential address within the LEZ zone area to qualify for this grace period.

Motorcycles and mopeds are unaffected by LEZ schemes in Scotland.

Fully electric vehicles comply with LEZ requirements in Scotland.

LEZ Emission Standards

The emission standards for LEZs in Scotland have been set nationally, these are:

• Euro 4 for petrol vehicles
• Euro 6 for diesel vehicles
• Euro IV for heavy duty petrol vehicles such as buses/coaches and HGVs
• Euro VI  for heavy duty diesel vehicles such as buses/coaches and HGVs

Vehicles which have been appropriately modified or retrofitted to meet or exceed these emission standards will also be permitted entry to LEZs in Scotland.

For practical purposes, it is generally the case that diesel engine vehicles registered after September 2015, and petrol vehicles registered from 2006 onwards will meet the required LEZ standards.

You may be able to find Euro standard information on the inside of your vehicle's driver or passenger door frame. For newer vehicles, the Euro standard may be listed on the V5C registration document (log book). If you are in any doubt, you can contact the vehicle manufacturer to check.

Exempt Vehicles

Certain vehicle types are also exempt from LEZ emission requirements in Scotland - these are:

• Vehicles for disabled persons (including blue badge holders)
• Police, Fire, Ambulance and other emergency service vehicles
• Military vehicles
• Historic vehicles
• Showman's vehicles

Full details of each exemption is set out below: 

Vehicles for Disabled Persons:

• the vehicle is being driven by any person who is in receipt of a badge (a blue badge) that has been issued under section 21(2) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970,
• a passenger in the vehicle has been issued with a badge under that section of that Act, or
• a badge for the vehicle has been issued under section 21(4) of that Act,
• a reduction in annual rate of vehicle excise duty applies because the vehicle is being used by a disabled person in receipt of personal independence payment at the standard rate, or
• Vehicles registered with a 'disabled' or 'disabled passenger vehicles' tax class e.g. the vehicle is exempt from payment of vehicle excise duty under paragraph 19(1) or 20(1) of schedule 2 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (exemptions from excise duty for vehicles used by disabled persons).

Transport Scotland is developing an online scheme for blue badge holders to register vehicles they are travelling in.

Blue badge holders will be able to register for a long-term or short-term exemption to drive in a LEZ.

If the journey is a one-off or irregular visit to a LEZ, blue badge holders will be able to register for a short-term exemption to cover their travel. The exemption applies to any vehicle whether the blue badge holder is the driver or the passenger.

More information about how to access the scheme will be available soon and will be publicised in advance of enforcement.

Emergency Vehicles:

The vehicle is being driven by any person who is:

• undertaking their duty as a constable
• providing a response to an emergency at the request of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board
• exercising the functions of the Scottish Ambulance Service Board, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Her Majesty's Coastguard or the National Crime Agency

Naval, Military or Air Force Vehicles:

• vehicles being used for naval, military or air force purposes

Historic Vehicles:

Vehicles of 'historical interest' means a vehicle which is considered to be of historical interest to the UK, and which -

• was manufactured, or registered, for the first time at least 30 years previously,
• is of a type no longer in production, and
• has been historically preserved or maintained in its original state and has not undergone substantial changes in the technical characteristics of its main components.

Showman's Vehicles:

Vehicles described as either "showman's goods vehicle" or "showman's vehicle" according to section 62(1) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Note: these are highly specialised vehicles used for the purposes of travelling showmen, where the vehicle is used during the performance, used for the purpose of providing the performance or used for carrying performance equipment

Online Vehicle Checker

Transport Scotland are working on an online tool that will enable motorists to check if their vehicle meets LEZ emission standards by entering their registration number.

Until this is ready, they have prepared a basic online vehicle checker.  

Whilst the results are not a guarantee or proof that a vehicle can enter a LEZ, they can give an indication meantime.