Offloading Old Cars Due to Looming ULEZ Deadline

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【Summary】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. Data from carwow shows a significant increase in the number of non-ULEZ-compliant cars being listed on its platform in July. A recent poll reveals that 27% of carwow users are selling their cars specifically due to ULEZ. The trend is likely to continue as more people become aware of the changes and the potential increase in ownership costs.

FutureCar Staff Aug 16, 2023 11:43 PM PT

Offloading Old Cars Due to Looming ULEZ Deadline

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

The increase in listings indicates a rush to sell non-compliant vehicles before the deadline. A recent poll conducted by carwow revealed that 27% of their users were selling their cars specifically due to ULEZ.

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

Foote also stated that the trend of selling non-compliant cars is expected to 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. According to carwow's research, 64% of Londoners are unsure about the potential charges. As people realize the increase in ownership costs or face fines from September onwards, there is likely to be a shift in supply and demand for affected cars in the capital.

Despite the confusion surrounding the ULEZ scheme, carwow's research found that 40% of Londoners support the zones, while only 31% oppose them. More than half (56%) of the surveyed Londoners agreed that the ULEZ expansion and other new low emission zones are effective measures.