On October 25th 2021, London's ULEZ (Ultra Low Emissions Zone) will expand to 18 times its existing size, stretching beyond central London, up-to (but not including) the North and South Circular roads. This means, any vehicle driving within or passing through the zone - including residents - will be subject to a daily charge, which starts from £12.50 for light vehicles. The zone will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year (apart from Christmas day).
350,000 motorists will be affected by October's expansion. The majority of diesel vans and cars on the road don't meet the Euro 6 engine emissions standard required for compliance (typically cars bought pre-2015). And petrol cars will need to meet Euro 4 standards – typically any car sold after 2006.
If you live within the parameters of the zone or regularly drive through, it's important to understand if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant or exempt. Non-compliant vehicles will even face the daily charge for something like a quick trip to the supermarket, or grabbing a coffee on the weekend. Over a year these daily fees can really add up - those using their car every day in the zone could face over £4.5k in charges.
Use our ULEZ number plate checker to see if your car is compliant.
If your vehicle doesn't meet today's emission standards, it may be time to make the switch to a cleaner vehicle. Electric cars are of course the greenest choice - and MyCarMatch's car consultation package always comes with guidance on making the transition smoothly. But if you aren't ready to make the change to electric there are many hybrid, petrol and diesel cars that meet the standards.
Tina's experience switching to a 'cleaner' ULEZ compliant car
We recently helped Maida Vale resident Tina Simic replace her diesel Audi when she realised it didn't meet the new emission standards.
Tina wanted her ULEZ upgrade to be a small family SUV which would be cheap to run, and fun to drive.
After an initial consultation where we assessed Tina's vehicle usage and long term wants and needs for a car, we came up with shortlist of vehicle recommendations. Tina chose from our shortlist and we set about sourcing the vehicle. At MyCarMatch, as well as searching via private sellers, we have access to dealer only auctions and can find some brilliant secret deals.
"It’s so great to be driving a modern, safe and economical car. It made me realise how bad my old car really was. Anthony helped with the whole process and kept looking until we found just the right car." - Tina Simic
After some searching we found a 2015 Nissan Qashqai, which has a very economical petrol engine and met all her requirements.
After haggling on Tina's behalf for a great deal, we set about the crucial step of checking the car over before giving it to its new owner.
Before transferring a vehicle over to a client we will always give it a thorough clean. Which includes a 'snow foam', followed by the two bucket method with wash mits, and a careful towel drying. Only then is it possible to inspect thoroughly for damage, check the paint for signs of neglect, or poor repaint, and decide on the level of preparation required before delivering it to the new owner.
In the case of this 6 year old Nissan Qashqai, the previous owner had clearly looked after the car, with just some light swirl marks from previous supermarket car washes (which always damage paint), and some chips on door edges which can be carefully touched up.
If you'd like us to help you find a used or new ULEZ compliant car, drop us a message.
Why is the ULEZ expanding?
The ULEZ currently covers central London and was introduced by Sadiq Khan in April 2019, in an effort to reduce harmful vehicle emissions in the capital.
Transport is the largest source of CO2 emissions (34%- 2019) in the UK - the majority of which come from road transport. Thousands of deaths every year in London are now attributed to air pollution.
TFL have said the existing zone has led to 'significant improvements' in air quality and expect expansion of the zone to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by around 30% across the city.
The new charge is likely to force positive behaviour change and the prediction is that 80% of cars will be compliant in advance of October, with just 20% having to pay.
The ULEZ is just one of a series of initiatives to try and reduce emissions and help make London a healthier place to live in, work in and visit.
ULEZ Zone: 2021 map
On October 25th 2021, the ULEZ zone will expand up-to the A501 in the North, the A4202 in the West, and the A3204 in the South and East.
The map below shows the new area covered. TFL have created a postcode check tool to enable you to check if you'll be driving through, or currently reside within the zone.
Finding ULEZ approved cars
Finding a ULEZ compliant car doesn't need to be a stressful experience.
All brand new cars are now ULEZ compliant as it has become mandatory to meet the new emission standards. Additionally almost all petrol cars built after 2006 and diesel cars built after September 2015 are ULEZ compliant. Prices of used diesel cars that meet the standard are also falling as more begin to be re-sold.
And of course, electric cars are ULEZ compliant.
So, we have a decent market from which to find your car match. Whether you're too busy to spend the time needed to buy your perfect car, or simply don’t want the hassle, we can help with the whole car purchase process from start to finish - the hunt, the haggle, the check over and even delivery to your door-step. Get in touch today.
