Dundee's Low Emission Zone was introduced on 30 May 2022 and enforced from 30 May 2024 after a two-year grace period. It covers the city centre inside the A991 Inner Ring Road, but three multi-storey car parks are carved out so that drivers can still reach them.
Surcharges for repeats within 90 days in the same vehicle: £120, £240, then £480 (£960 for larger vehicles).
Where it applies
Inside the A991 Inner Ring Road, excluding the Bell Street, West Marketgait NCP and Wellgate car parks.
When it applies
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. It can be suspended for major events or emergency diversions (only where vehicles follow the prescribed diversion).
Who can enter
| Vehicle | Rule |
|---|---|
| Compliant vehicles | Free to enter |
| Non-compliant, non-exempt vehicles | Not allowed; £60 penalty |
Paying: You cannot pay to enter. Dundee City Council LEZ page. Check your vehicle: Scottish LEZ vehicle checker.
Exemptions, discounts and permits
- Blue Badge holders can register for a long-term or short-term exemption on Transport Scotland's system, as driver or passenger.
- Dundee can grant time-limited exemptions of up to a year to some vehicles.
How to challenge the penalty
You challenge by making written representations to Dundee City Council within 28 days of the date of service. The regulations count from the "date of service" of the notice. Use the date printed on your notice if it gives one.
These are the grounds the law allows, under the Low Emission Zones (Emission Standards, Exemptions and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/177):
| Ground | When it fits | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| The contravention did not happen | The vehicle meets the standard, is exempt (for example a registered Blue Badge holder was in it), or was not driven in the zone. | reg 8(4)(a) |
| I was not the registered keeper on that date | You were not the keeper on the detection date (sold before, bought after, or never yours). | reg 8(4)(b) |
| Someone else is liable (hirer, buyer or trader) | You were the keeper, but the vehicle was on hire, had been sold or transferred, or was used by a motor trader, so the law makes that person liable. | reg 8(4)(c), 5 and 8(5) |
| The penalty is not payable by me as hirer or user | The notice was sent to you as hirer, buyer or trader, but you were not that person at the time. | reg 8(4)(d) |
| The penalty is more than the law allows | For example a surcharge was added although more than 90 days had passed since the last contravention in that vehicle and zone. | reg 8(4)(e) and 4(6)–(7) |
| Extenuating circumstances | The contravention did happen, but it would be unreasonable to penalise you, for example a medical emergency or an official diversion through the zone. | reg 8(4)(f) |
Scotland is the only scheme here where "extenuating circumstances" is a full legal ground (reg 8(4)(f)), so the tribunal can allow an appeal on it.
Challenge online: official page.
- Dundee does not accept American Express or JCB cards for payment.
If the authority says no
It sends a notice of rejection. You then have 28 days to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (General Regulatory Chamber), or to pay. See our guide to appealing to the tribunal.
Worked example
A non-compliant car parks in the Wellgate car park. The car park is excluded from the zone, but the route to it may cross zone roads, so check the map before relying on that.
Can I challenge this charge? Free check
Free. Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is sent to us.
Letters for Dundee LEZ
Built from your checker answers, with the right grounds and regulation numbers for your scheme. You see the start of the letter before you pay, then edit it and download it as Word or PDF.
Representation letter
Your formal challenge to the authority, citing each ground that fits with its regulation number, the evidence you enclose and a request to cancel.
Start my letterFull pack
The representation, a tribunal appeal statement, replies at the charge certificate and debt registration stages, witness statement and out-of-time wording, and a bailiff fee check.
Start the full packOne penalty per purchase, usable for 6 months. Full refund within 14 days if you haven't downloaded a letter. Templates you send yourself, not legal advice. See sample letters
Questions people ask
Did the grace period end?
Yes. Enforcement started on 30 May 2024 for residents and non-residents alike.
Sources
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against these official pages. How we check
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