Privacy policy

Privacy Policy - LEZ Vehicle Checker

About us

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency for Scotland, delivering the Scottish Government's vision for transport. We seek to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland, playing a key role in helping to achieve the Scottish Government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish. We are working to help make Scotland’s transport network cleaner, smarter and more accessible than ever before. One of the key aspects of this work is the introduction of Low Emission Zones (LEZs).

An LEZ is an area which sets an environmental limit on certain city roads, restricting access for the most polluting vehicles to improve air quality. This helps protect public health within cities, making them more attractive places in which to live, work and to visit. Vehicles that do not meet the emission standards set for an LEZ may be subject to a penalty charge notice.

The purpose of the LEZ Vehicle Checker is for members of the public to check if their vehicle can be driven in an LEZ. Further information on LEZs can be found at Low Emission Zones Scotland | Transport Scotland (this link opens in a new tab).

This notice explains how Transport Scotland processes and shares your personal data for the purposes of the LEZ Vehicle Checker. The LEZ Vehicle Checker Privacy Policy supplements the general Privacy Policy available here (this link opens in a new tab). Transport Scotland is an independent controller of this data, and therefore this policy only covers data in respect of the LEZ Vehicle Checker.

What personal data we collect and how we use it

Your vehicle registration number (“number plate”) will be required in order to use the LEZ Vehicle Checker. This information will be shared with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to determine if the vehicle can be used in an LEZ. Automated rules will be used to determine this based on the vehicle’s emission standards, date of first registration and other information held by DVLA.

If you have concerns that the vehicle has been wrongly identified as meeting - or not meeting - the required standards for use in an LEZ, or if you have any queries about the information provided by the LEZ Vehicle Checker, you can submit an enquiry by contacting the LEZ inbox at: lowemissionzonesenquiries@gov.scot , specifying your issue along with some necessary details.

If you contact us via the LEZ inbox email address to make any enquiries concerning the LEZ Vehicle Checker, the following information may be requested to help resolve your query.

  • Full Name
  • Address
  • Previous name(s) and/or address(es), if appropriate
  • Telephone number
  • Email address
  • VRN, make, model and colour of the vehicle in question

The information you provide may be sent to DVLA for the sole purpose of replying to you.

We use cookies to collect information about the use of our website in order to monitor and improve our content and services. You can read our Cookie Policy available here (this link opens in a new tab) to find out more about the cookies used on this website and how to manage them.

Lawful basis for processing

We rely on the following legal bases to lawfully process your personal data:

  • Public interest task: this applies when you contact us to make an enquiry or use our services. For example; when you submit your information to the LEZ vehicle checker, or when you contact us to make an enquiry about the vehicle checker service.
  • Consent: this applies when we use cookies to improve your experience of our website and when you have submitted your contact details through our website to request that we contact you regarding your query.

The legal basis underpinning LEZs is covered within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2023 (this link opens in a new tab). Lawful basis for processing is covered by GDPR Article 6, 1(e), as the processing is necessary to perform a specific task in the public interest as set out within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

Sharing your personal information

We may share your personal information with the third parties described below for the delivery of our services. We require all third parties to respect the security of your personal information and to treat it in accordance with the aforementioned lawful basis.

  • Suppliers working on behalf of Transport Scotland to provide the www.lowemissionzones.scot website, and vehicle checker service.
  • DVLA

How long we hold your personal information

Transport Scotland participates in the Scottish Government’s records management process which sets out how long we keep information.

Through the Low Emission Zones website vehicle checker no personal information is being stored, unless they register for updates.

The current Scottish Government policy and procedures in relation to records management are set out in the Scottish Government records management plan (this link opens in a new tab).

Where we store your personal information

Data collected through our website is stored and held on servers within the UK.

