Scottish low emission zones sees interest in scrapping cars soar

• Car scrappage enquiries up 64% across Scotland’s 4 biggest cities since LEZs
• Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen all have LEZs now in effect 

The introduction of low emission zones in Scotland has sent car scrappage queries through the roof, new data claims. 

There has been a 64 per cent increase in motorists looking to scrap their cars between May and June 2024, compared to the same period last year, Scrap Car Comparison says.

In 2023, low emission zone penalties had yet to be fully enforced in Scotland. But, as of 1 June 2024, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow all have LEZ restrictions in operation.

Scrap Car Comparison’s year-on-year figures for May and June show an overall jump of two-thirds across the four Scottish cities – a significant uptick of car owners considering sending their non LEZ compliant cars to the scrap heap.

Dundee’s seen the greatest uplift in scrappage, with a quote surge of 77 per cent.

Residents in Edinburgh are almost as concerned as Dundonians about swapping their older polluting wheels for newer lower emission ones, with a 72 per cent uptick in scrappage enquiries.

In Aberdeen, quotes are up 40 per cent.

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Motorists in Scotland now face hefty fines if they drive older petrol and diesel cars into city centres.

Glasgow was the first Scottish to introduce a LEZ – similar to London’s ULEZ – back in 2023. 

However, residents weren’t charged until 1 June 2024.

Dundee started fining locals for not driving the correct motors on 30 May, with Edinburgh and Aberdeen LEZs coming into effect 1 June.

The zones are part of Scotland’s efforts to cut air pollution levels in its biggest cities, with strict rules now in place on which cars can enter the zone limits.

Entry criteria is based on Euro emission engine classification standards, in the same way London’s LEZ is, so drivers of diesel cars and vans must adhere to Euro 6 emission standards (generally registered from 2016).

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Petrol cars and vans must meet Euro 4 emission standards (generally registered from 2006).

Bus, coaches, HGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles are all subject to rules too: taxis and private hire vehicles must adhere to Euro 6 rules, while buses, coaches and HGVs need to meet Euro VI standards (from January 2013).

The penalty charge is £60 (slashed to £30 if paid within two weeks).

But there isn’t an option for non-exempt vehicles to simply pay a daily charge to drive within the zone, unlike London.

Your car’s either compliant or you’re coughing up for a fine.

And now it seems motorists are re-evaluating their vehicle usage due to the additional fees their current vehicle would cost them, as the two-year grace period since May 2022 has come to an end.

Low Emission Zone Support Fund offers £2k grant

The surge in drivers enquiring about scrappage will be able to take the Government up on its scrappage scheme.

The Low Emission Zone Support Fund is available to drivers across Scotland who need to retrofit or change their vehicles, part of which is a £2,000 grant available to eligible households who dispose of their non-compliant vehicle at an Scottish authorised treatment facility.

In May Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop revealed that more than 4,000 non-compliant vehicles have been scrapped or retrofitted via the fund, including more than 450 taxis.

David Kottaun, of Scrap Car Comparison, said: ‘We’ve seen an increased demand in and around the Scottish cities that are subject to these LEZ restrictions since the end of the grace period.

‘The LEZ restrictions leave many drivers’ vehicles non-compliant, meaning that in many cases they’re now too expensive to run. 

‘The value of these vehicles will also have dropped in these areas since the introduction of the penalties, so scrapping the vehicle will be the most sensible, and convenient, decision for lots of owners.’