Pay/Appeal a LEZ Penalty Charge

 Pay/Appeal (Low Emission Zone Penalty Charge Notice) (opens new window)

Unless exempt, all vehicles entering Glasgow's LEZ must meet the less-polluting emission standards or face a penalty charge

Motorcycles and mopeds are unaffected.

Non-compliant vehicles entering the zone areas are detected by using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

Glasgow's LEZ operates continuously, 24 hours a day, all year round.

The zone covers an area of the city centre bounded by the M8 motorway to the north and west, the River Clyde to the south and Saltmarket/High Street to the east. 

You can find out more information about the operation of Glasgow's LEZ here.

What happens if I am caught driving into Glasgow's LEZ in a vehicle that does not meet LEZ requirements?

The registered keeper of the vehicle can expect to receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

It will contain details of the alleged contravention, details of the vehicle and photographs that in our opinion establish the contravention.

How much do I have to pay?

Set at national level by the Scottish Government for consistency across cities, the initial penalty charge for all non-compliant vehicles entering a LEZ in Scotland is £60.

A scheme surcharge means that the penalty charge amount will double with each subsequent breach of the rules by the same vehicle detected in the same LEZ. Surcharging will only apply however after the first (or previous PCN) can be expected to have been received by the vehicle's registered keeper.  

Penalty charge rates are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles, and £960 for buses and HGVs.  Any further breaches of LEZ rules by the same vehicle detected in the same LEZ once this cap is reached will result in future PCNs issued at the capped penalty charge rate.

Where there are no further breaches of the rules detected within the 90 days following a previous violation, the penalty rate will be reset to the base tier charge of £60.

All PCNs will be reduced by 50% if paid within 14 days.

Is there a right of appeal against a LEZ Penalty Charge Notice?

There is a right of appeal.

The Regulations set out the grounds on which the registered keeper can make representations to us - these are listed on the Penalty Charge Notice.

Appeals against a LEZ Penalty Charge Notice can be made here.

You can make representations against the Charge Notice within 28 days, beginning with the date of service. If you make representations outwith this period then they may be rejected. We will send you a response. It will be either a "Notice of Acceptance" or a "Notice of Rejection."

If we reject your representation, you have the right to appeal to an independent adjudicator namely, the First Tier Tribunals, Transport Appeals. We will enclose the appropriate form to enable you to appeal to them with the "Notice of Rejection". If the Parking and Bus Lane Tribunal Service rejects your appeal, the amount payable will be the full amount of the relevant penalty charge.

Do not ignore a LEZ Penalty Charge Notice

It will carry additional charges if it is not paid (or contested) promptly.

• If payment remains outstanding 28 days after a 'Charge Notice' has been issued or after an appeal or representation has been refused we may issue a 'Charge Certificate' increasing the penalty by a further 50% of the original charge.
• Upon the issue of a Charge Certificate, your right of appeal has been removed. If the Notice remains unpaid, it may be passed to our debt recovery agent for further action.

LEZ Contravention Data

To allow for a period of familiarisation during its first month of operation, non-compliant vehicles detected in Glasgow's LEZ received a maximum of one Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) in June 2023. 

Surcharging, whereby the penalty amount doubles for subsequent LEZ breaches, started in July and commences after the first (or previous) PCN can be expected to have been received by the vehicle's registered keeper.

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