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【Summary】Londoners are considering selling their cars to avoid paying the expanded Ulez charge of £12.50 per day for driving inside the zone. A calculator by The Telegraph helps determine if it is more cost-effective to pay the charge or buy a new car that meets emissions requirements. The calculator takes into account the model of the current car, the selling price, the price of the new car, and the frequency of driving in the Ulez zone.

FutureCar Staff Aug 30, 2023 4:20 PM PT

Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has recently undergone an expansion, now covering the entire area within the boundaries of the M25. This means that cars which do not meet the emissions requirements of the scheme will be subject to a daily charge of £12.50 if they drive inside the zone.

A recent study conducted by used car platform Motorway revealed that one in five Londoners plans to sell their car in order to avoid paying the Ulez charge. This highlights the significant impact of the scheme on car owners in the city.

For those who are considering whether or not to sell their car and upgrade to a vehicle that meets the emissions requirements, the key question to consider is whether they drive enough to make the investment worthwhile. Taking into account the daily charge, a driver using an old diesel car for the school run through the Ulez every day would end up paying £62.50 per week, resulting in an annual cost of £2,000 based on a standard 39-week school year.

However, the question remains as to how long it would take for drivers to recoup the investment made in purchasing a newer car that is exempt from Ulez fines. To help answer this question, The Telegraph has developed a calculator that allows individuals to input the model of their car, the desired selling price, the cost of the new car they intend to buy, and the frequency with which they enter the Ulez zone on a daily basis.