A ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars has been brought forward to 2030
The UK government has tightened the timeframe for a ban on petrol and diesel cars to meet its climate targets. The ban was announced in July 2017 and the government proposed 2040 as the start date of the ban.
Boris Johnson moved the cut-off date from 2040 to 2035 in February 2020. The prime minister brought forward the ban again by five years in November from 2035 to 2030. The ban is part of the government’s plans for a ‘green industrial revolution’ that promises to create new jobs in a low carbon economy. It will also help the UK achieve net zero emissions by 2050. But what does the ban actually mean for petrol and diesel car owners and sellers?
Why are petrol and diesel cars being banned?
The idea behind the ban is to encourage owners of diesel and petrol cars to switch to greener car options like hybrids or electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030. The ban only affects sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles, which means you’ll still be able to scrap your car even after 2030. The government will not confiscate your vehicle. But, you still have to consider how the ban will affect the value of your car. You also have to prepare for expected changes in the future.
Will it affect the value of petrol or diesel cars?
You should expect the price of petrol and diesel cars to decline gradually in the next few years, and then plummet closer to 2030. The price of damaged vehicles will also decline. If you wish to switch to a greener car before the ban comes into force, the best plan is to sell your car before its value starts to decline. You can sell damaged cars for scrap or parts and find a second-hand car dealer to buy your diesel or petrol vehicle that is in good condition.
What is the best strategy to transition to EVs?
Both second-hand and scrap cars are still highly demanded and fetch a lot of money. Then, you’ll only need to top up a little bit of cash to get an electric car. But you don’t have to switch from your diesel or petrol car straight to an EV. If you can’t stand the idea of driving an electric car, you can buy a hybrid first then switch to an EV after a few years. Also, don’t get too accustomed or attached to your hybrid car. Although hybrids are more eco-friendly than pure-petrol cars, they use both traditional fuel and electric power. So, the government also brought forward a ban on the sale of hybrids to 2035 to nudge new car buyers towards fully electric vehicles. Banning hybrids and cars powered by combustion engines will help the country to achieve net-zero emissions.
Are there any incentives to trade in petrol or diesel cars for electric vehicles?
The Mayor of London recently unveiled scrappage schemes that allow low-income residents to trade in their petrol and diesel cars and get a £2,000 discount on green car options. Many car manufacturers are also offering scrappage schemes for their customers to trade in older diesel and petrol models and get a discount on new electric models. For example, if you own a Citroen registered before 1 January 2014, you can trade it in and save up to £5,000 on Citroen Grand C4 Space Tourer. On the other hand, if your car doesn’t meet the manufacturer’s requirements, you can sell it for parts or scrap to dealers like Easy Scrap Car Collections.
