Offloading quality old cars ahead of ULEZ deadline

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 the platform has jumped to 30% in July, up from 20% in November 2022 when the ULEZ expansion was announced.

carwow, an 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 due to ULEZ.

Sally Foote, carwow's UK managing director, noted that car buyers outside major metropolitan areas, where these schemes are less likely to be implemented, are actively searching for good quality used cars that don't need to be ULEZ-compliant. She mentioned that non-compliant cars in good condition, especially those with full service history photos, are in high demand in other parts of the UK.

However, Foote believes that the trend of selling non-compliant cars will gain even more momentum as more consumers become aware of the implications of the ULEZ changes. A recent survey conducted by carwow found that 64% of Londoners are unsure if their cars would incur charges under the new ULEZ expansion. As 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 some confusion surrounding the ULEZ scheme, carwow's research indicates that there is broad support for these zones. 40% of Londoners surveyed supported the ULEZ and other new low emission zones, while only 31% opposed them. More than half (56%) of Londoners agreed that the ULEZ expansion and other new low emission zones were effective measures.

FutureCar Staff