Your Rights

You have certain rights under data protection legislation which can be exercised by emailing our Data Protection Officer at: dpa@transport.gov.scot

These rights cover:

  • the right to access the personal information held about you;
  • the right to have your personal information rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete;
  • the right to request to have your personal information deleted in certain specific circumstances;
  • the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal information in certain specific circumstances;
  • the right to ask us not to process your personal information for marketing purposes or for purposes based on our legitimate interests (where applicable);
  • the right to ask us not to undertake automated decision making or profiling;
  • the right to request the transfer of your personal information to you or to a third party. We will provide to you, or a third party you have chosen, your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Note that this right only applies to automated information which you initially provided consent for us to use or where we used the information to perform a contract with you; and
  • where you have provided consent, to request to withdraw such consent at any time.

Privacy policy - Scottish LEZ Exemption System

About us

Transport Scotland is the national transport agency for Scotland, delivering the Scottish Government's vision for transport. We seek to deliver a safe, efficient, cost-effective and sustainable transport system for the benefit of the people of Scotland, playing a key role in helping to achieve the Scottish Government’s purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish. We are working to help make Scotland’s transport network cleaner, smarter and more accessible than ever before. One of the key aspects of this work is the introduction of Low Emission Zones (LEZs) to improve air quality.

The Scottish LEZ Exemption System allows individuals and organisations to register exemptions to avoid receiving a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) for traveling in a LEZ in Scotland using a non-compliant vehicle.

What personal data we collect and how we use it

Personal data you submit through the Scottish LEZ Exemption System will be used to exempted registered vehicles against issue of PCNs for entering into a Scottish LEZ. This includes:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Address
  • Email – if available
  • Phone number
  • Blue Badge number
  • Blue Badge expiry date
  • Images of Front and Back of Blue Badge
  • Vehicle Registration Number (VRN), aka licence plate number

The above data will be held on record and, where necessary, will be shared with the below listed agencies and organisations to provide exemption to Scottish LEZs. Not all information collected will be shared with all listed agencies and organisations.

Cookies are only collected for strictly functional use. No cookies related to any use other than essential functionality are used.

Lawful basis for processing

We rely on the following legal bases to lawfully process your personal data:

  • Public task: this applies when you contact us to make an enquiry or use our services.

Lawful basis for processing is covered by GDPR Article 6, 1(e), as the processing is necessary to perform a specific task in the public interest as set out within the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019.

  • Substantial public interest: this applies when you provide your Blue Badge holder details.

This lawful basis is covered by GDPR Article 9 Section G. The specific substantial public interest conditions are statutory and government purposes as detailed in Part 2, Schedule 1, Paragraph 6. This is due to the purpose of processing allowing those exempt to PCNs from entry to Scottish LEZs as a Blue Badge Holder to register and prevent a PCN being issued to them.

Sharing your personal information

We may share your personal information with the third parties described below for the delivery of our services. We require all third parties to respect the security of your personal information and to treat it in accordance with the law.

  • Department for Transport
  • Local authorities within the UK
  • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
  • Home Energy Scotland

How long we hold your personal information

Transport Scotland participates in the Scottish Government’s records management process which sets out how long we keep information. The current Scottish Government policy and procedures in relation to records management are set out in the Scottish Government’s Record Management Plan.

Where we store your personal information

Data collected through our website is stored and held on servers within the UK or the European Economic Area (EEA).

Your Rights

You have certain rights under data protection legislation which can be exercised by emailing our Data Protection Officer at: dpa@transport.gov.scot

There rights are:

  • the right to access the personal information held about you;
  • the right to have your personal information rectified if it is inaccurate or incomplete;
  • the right to request to have your personal information deleted in certain specific circumstances;
  • the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal information in certain specific circumstances;
  • the right to ask us not to process your personal information for marketing purposes or for purposes based on our legitimate interests (where applicable);
  • the right to ask us not to undertake automated decision making or profiling;
  • the right to request the transfer of your personal information to you or to a third party. We will provide to you, or a third party you have chosen, your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. Note that this right only applies to automated information which you initially provided consent for us to use or where we used the information to perform a contract with you; and
  • where you have provided consent, to request to withdraw such consent at any time.