When will petrol and diesel cars be banned?

The United Kingdom has moved the deadline forward to stop sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2040 to 2030.

Read our latest blog post to find out how the incoming diesel and petrol car ban affects you and your car.

Key Takeaways

• What are the government’s plans for petrol and diesel cars?
• Will I still be able to drive my car after 2030?
• What does the ban mean for drivers of classic cars?
• Will low-emission zones require me to change cars after 2030?
• Will I still be able to buy a hybrid after 2030?
• What will happen to the value of my petrol or diesel car?
• Will I be forced to scrap my car in 2030?

What are the government’s plans for petrol and diesel cars?

The UK government plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030, a move that was originally set for 2040 but was brought forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in November 2020.

Will I still be able to drive my car after 2030?

The ban only affects new car sales so you can still drive your used petrol or diesel car as the ban only affects new cars. You won’t be required to switch to hybrid or electric cars immediately and can change to an alternative fuel car when you’re ready.

Here are 5 reasons why you should sell your diesel car today.

What does the ban mean for drivers of classic cars?

The petrol and diesel ban refers to the ban on new car sales only. Classic car drivers are not affected at this time.

After the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars, you can still buy and sell used petrol and diesel cars, so there’s no need to switch to electric or hybrids if you choose to stick with a pre-loved petrol or diesel car.

Will low-emission zones require me to change cars after 2030?

Low emission zones, such as Clean Air Zones (CAZ), are already in place in some cities to improve air quality. These zones require non-compliant vehicles to pay a daily charge, but it does not mean that you need to change your current petrol or diesel car.

You can check whether your vehicle meets the CAZ emissions standards by entering your registration number in the car checker.

ULEZ Checker

Will I still be able to buy a hybrid after 2030?

You can still buy a used hybrid after 2030. However, the situation for new hybrids is a bit more complicated. The UK Government has stated that only hybrids capable of driving a “significant distance” with zero carbon emissions will be sold as new between 2030 and 2035.

This means that mild hybrids will no longer be sold as new after 2030, and from 2035, new plug-in hybrids will also be phased out.

What will happen to the value of my petrol or diesel car?

As demand for traditional combustion engine cars falls and more cities introduce ultra-low emissions zones, resale values are expected to decrease. As 2030 approaches, used car values may plummet as manufacturers discount heavily.

Sell your car before it’s value drops as a result of the upcoming petrol and diesel ban.

Will I be forced to scrap my car in 2030?

The 2030 ban on petrol and diesel cars only applies to the sale of new combustion engine cars, so there is no need to scrap your existing car. The average lifespan of a car is 14 years, which means cars bought in late 2029 could still be on the road until at least 2044.