Greater London-wide ULEZ expansion just one year away
In just over 12 months, all 32 boroughs will fall into £12.50 Ultra-Low Emissions Zone
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Large numbers of Londoners are seeking to flog older cars before the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone is expanded to include all 32 boroughs in almost exactly a year. Mayor Sadiq Khan's emissions-fighting zone presently requires drivers of older, higher-emission vehicles to pay a £12.50 fee to enter the inner areas of the Capital - but from August 2023, it'll expand to cover all boroughs that surround the City of London. According to Transport for London, 100,000 residents are going to be affected by the change, up from the present 60,000. Although the AA believes that's a massively underestimated figure; it believes it’s more likely 300,000 residents.
Either way, if you were to drive a non-compliant (more on that in a mo') vehicle in London every day through a year, you'd pay over £4500 a year in ULEZ fees. Even if you only drove in once a week, you'd pay £650 a year. It’s hardly surprising more motorists of older cars are gearing up to switch to ULEZ-compliant machines, which typically include petrol cars that don't conform to Euro 4 emissions legislation or higher, and diesel cars that don't conform to Euro 6 or higher.
This will not be the first time the ULEZ has been extended. After its initial introduction in April 2019, it was expanded in October 2021 up to the North Circular and South Circular roads. The 2019 introduction saw a reported two in five Londoners sell their car to meet the requirements. The result, TfL research showed, reduced emissions on some of London's busiest roads, by 36%.
So where does that leave the Londoners without compliant cars? Have a look at our ULEZ explainer, which has the 401; from checking whether your car is compliant, to how ULEZ works and the health benefits of the scheme. If you’re one of the thousands getting ready to sell your car, then our part exchange offer could be the way forward for you. Our digital showroom is packed full of ULEZ-complaint cars that will duck under the £12.50 charge, and our giant selection of electric cars are also congestion zone exempt, too. The smug, eco-friendly face you get to wear while driving one is thrown in for free!
By Freda Lewis-Stempel