Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund

This fund has now closed for the financial year 2022-23. To register interest in future funding, visit the partner website.

The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund helps micro businesses and sole traders improve their vehicles and avoid future LEZ penalties. Eligible businesses that operate non-compliant vehicles with available retrofit solutions in a planned LEZ can receive up to 80% funding to make these changes to their vehicle, subject to availability and terms and conditions.

Low Emission Zones were introduced in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee in 2022. LEZs are designed to improve local air quality by discouraging older, more polluting vehicles from entering the zone.

By retrofitting vehicles with Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) approved solutions, vehicle emissions can be reduced, improving local air quality. By becoming LEZ compliant, vehicle owners can also avoid penalties.

To be eligible for the Low Emission Zone Retrofit Fund, your business must:

• be an active micro business or a sole trader, which means it:
  • employs no more than 9 full-time equivalent employees
  • had a turnover of £632,000 or less, or a balance sheet of up to £316,000 in the preceding and current financial year
  • is not VAT-registered
• own a vehicle that does not meet the minimum emissions standards of low emission zones, such as:
  • 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
• regularly operate this vehicle within one of the planned low emission zones

The vehicle must be one of the following:

• wheelchair-accessible taxi
• light commercial vehicle – a vehicle designed to carry goods that weigh less than 3.5 tonnes
• heavy goods vehicle – a vehicle designed to carry goods that weigh 3.5 tonnes or more
• refuse collection vehicle – a vehicle specially designed to collect and transport solid waste

There must also be an approved Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) retrofit solution available for the exact make and model.

You can check vehicle compatibility and installer details, external link which will open in a new window before you apply.

To see the full eligibility criteria, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.

The Energy Saving Trust offers funding to cover up to 80% of the cost of retrofit solutions, with the maximum depending on the vehicle and solution chosen. The remaining cost must be covered by the applicant.

Microbusinesses and sole traders that operate in low emission zones (LEZs), with vehicles that do not meet the LEZ emissions standards.

This fund has now closed to applications for the financial year 2022-23. You can register your interest for future funding opportunities by submitting a form on the Energy Saving Trust website.

You should not install retrofit solutions until you receive a grant offer letter.

Applicants who opt for SCR exhaust after-treatment solutions must agree to the installation of telematics. This information will be reviewed by the Energy Saving Trust to monitor the success of improving air quality within the planned low emission zones. The cost of telematics will be covered by Energy Saving Trust.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust website to check your eligibility and register interest in any future funding opportunities.