ULEZ scrappage scheme opens to all Londoners with a non-compliant vehicle

Drivers can apply to the expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) scrappage scheme from today, ahead of the zone extension which will cover all London boroughs at the end of this month.

From today, Londoners can apply for grants to scrap their car or motorcycle that does not meet the ULEZ emissions standards before the new ULEZ rolls out on August 29.

City Hall says nine in 10 cars seen driving in outer London on an average day are already compliant with ULEZ standards so their drivers will not have to pay the ULEZ daily charge when the scheme expands.

Sadiq Khan, has promised to provide an extra £50million to help more Londoners scrap their non-compliant vehicles while increasing the amount that those eligible for the scheme can receive. 

This will take the funding for London’s biggest scrappage scheme to £160million. This is on top of the more than £60million provided for the central and inner London ULEZ.

In January, the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) opened the capital’s biggest-ever scrappage scheme giving those most in need priority. 

From January 30, low-income, disabled Londoners, sole traders, micro-businesses and charities have been able to apply for scrappage grants to transition to less-polluting vehicles.

With extra money being added to the fund and those most in need having had priority access to support, the Mayor and TfL have opened up the fund to include every single Londoner with a non-compliant car or motorcycle.

City Hall said the team overseeing the scrappage scheme are processing applications in a matter of days, so TfL and the Mayor are urging Londoners with a non-compliant car to apply now to get their scrappage grant as quickly as possible. 

All London residents with non-compliant vehicles can now apply to get £2,000 for scrapping a car or £1,000 for scrapping a motorcycle. 

Applicants can opt for a higher-value package of up to two bus and tram passes plus a lower grant. 

The payment for wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) has also increased from £5,000 to £10,000 to scrap the vehicle, or £6,000 to retrofit the WAV to achieve ULEZ standards.

Small businesses and charities applying now will also receive increased grant payments of between £6,000 and £11,500. 

London-based charities can already apply to scrap or retrofit up to three vans or minibuses, and may reapply even if they have already received a grant payment for one vehicle as part of this scrappage scheme or received a grant through the previous scrappage scheme.

Data from the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory shows that every Londoner, in every borough, is breathing air that exceeds the World Health Organisation’s guideline limits for air pollution.

Around four thousand Londoners die prematurely each year due to toxic air pollution according to Government data.

These health concerns are particularly of concern in outer London where government data shows deaths attributed to air pollution are disproportionately higher.

A year after the inner London expansion of the ULEZ, TfL data showed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations are estimated to be 46 per cent lower than they would have been in central London without the ULEZ and 21 per cent lower in inner London.

Mr Khan said: “The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was not an easy one for me to make, but it is necessary to reduce toxic air pollution, protect the health of Londoners and help tackle the climate emergency.

“Together we can help build a better, greener city for all Londoners.”

(Picture: TfL)