National exemptions
Some vehicles will be allowed into the LEZ, whether they meet the standards or not, as often it is not easy to adapt these vehicles to the meet the LEZ standards. This is set out in the LEZ law (Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Penalty Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2021) and applies across all of Scotland's LEZs, for consistency. These national exemptions include
- vehicles for people with disabilities, including people who have Blue Badges*
- historic vehicles
- emergency vehicles
- military vehicles
- showman’s vehicles.
The full definitions of these categories is available on the national LEZ webpage.
Exemption criteria
Blue Badge holders
If you are a Blue Badge holder, and the vehicle you are travelling in does not have disabled vehicle/disabled passenger vehicle tax class, then you will need to apply for an exemption in advance of travel.
An exemption:
- applies to all LEZs in Scotland.
- may be long term or one-day in length.
- can be applied for up to seven days in advance of travel and before midnight for travel the following day.
Blue badge holders may apply for exemption to Scotland's LEZs online or by contacting the call centre on 0808 808 2282
If you're a driver or a passenger and you have mobility issues, you may be eligible for a Blue Badge. You can check if you are eligible on the Scottish Government website. Find out how to apply for a Blue Badge.
Historic vehicles
An exemption will be given to vehicles that meet the definition of “a vehicle of historical interest”:
- a vehicle considered to be of historical interest to the United Kingdom; and
- was manufactured, or registered, for the first time at least 30 years previously, and
- 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.
Guidance relating to the meaning of ‘substantial changes’ is available on the Department for Transport webpage.