BRITS will soon be able to trade in their petrol and diesel ULEZ-breaking cars for thousands of pounds in grants.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has offered a part surrender on the clean air scheme by handing any driver £2,000 to scrap their non-compliant vehicles.
GettyThe ULEZ will expand in London on August 29[/caption]
He will offer incentives to all drivers to scrap old petrol or diesel vehicles in a bid to calm an outcry over the scheme which is set to extend on August 29.
Ahead of the planned expansion, Sadiq Khan said financial support for vehicle scrappage would now be offered across the board.
Previously, it had been only for those with low incomes or on disability benefits.
A 2,000-pound grant will now be offered to everyone and the existing scrappage payments offered to charities, businesses and others would also be increased.
Scrappage payments for vans will also increase from £5,000 to £7,000, with small businesses able to dump three vehicles.
Mr Khan explained: “I’ve continued to listen to Londoners’ concerns in recent months.
“Every single Londoner with a non-ULEZ compliant vehicle will now be eligible for financial support.”
However, the scheme has been slammed by many – who say £2,000 is not enough.
Minister Maria Caulfield told Sky News: “I don’t think it touched the sides of people’s concerns.
“£2,000 is nothing if you’re having to replace your car.”
Meanwhile, Tory’s Conservative London Mayoral candidate Susan Hall told Mail Online: “This is too little, too late from Sadiq Khan, who is facing mounting pressure from Londoners and his own party.
“Thousands of families, small businesses and charities face financial ruin because of Sadiq Khan’s Ulez expansion, which will do next to nothing to improve air quality.”
Your vehicle must meet the required Euro emissions standard for your vehicle and emission type to meet the ULEZ emissions standard.
The Euro standards are a group of emissions controls with set limits on polluting nitrogen oxides and particulate matter from engines.
Petrol cars, along with vans, minibuses and other specialist vehicles must meet Euro 4 emission standards, which were introduced in 2006 for normal cars.
This means, generally, that petrol cars first registered in 2005 or later will be eligible to enter the ULEZ zone free of charge.
Diesel cars, meanwhile, have to meet the more stringent Euro 6 standards, which were introduced later, in 2015.
This means most diesel cars first registered in 2015 will be able to travel in the ULEZ without the £12.50 charge.
Petrol or diesel cars that were first registered before these dates may not be compliant and could fall foul of the rules.
Motorcycles must meet Euro 3 emissions standards, which were made mandatory in 2007.
Mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles registered before then may not be compliant.
You can use the ULEZ compliance check on the TfL website to verify whether or not you need to pay when driving in your vehicle.
It comes as The Sun launched our Give Us A Brake campaign to slow down the Government’s ruinous race to net zero.
Our Give Us A Brake plan calls for politicians to stop imposing pricey Ulez charging schemes and disruptive Low Traffic Neighbourhood zones.
We want the 2030 ban on new diesel and petrol cars delayed until the nation is prepared and drivers can afford the switch to electric vehicles.
The manifesto also demands ministers scrap the edict that 22 per cent of car sales must be electric by 2024.
Finally, we call for no new green motoring stealth taxes — along with a continuation of the existing fuel duty freeze.