Calculate the Ulez fee or invest in a different vehicle

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【Summary】Londoners are considering selling their cars to avoid paying the new Ulez charge. The Telegraph has created a calculator to help drivers determine if it's worth buying a new car to avoid the emissions penalties. Inputting details such as the model of the car, sale price, price of the new car, and frequency of driving in the Ulez will help calculate the investment's recoupment time.

FutureCar Staff Sep 03, 2023 4:28 PM PT

Calculate the Ulez fee or invest in a different vehicle

Sadiq Khan's Ulez scheme has recently been expanded to cover the entire area within the boundaries of the M25. This means that cars which 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 to consider is whether they drive enough to make the investment worthwhile.

As an example, let's say a driver uses an old diesel car to do the school run through the Ulez every day. In this case, they would be paying £62.50 per week to do so, which amounts to an annual cost of £2,000 (assuming a standard 39-week school year).

However, the next question that arises is how long it would take for the driver to recoup the investment made in buying a newer car, which may cost around £10,000, through the savings on 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 price of the new car, and how often the car is taken into the Ulez each day.