Driving people to offload 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, there has been a significant increase in the number of Londoners listing non-ULEZ-compliant cars on the platform. In July, 30% of all listings were non-compliant, compared to 20% in November 2022 when the ULEZ expansion was announced.

The surge in listings 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, noted that car buyers outside major metropolitan areas are actively seeking good quality used cars that do not need to be ULEZ-compliant. There is still high demand for non-compliant cars in other parts of the UK.

However, Foote predicts that the trend will accelerate as more consumers become aware of the implications of the ULEZ changes. Many drivers are currently confused about whether their cars will incur charges under the new ULEZ expansion. A survey found that 64% of Londoners are unsure about the impact on their vehicles. As more people realize the impending increase in ownership costs or face fines from September onwards, there is likely to be a shift in supply and demand for affected cars across the capital.

Despite the confusion, carwow's research shows that there is broad support for the ULEZ schemes. 40% of Londoners support the zones, while only 31% oppose them. Additionally, over half (56%) of Londoners surveyed believe that the ULEZ expansion and other low emission zones are effective measures.

FutureCar Staff