Edinburgh Low Emission Zone
Check whether your vehicle is charged in the Edinburgh LEZ, what you’d pay, and find compliant cars for sale nearby.
Officially this is the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone (LEZ). It's also commonly searched as the Edinburgh clean air zone, Edinburgh ULEZ or Edinburgh congestion charge — all names for this same scheme. Note that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh LEZ?
Enter your registration — free, instant, no sign-up. We’ll show your verdict for Edinburgh and every other UK Clean Air Zone and Low Emission Zone.
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone explained
The Edinburgh Low Emission Zone (LEZ), a Class D zone, has been enforced since May 2022. Its charge area: Edinburgh city centre (about 1.2 square miles) from Queen Street in the New Town down to the Meadows, and from Palmerston Place in the west to Abbeyhill in the east. The zone operates 24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period).
There is no daily charge to pay in advance — Edinburgh'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 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling on subsequent offenses up to £480.
To check whether your registration is charged, enter it in the free checker above — it shows your Edinburgh verdict alongside every other UK Clean Air Zone and LEZ. Because Edinburgh 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 will be fined rather than charged daily).
Operating hours
24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period)
Emission standards
Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to drive in the zone without penalty.
Penalties
£60 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling on subsequent offenses up to £480.
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone boundary & area
Edinburgh city centre (about 1.2 square miles) from Queen Street in the New Town down to the Meadows, and from Palmerston Place in the west to Abbeyhill in the east.
Who is charged?
All non-compliant vehicles (including private cars) will incur penalties once LEZ enforcement begins – there is no option to pay a daily charge.
Compliant in this zone
Cars for sale near Edinburgh
These cars meet this zone's emission rules — no daily charge to drive in.
No compliant cars within ~30 miles of Edinburgh right now.
Browse all compliant carsTowns covered
Iconic landmarks in the zone
- Edinburgh Castle
- Royal Mile
- Princes Street
Edinburgh Low Emission Zone map
The map below shows the Edinburgh 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 zoneAberdeen LEZ
No daily charge — non-compliant cars get a penalty notice.
Check zoneDundee 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 zoneEdinburgh Low Emission Zone FAQs
Is Leith included in Edinburgh’s LEZ?
No. Leith and other areas outside Edinburgh’s city centre are not included in the Low Emission Zone (the LEZ is limited to the city centre only).
Is Edinburgh Castle inside the LEZ?
Yes. Edinburgh Castle (at the top of the Royal Mile in the Old Town) lies within the city centre LEZ boundary.
How do I check if my car is charged in the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone?
Enter your registration into the official checker at lowemissionzones.scot to see whether the Edinburgh zone applies to your vehicle. The zone's minimum emission standards are: Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to drive in the zone without penalty.
What happens if I drive in the Edinburgh zone and don't pay?
£60 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days) for a non-compliant vehicle, doubling on subsequent offenses up to £480. Paying the daily charge on time avoids a Penalty Charge Notice.
Are any vehicles exempt from the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone?
All non-compliant vehicles (including private cars) will incur penalties once LEZ enforcement begins – there is no option to pay a daily charge. 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 Edinburgh zone?
Petrol vehicles must meet Euro 4 and diesel vehicles Euro 6 to drive in the zone 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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh-compliant cars in stock on this page.
Are private cars charged in the Edinburgh zone?
Yes — private cars that don't meet the zone's emission standards pay the daily charge in Edinburgh. Current charges: No daily charges (non-compliant vehicles will be fined rather than charged daily).
When does the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone operate?
The Edinburgh zone operates 24/7 (continuous enforcement, after grace period).
Is the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone the same as London's ULEZ?
No — ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) is a London-only scheme. Edinburgh 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 drive in the zone without penalty. People often search "ULEZ Edinburgh", but the zone's correct name is the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone.
Is the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone a congestion charge?
No — a congestion charge applies to any vehicle driving in an area, regardless of emissions. The Edinburgh 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 drive in the zone without penalty.) — compliant and zero-emission vehicles enter free.