Driving people offload quality old cars

author: FutureCar Staff    

London motorists are rushing to sell their non-compliant vehicles ahead of the expansion of London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) on August 29. According to new data from carwow, the number of Londoners listing non-ULEZ-compliant cars on its platform has jumped to 30% in July, up from 20% in November 2022 when the ULEZ expansion was announced.

The online marketplace suggests that this increase indicates a rush to sell non-compliant vehicles before the deadline. A recent poll conducted by carwow revealed that 27% of its users were selling their cars specifically because of the ULEZ.

Sally Foote, carwow's UK managing director, explains that car buyers outside major metropolitan areas, where these schemes are less likely to be implemented, are actively looking for good-quality used cars that do not need to be ULEZ-compliant. Foote also notes that there is still high demand for non-compliant cars in other parts of the UK, especially those with a full service history.

However, Foote believes that the trend of selling non-compliant vehicles is likely to accelerate as more consumers become aware of the implications of the ULEZ changes. A recent survey found that 64% of Londoners are unsure if their cars will incur charges under the new ULEZ expansion. As people realize the increase in ownership costs or receive fines from September onwards, there is expected to be a shift in supply and demand for affected cars in the capital.

Despite some confusion surrounding the ULEZ scheme, carwow's research shows that there is broad support for the zones. 40% of Londoners support the ULEZ and other low emission zones, compared to 31% who oppose them. Additionally, more than half of the surveyed Londoners (56%) believe that the ULEZ expansion and other new low emission zones are effective measures.

FutureCar Staff