Drivers warned of £480 fee for using cars in four UK cities from next month

Motorists in four major UK cities are being put on alert as hefty penalties for driving petrol and diesel vehicles loom. Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow are gearing up to enforce new clean air and low emission zones that could hit drivers' wallets hard.

Aberdeen's Low Emission Zone will start charging non-compliant vehicles from June 1, while Dundee's rules will kick in on May 30, 2024. Drivers in these areas still have a chance to benefit from two support schemes offering up to £3,000 for households and £2,000 for businesses to upgrade or retrofit their vehicles.

Edinburgh is set to activate its zone on June 1, with Glasgow following suit for vehicles registered at residential properties within the zone. A representative from Glasgow City Council highlighted the penalty-driven approach of Scottish LEZs, stating: "Scottish LEZs operate by way of a penalty system, set in legislation to discourage non-compliant vehicle entry and to maximise the air quality benefits that can be delivered."

Entering a LEZ with a non-compliant vehicle in Scotland will result in a £60 fine, which doubles with each subsequent offence, capping at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles (LGVs). Larger vehicles such as minibuses, buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) face even steeper maximum fines of £980.

The entry criteria for the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will be based on the Euro emission engine classification standards, which are used both internationally and nationally. The minimum requirements are Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans - typically vehicles registered from 2006, and Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans - generally vehicles registered from September 2015, reports Birmingham Live.

This extends to Euro 6 for petrol and diesel taxis and private hire vehicles, as per standard licence conditions outlined in the Taxi Emission Standards Policy (2021), and Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs - usually vehicles registered from January 2013.

Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) must be paid within 28 days from the date they were issued. If not paid within this timeframe, a charge certificate will be issued, increasing the PCN penalty charge by 50%.

If the increased charge is not paid within 14 days, the charge certificate and PCNs can be recovered as an enforceable debt.