Aberdeen Low Emission Zone
Check whether your vehicle is charged in the Aberdeen LEZ, what you’d pay, and find compliant cars for sale nearby.
Officially this is the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone (LEZ). It's also commonly searched as the Aberdeen clean air zone, Aberdeen ULEZ or Aberdeen congestion charge — all names for this same scheme. Note that Aberdeen is not part of London's ULEZ, and this is an emissions rule rather than a congestion charge.
In operation since May 2022
Is your car compliant in the Aberdeen LEZ?
Enter your registration — free, instant, no sign-up. We’ll show your verdict for Aberdeen and every other UK Clean Air Zone and Low Emission Zone.
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone explained
The Aberdeen Low Emission Zone (LEZ), a Class D zone, has been enforced since May 2022. Its charge area: Aberdeen city centre (a 0.9 km² area) around the Union Street core, from Castlegate in the east to Holburn Street/Willowbank in the west. The zone operates 24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period).
There is no daily charge to pay in advance — Aberdeen's LEZ works by penalty. A non-compliant vehicle (including a private car) that enters the zone is fined rather than charged a daily fee. £60 fine (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling with each repeat offense (capped at £480 for cars, £960 for HGVs).
To check whether your registration is charged, enter it in the free checker above — it shows your Aberdeen verdict alongside every other UK Clean Air Zone and LEZ. Because Aberdeen has no daily-payment option, the only way to avoid a penalty is to drive a compliant or zero-emission vehicle.
Daily charges
No daily charges (non-compliant vehicles cannot enter without incurring a penalty).
Operating hours
24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period)
Emission standards
Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to enter without penalty.
Penalties
£60 fine (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling with each repeat offense (capped at £480 for cars, £960 for HGVs).
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone boundary & area
Aberdeen city centre (a 0.9 km² area) around the Union Street core, from Castlegate in the east to Holburn Street/Willowbank in the west.
Who is charged?
All non-compliant vehicles (including private cars) will be fined for entering once enforcement begins (no daily charge payment option).
Compliant in this zone
Cars for sale near Aberdeen
These cars meet this zone's emission rules — no daily charge to drive in.
No compliant cars within ~30 miles of Aberdeen right now.
Browse all compliant carsTowns covered
Iconic landmarks in the zone
- Union Street
- Marischal College
- Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone map
The map below shows the Aberdeen LEZ charge area. For the legally definitive boundary, always cross-check the official source before you travel.
Other UK Clean Air Zones
London (ULEZ)
£12.50/day for non-compliant cars.
Check zoneBirmingham CAZ
£8/day for non-compliant cars.
Check zoneBristol CAZ
£9/day for non-compliant cars.
Check zoneDundee LEZ
No daily charge — non-compliant cars get a penalty notice.
Check zoneEdinburgh LEZ
No daily charge — non-compliant cars get a penalty notice.
Check zoneGlasgow LEZ
No daily charge — non-compliant cars get a penalty notice.
Check zoneOxford ZEZ Pilot
£4/day — applies even to Euro-compliant petrol & diesel.
Check zoneBath CAZ
Private cars aren't charged here.
Check zoneBradford CAZ
Private cars aren't charged here.
Check zonePortsmouth CAZ
Private cars aren't charged here.
Check zoneSheffield CAZ
Private cars aren't charged here.
Check zoneTyneside CAZ
Private cars aren't charged here.
Check zoneAberdeen Low Emission Zone FAQs
Is Union Street in Aberdeen’s LEZ?
Yes. Union Street – Aberdeen’s main thoroughfare – is at the heart of the Low Emission Zone and is included in the LEZ area.
Is Aberdeen train station in the LEZ?
No. The Aberdeen rail station and adjacent bus station lie just outside the LEZ boundary (the stations are not inside the zone).
How do I check if my car is charged in the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone?
Enter your registration into the official checker at lowemissionzones.scot to see whether the Aberdeen zone applies to your vehicle. The zone's minimum emission standards are: Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to enter without penalty.
What happens if I drive in the Aberdeen zone and don't pay?
£60 fine (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling with each repeat offense (capped at £480 for cars, £960 for HGVs). Paying the daily charge on time avoids a Penalty Charge Notice.
Are any vehicles exempt from the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone?
All non-compliant vehicles (including private cars) will be fined for entering once enforcement begins (no daily charge payment option). National exemptions typically cover historic (tax-exempt classic) vehicles and vehicles with a disabled tax class, and local exemption or support schemes vary — check the zone's official pages before travelling.
Which Euro emissions standard do I need for the Aberdeen zone?
Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to enter without penalty. As a rule of thumb, petrol cars registered from 2006 (Euro 4) and diesel cars registered from September 2015 (Euro 6) meet these standards.
Which used cars are compliant with the Aberdeen zone?
Most petrol cars registered after 2006 (Euro 4) and diesel cars registered after September 2015 (Euro 6) are compliant. Motoring.Today checks ULEZ/CAZ compliance on every listing and shows Aberdeen-compliant cars in stock on this page.
Are private cars charged in the Aberdeen zone?
Yes — private cars that don't meet the zone's emission standards pay the daily charge in Aberdeen. Current charges: No daily charges (non-compliant vehicles cannot enter without incurring a penalty).
When does the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone operate?
The Aberdeen zone operates 24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period).
Is the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone the same as London's ULEZ?
No — ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) is a London-only scheme. Aberdeen has its own Low Emission Zone (Class D (City Centre LEZ)), with its own rules: Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to enter without penalty. People often search "ULEZ Aberdeen", but the zone's correct name is the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone.
Is the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone a congestion charge?
No — a congestion charge applies to any vehicle driving in an area, regardless of emissions. The Aberdeen Low Emission Zone only charges vehicles that don't meet the zone's emission standard (Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to enter without penalty.) — compliant and zero-emission vehicles enter free.