Penalty charges

About

Vehicles that do not meet the minimum emission standards will get fined if they enter the low emission zone. These vehicles are described as non-compliant. The fine is known as a penalty charge notice (PCN).

In Edinburgh, we have a 'grace period' during which we will not fine vehicles. This is to give people time to prepare for the LEZ. The LEZ will be enforced from 1 June 2024 onwards

For consistency, all of Scotland’s LEZs use the same penalty charge structure, as set by Scottish Government:

  • initial penalty for all vehicles will be £60, reduced by 50% if it is paid within 14 days
  • a surcharge will double the penalty amount with each subsequent breach of the rules detected within the same LEZ, within 90 days
  • penalty charges will be capped - this is the maximum amount the fine will be if not paid within the 90 days
    • £480 for cars and LGVs
    • £960 for minibuses, coaches, buses and HGVs.

We will

  • detect non-compliant vehicles using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras
  • use data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to check if the vehicle meets the LEZ emission standards
  • issue PCNs to the registered keeper of the non-compliant vehicle
  • issue a PCN each time the non-compliant vehicle enters the LEZ - one PCN will be issued per vehicle per day.
  • use any revenue generated to contribute towards running the LEZ. Any surplus revenue may only be used to support LEZ objectives, which are primarily to reduce harmful emissions from transport and encourage sustainable travel.

You must

  • pay the charge within 28 days from the date the penalty charge notice is served. If you pay within 14 days, the penalty charge rate is reduced by 50% (to £30)

The penalty rate doubles each time a non-compliant vehicle enters the same zone within a 90-day period. If contraventions occur more than 90 days apart, the initial penalty charge rate would be applied each time. This makes sure that people who regularly contravene the LEZ are penalised appropriately.

 

Detailed explanation

Cars, vans and light goods and special purpose vehicles

  • The initial penalty charge for non-compliant vehicles is £60.
  • If the penalty is not paid within 28 days, the second time that vehicle enters the LEZ within 90 days, the penalty doubles to £120.
  • If the vehicle enters a third time within the same 90 days, it increases to £240.
  • The penalty will increase to £480 for a fourth time within the same 90 days.
  • It will not be increased for a fifth time the vehicle enters the LEZ.

Minibuses, buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles

  • The initial penalty charge for non-compliant vehicles is £60.
  • If the penalty is not paid within 28 days, the second time that vehicle enters the LEZ within 90 days, the penalty doubles to £120.
  • If the vehicle enters a third time within the same 90 days, it increases to £240.
  • The penalty will increase to £480 if it enters a fourth time within the same 90 days.
  • If the vehicle enters a fifth time within the same 90 days, the penalty will increase to £960.