EDINBURGH LEZ CHARGE
All non-compliant vehicles except motorcycles will face penalties to drive within the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone from 1 June 2024. Find out all you need to know here!
What is the Edinburgh LEZ?
To protect public health and improve air quality, City of Edinburgh Council introduced a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in May 2022 with a two-year grace period. This was to allow residents time to change their vehicle to a compliant if they needed to.
Starting 1 June 2024, all vehicles, except mopeds and motorcycles, entering the zone will need to meet the less-polluting emission standards or will face a penalty charge.
Why does Edinburgh need a Low Emission Zone?
Although Edinburgh has made good progress in reducing levels of air pollution, there are still areas where certain pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are higher than the legal standard.
The upcoming Edinburgh Low Emission Zone will:
- help accelerate the uptake of less polluting vehicles
- encourage people to move away from private car use
- increase the safety, attractiveness, and amenity of the city centre
If your vehicle meets the following emission standards, you will not incur a penalty charge for driving within the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone (starting 1 June 2024):
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans (typically vehicles registered from 2006)
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans (typically vehicles registered from September 2015)
- Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs (typically vehicles registered from January 2013)
- All zero emission vehicles, including fully electric vehicles (EVs)
What you need to know
Enforcement of the zone will start on 1 June 2024. From this date, all vehicles driving within the zone will either need to comply with emission standards set by the government or will incur a penalty.
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone operating times
The Edinburgh LEZ will operate 24 hours a day, all year round.
How much will the Edinburgh LEZ charge be?
Similar to the other upcoming Scottish Low Emission Zones (Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee), any non-compliant vehicles driving into the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone from 1 June 2024 will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The charges for the PCN are as follows:
- The initial penalty charge for all non-compliant vehicles entering the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone will be £60 - reduced to £30 if it is paid within 14 days.
- The penalty charge amount will double each time you drive into the Low Emission Zone with the same non-compliant vehicle. So, if you are driving into the zone for the second time, the charge will be £120.
- Penalty charges are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles, and £960 for buses and HGVs.
- If you have not driven into the zone with a non-compliant vehicle within 90 days of receiving the previous PCN, the penalty charge is reset to £60.
Motorcycles and mopeds will be excluded from this charge.
Edinburgh LEZ exemptions
Some exemptions have been announced for the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone. This means that even if your vehicle is non-compliant, you will not incur a penalty for driving within the zone from 1 June 2024. The exemptions are listed below:
Vehicles for disabled people (blue badge holders need to register via the Transport Scotland website for long-term or short-term exemption if):
- the vehicle is being driven by any person who is in receipt of 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 blue badge under that section of that Act
- a blue 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
- 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)
The following exemptions are automatic:
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
Navy, Military or Air Force Vehicles:
- vehicles being used for naval, military or air force purposes
Historic vehicles (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
- 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 (highly specialised vehicles used for the purpose of travelling showmen where):
- the vehicle is used during the performance
- the vehicle is used for the purpose of providing the performance
- the vehicle is used for carrying performance equipment
Sort your car tax in a matter of seconds
What areas will the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone cover?
The LEZ boundary circles the city centre from:
- Tollcross in the south
- to Palmerston Place in the west
- along Queen Street in the New Town
- to Picardy Place
- around Abbeyhill and onto Holyrood Road
- along the Pleasance in the east
- before heading back along the Meadows to Tollcross.
How can Caura help you navigate the Edinburgh LEZ?
New emission zones can be confusing. We are working hard to allow all Edinburgh residents to be able to check if their vehicle meets the emission standards to drive within the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone without incurring a penalty. We will update this page once this feature is available in Caura.
Download Caura to keep track of all your car admin!
Never miss an MOT, car insurance or car tax renewal again! Just input your vehicle registration number into the Caura app, and we will notify you when a renewal is coming up.
Caura works closely with the DVLA so you can also renew your car tax in-app, in under 20 seconds - it's the fastest way!
Looking to take out a new insurance policy? Tap the 'Insurance' tab in-app to get quotes for market leading insurers. From there, simply choose the policy you like and renew in-app in under a minute.
You can save even more on your insurance policy by referring your friends to Caura. Each friend you refer could save you a big £50 off your next insurance policy!
Questions?
Find answers to common questions here. If you can't find what you're looking for then email us on support@caura.com and we'll get back to you.
My account
Do I have to sign up to access Caura?
Yes. To enjoy the benefits of Caura, like timely reminders for tax and insurance, and ultrafast city charge and toll payments, you’ll need to create an account. This is so we can let you know about important expiry dates and booking details.
Can I change the email address I use for Caura?
You can’t currently change your email address on Caura (but we are working on it). As a workaround, you can log out of your current account and sign up with a new email address. We won’t be able to transfer the history over.
What happens if I forget my account credentials?
Easily done. Just tap ‘Forgot Password’ on the Log In screen - we’ll send you a password reset link via your registered email address. If you used your Google or Apple profile details (instead of an email address) to create your account, you’ll need to continue to use this sign-in method.
My account has been suspended, why?
Your account may be suspended as a precaution if we see evidence of fraud or a violation of our terms of service. Please email support@caura.com or send us a message in-app, and we can investigate this with you.
How do I delete my account?
Please email support@caura.com or send us a message in-app, and we can take care of that for you. Please feel free to let us know why you want to leave, as we’re always working to improve Caura for drivers like you.
Managing vehicles
How do I add or remove vehicles from my account?
To add a vehicle, simply swipe to the left on your current vehicle or tap the ‘+’ icon on the Home screen. To remove a vehicle, tap and hold on the vehicle image.
