Please note that this page contains information and links most relevant for people living in Scotland.
The low emission zone support fund is now closed to new applications
The Low Emission Zone Support Fund and Travel Better Fund is now closed to new applications for this financial year. Previously submitted applications will continue to be processed and funding offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.
Energy Saving Trust is offering households, within a 20km radius of the low emission zones, up to £3,000 towards the safe disposal of non-compliant vehicles.
Low emission zones in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee are now in effect. Low emission zones are designed to improve local air quality by discouraging older, more polluting vehicles from entering the zone.
If you live outside of 20km of a low emission zone, you may be eligible for the mobility and scrappage fund.
About the low emission zone support fund for households
The low emission zone support fund is funded by Transport Scotland and administered by Energy Saving Trust. It offers an incentive for low-income households to take older, more polluting vehicles off the road.
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to incentivise the disposal of non-compliant vehicles:
£2,000 is available to eligible households who dispose of their non-compliant vehicle at a Scottish authorised treatment facility. The applicant must live close to a Scottish low emission zone and be in receipt of specific means-tested benefits.
Travel Better grants of up to £500 will also be made available for each adult in your household. A maximum of £1,000 per household applies.
Important: this fund has now closed to new applications. There is no guarantee funding will be renewed in the new financial year, but if you wish to register your interest for any future funding, please review the eligibility criteria and contact Home Energy Scotland on freephone 0808 808 2282 or via their online form.
Applications are assessed on a first come, first served basis, subject to funds remaining.
You MUST NOT scrap your vehicle until you have received a grant offer letter from Energy Saving Trust confirming your eligibility, otherwise you will not be eligible for funding.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for the low emission zone support fund, you must meet all of the following criteria (you can also download the eligibility criteria):
You must live within a 20km radius of a Scottish low emission zone. If you are unsure, a Home Energy Scotland advisor will be able to confirm this when you call them.
You must own and be the registered keeper of a vehicle that does not meet the minimum emissions standards of low emission zones:
Euro 3 or older petrol vehicles – this generally applies to those registered before 2006
Euro 5 or older diesel vehicles – this generally applies to those registered before September 2015
You can use the Vehicle Checker to see whether your vehicle would be allowed to enter a zone.
The vehicle must hold a current MOT, be fully taxed and must not hold SORN status. If you are unsure, you can check online if your vehicle is taxed and its MOT status.
You must have owned and been the registered keeper of the vehicle for at least 12 months with no outstanding finance.
You must be in receipt of specific means-tested benefits (eligible benefits are listed below). If you are unsure, or believe you are eligible for a benefit but need help accessing it, a Home Energy Scotland advisor will be able to help.
List of eligible benefits:
Adult disability payment
Attendance allowance
Carer’s allowance
Child tax credit
Council tax benefit (excluding 25 per cent discount)
Disability living allowance
Employment and support allowance
Housing benefit
Income-based job seeker allowance
Income support
Pension credit
Personal independence payment
Universal credit
Working tax credit
The low emission zone support fund cannot be used in conjunction with Transport Scotland’s electric vehicle loan. This is a standalone fund, and the applicant must not apply for the electric vehicle loan within six months following grant payment from the low emission zone support fund.
Funding is available for one eligible vehicle per property.
If you are eligible for the low emission zone support fund and have received funding, you will also be entitled to further funding support towards sustainable travel measures. See the travel better fund for households section below for more information.
If you would like additional information on the scheme, please email: LEZfund@est.org.uk
Travel better fund for households
If you successfully claim the low emission zone support fund and choose to move towards sustainable travel modes, we can reimburse you and one other adult in your household up to £500 each (maximum of £1,000 per household, no more than two applicants).
Alternatively, your households can request the full £1,000 per household to fund a cargo (including electric cargo options) or an adapted cycle to support your households needs.
Important: the Travel Better Fund has now closed to new applications. Applicants who receive payment for their Low Emission Zone Support Fund claim after this date will not be eligible to apply for Travel Better in this financial year (2023/2024), but will be invited to apply if funding becomes available in the new financial year (2024/2025).
Eligible travel measures include:
Applicants can submit up to two separate claims. Each claim can consist of a combination of any of the above items from £80 worth of eligible travel measures up to the £500 cap. If the cost exceeds £500, you will need to cover these additional costs yourself. The total value of both claims cannot exceed £500, and a grant offer letter must be in place for each claim before you make a purchase.
If you’re looking to purchase an electric bike, additional costs can be covered by Energy Saving Trust’s ebike loan (up to £3,000).
Items which are NOT eligible for the travel better grant include:
cars, mopeds, motor bikes or any other form of motorised transport
electric scooters, scooters, skateboards, hoverboards
forms of public transport not mentioned above, ie flights, ferries or taxis
Meet Sharafaldin, who applied for the low emission zone support fund and received a grant to dispose of his more polluting car. He also got extra help through the travel better fund and received a grant to purchase an ebike and a standard bike for another member of his household.
Watch the video to learn about the financial and health benefits of his switch from driving to cycling, and how the fund has helped him and his family to get ready for the introduction of Edinburgh’s low emission zone.
Enjoying the benefits of cycling
Meet Sharafaldin, who applied for the Low Emission Zone Support Fund and received a grant to dispose of his more polluting car. He also got extra help through the Travel Better Fund, and received a grant to purchase an ebike and a standard bike for another member of his household.
Watch the video to learn about the financial and health benefits of his switch from driving to cycling, and how the fund has helped him and his family to get ready for the introduction of Edinburgh’s Low Emission Zone.
For information on public transport services available, please visit Traveline Scotland.
Terms and conditions
Energy Saving Trust is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This fund is subject to availability and terms and conditions apply.