Calculate the Ulez cost or buy a different vehicle?

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【Summary】Londoners are calculating whether it is more cost-effective to pay Sadiq Khan's Ulez charges or to sell their cars and buy newer ones that meet the emissions requirements. One in five Londoners plans to sell their cars to avoid the charges, according to Motorway. The Telegraph has created a calculator to help drivers determine how long it would take to recoup the investment of buying a newer car.

FutureCar Staff Sep 02, 2023 9:37 AM PT

Calculate the Ulez cost or buy a different vehicle?

Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has recently been expanded beyond inner London to include the boundaries of the M25. This means that cars that do not meet the emissions requirements of the scheme will now be charged £12.50 for each day they drive inside the zone.

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

For those drivers who are considering whether or not to sell their car and upgrade to a vehicle that will not be subject to emissions penalties, the key question is whether they drive enough to make the investment worthwhile. To illustrate this, let's take the example of a driver who uses an old diesel car for the daily school run through the Ulez. In this scenario, they would end up paying £62.50 per week, which amounts to an annual cost of £2,000 (assuming a standard 39-week school year).

However, the real question is how long it would take for them to recoup the investment by saving on Ulez fines after purchasing a newer car, let's say for £10,000. To help answer this question, The Telegraph has created a calculator that allows you to input the model of your car, the desired selling price, the cost of the new car, and how often you drive into the Ulez each day.