My vehicle cannot be found when I add my number plate, why not?
All vehicles registered with the DVLA should show on Caura. Please make sure you are entering a valid number plate recognised by the DVLA. If the problem persists please email support@caura.com.
Why can’t I see my updated vehicle details (e.g. tax, MOT) on Caura?
If you have made the update on Caura (e.g. paid for tax on Caura), it should update automatically within a few days. If it doesn't, you can pull down the image of your vehicle from the Home screen, which will refresh the app.
Managing payment methods
How do I add or remove a payment method?
You can add, remove and set your default payment method via the Payment Methods screen, accessed via the Account tab. To remove a payment method, swipe it to the left. To set a payment method as the default option, swipe it to the right.
What if I need to change my AutoPay payment method?
Go to your AutoPay account in-app (by going to the City Charges screen). From your AutoPay account, tap the current payment method selected. You can then choose to change your payment method tied to your AutoPay, either select an existing payment method or add a new card to Caura.
City Charges
What is a Clean Air Zone charge?
Clean Air Zones are coming soon to many UK cities, helping our air stay fresh for future generations. All vehicles are allowed in CAZ zones – but if their emissions are above a certain level, they’ll have to pay to pass through.
You can learn more about different Clean Air Zones and the charges in place here.
Which cities have Clean Air Zones?
You can find details of all active and planned Clean Air Zones here.
What Clean Air Zones can I pay for on Caura?
Currently, you can pay for Birmingham’s Class D Clean Air Zone charge, as well as the London Ultra Low Emission Zone charge and the Oxford Zero Emission Zone charge, in two-taps on Caura.
We’re working hard to bring more Clean Air Zones to Caura very soon. We’ll notify users via email or in-app notification when new zones launch, as well as communicate this on social media. In the meantime, if there is a charge payment you really want to see on Caura, let us know by emailing support@caura.com (it may just be what we focus on next!).
What do the different types of Clean Air Zones mean?
There are four types (class) of Clean Air Zone. The class of Clean Air Zone dictates which vehicles have to pay for entering the zone.
For each of the class types, the following non-compliant vehicle types have to pay:
- Class A: buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles
- Class B: buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles
- Class C: buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans and minibuses
- Class D: buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses and cars, and the local authority has the option to include motorcycles too
How do I know if I have to pay the Clean Air Zone?
Please refer to the class type of the Clean Air Zone to understand which vehicle types have to pay.
You will also be able to see exactly what you have to pay for a given Clean Air Zone, based on your vehicle’s type and emissions.
The Clean Air Zones use ANPR cameras to automatically detect your vehicle when you drive into the charging zone. Look out for signs that clearly indicate the boundary of the zone.
If you try to pay for a charge that you're exempt from then Caura will not process the transaction, and you will not be charged.
What days can I pay the Clean Air Zone charges for on Caura?
Currently, you can pay for either today, tomorrow or yesterday in-app on Caura. Make sure you pay for the right date for any trips you make, as we’re unable to offer a refund for any payments made for the wrong day by mistake.
Does Caura charge an additional fee?
Caura charges no additional fee to pay for any Clean Air Zone, or to make any other transaction via the app. We don’t take any of the money for your payment and once it’s made it goes straight to the end provider.
What happens if I pay for the wrong day?
If you’ve paid for the wrong day, unfortunately we aren’t able to offer a refund. We don’t take any of the money for your payment and once it’s made it goes straight to the end provider. We’re unable to recover funds so we aren’t able to offer a refund. If you paid for a charge unnecessarily then you can request a refund from the zone operator, referencing the transaction ID on your payment receipt in the Caura app.
Where can I view my payment receipts in Caura?
You can view any payments you’ve made by going to the History tab in Caura. Tap on any payment in the list to view more detail. From there, you can even export a receipt to your email.
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone
What is the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone?
From 1 June 2024, all vehicles, except mopeds and motorcycles, entering the zone will need to meet the less-polluting emission standards or will face a penalty charge. Find out more here.
Which areas will the Edinburgh LEZ cover?
The LEZ boundary circles the city centre from:
- Tollcross in the south
- to Palmerston Place in the west
- along Queen Street in the New Town
- to Picardy Place
- around Abbeyhill and onto Holyrood Road
- along the Pleasance in the east
- before heading back along the Meadows to Tollcross.
You can view an Edinburgh Low Emission Zone map here.
When will the Edinburgh LEZ operate?
The Edinburgh LEZ will operate 24 hours a day, all year round.
What will happen if I drive into the LEZ with a non-compliant vehicle?
Any non-compliant vehicles driving into the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone from 1 June 2024 will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN). The charges for the PCN are as follows:
- The initial penalty charge for all non-compliant vehicles entering the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone will be £60 - reduced to £30 if it is paid within 14 days.
- The penalty charge amount will double each time you drive into the Low Emission Zone with the same non-compliant vehicle. So, if you are driving into the zone for the second time, the charge will be £120.
- Penalty charges are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles, and £960 for buses and HGVs.
- If you have not driven into the zone with a non-compliant vehicle within 90 days of receiving the previous PCN, the penalty charge is reset to £60.
Are there any exemptions in place for the Edinburgh LEZ?
Some exemptions have been announced for the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone. This means that even if your vehicle is non-compliant, you will not incur a penalty for driving within the zone from 1 June 2024. The exemptions are listed below:
- Blue badge holders
- Emergency vehicles
- Navy, military or air force vehicles
- Historic vehicles
- Showman's vehicles
You can find out more about these exemptions here.