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Driving in

Driving in Aberdeen

Aberdeen City, Scotland. What is different here rather than what is the same everywhere.
230,180
Population, Aberdeen City
Office for National Statistics, Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age (mid-2025) (as of 30 June 2025)
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone
Charging or low emission zone
Aberdeen City Council, Roads within the low emission zone boundary (as of 1 June 2024)
AB
Postcode areas
Office for National Statistics, Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age (mid-2025) (as of 30 June 2025)

Checked on 30 June 2025.Office for National Statistics, Population estimates, local authority based by single year of age (mid-2025) (as of 30 June 2025)

The Aberdeen Low Emission Zone

Exempt

2004 petrol car: Aberdeen Low Emission Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as.

Exempt

2012 diesel car: Aberdeen Low Emission Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as.

Exempt

2018 diesel car: Aberdeen Low Emission Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as.

Aberdeen Low Emission Zone: the essentials
Operated byAberdeen City Council
In force since1 June 2024
Hours24 hours a day, seven days a week.
AreaThe city centre, covering the Union Street and George Street area and the city centre masterplan area. The boundary was pulled back after consultation to leave out East North Street, Commerce Street and the Wapping Street gyratory.
Penalty for non payment£60, reduced to £30 if you pay within 14 days. The amount doubles for each further contravention by the same vehicle in the same zone within 90 days, capped at £480 for a car or light goods vehicle and £960 for a minibus, bus, coach or HGV. Once 90 days pass with no contravention the rate resets to £60.

Aberdeen's scheme came into force on 30 May 2022 and was enforced from 1 June 2024 after a two year grace period for residents and visitors alike. The council trimmed the boundary following consultation, taking out East North Street, Commerce Street and the Wapping Street gyratory, so the harbour approaches sit outside the zone while Union Street sits firmly inside it. The council expected around 85 per cent of vehicles to comply by the time enforcement started, so the penalty lands on a small minority, mostly older diesels.

Full detail on the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone

What is different about driving in Aberdeen?

Aberdeen is covered by the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone, so an older car pays a daily charge that the same car would not pay in most of the country. Vehicle tax, fuel duty and speeding penalties are national and identical everywhere.

Local figures for Aberdeen

  • Aberdeen's low emission zone has been enforced since 1 June 2024, the same date as Edinburgh's, and it is one of only four such zones in Scotland.
  • About 96,000 licensed cars were recorded in the Aberdeen City council area at the end of March 2026.
  • The city had 428 public chargers at 1 April 2026, up from 405 in January, which is 184.7 per 100,000 residents.
  • Rapid charging is comparatively good here: 56.5 units of 50kW or more per 100,000 people, against 47.1 in Glasgow.

The numbers behind those lines

Official statistics for Aberdeen City
MeasureFigure
Vehicle fleetAbout 96,000 licensed cars were recorded in the Aberdeen City council area at the end of March 2026.
Public chargingThe city had 428 public chargers at 1 April 2026, up from 405 in January, which is 184.7 per 100,000 residents.

Common questions

Is there a clean air zone in Aberdeen?
Yes. Aberdeen is covered by the Aberdeen Low Emission Zone, run by Aberdeen City Council, in force since 1 June 2024. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week..
What does a car pay to drive in Aberdeen?
Aberdeen Low Emission Zone does not charge cars, whatever they are registered as.
How many public chargers are there in Aberdeen?
The city had 428 public chargers at 1 April 2026, up from 405 in January, which is 184.7 per 100,000 residents.
Are motoring rules different in Scotland?
The low emission zones are. A Scottish zone has no daily charge: a non compliant vehicle is barred and the first camera capture is a penalty that doubles for each repeat inside 90 days. Vehicle tax and speeding law are set nationally.

Sources

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