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【Summary】Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has expanded to the boundaries of the M25, charging £12.50 per day for cars that don't meet emissions requirements. One in five Londoners plan to sell their cars to avoid the charge. A calculator has been created to determine if it's more cost-effective to pay the charge or buy a new car. Inputting car models, prices, and frequency of entering the Ulez zone helps determine the time needed to recoup the investment with savings on Ulez fines.

FutureCar Staff Aug 29, 2023 9:18 AM PT

Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has been expanded from inner London to the boundaries of the M25.

The scheme charges cars £12.50 for every day they drive inside the zone if they do not meet the emissions requirements.

According to used car platform Motorway, one in five Londoners plans to sell their car to avoid paying the charge.

For drivers considering whether to sell their car and upgrade to a vehicle not subject to emissions penalties, the key question is whether they drive enough to make the investment worthwhile.

For example, a driver in an old diesel doing the school run through the Ulez every day would pay £62.50 a week, totaling £2,000 annually assuming a 39-week school year.

But how long would it take to recoup the investment with savings on Ulez fines after buying a newer car for £10,000?

The Telegraph has created a calculator to help answer this question.

Simply input the model of your car and the desired selling price, the price of the car you plan to buy, and how often you drive into the Ulez each day.