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Original poster

Ulez expansion - live within new zone, do i need new car then?

137 replies

Redditchat · 14/02/2023 22:33

Just that. I live in the expansion zone, car is diesel, need to drive it daily for school & work but have zero money to buy a new one.

Has something been announced for people like me?

Also i don't qualify for low income, im just above it but still stretched.

OP posts:
deuxgarcons · 14/02/2023 22:40

Yep same happened to us. We had our diesel car for 10 years with 50k on clock and would have kept except would have had to pay every time we used it. So had to buy a new car. So how much environmental damage caused buying a new one compared to keeping old one given what's involved environmentally in car production and shipping etc etc. It's shit!

edwinbear · 14/02/2023 22:41

I’m in the zone that was expanded last year, or was it the year before - up to the south circular anyway. We had to replace both our cars, it cost us a fortune, and no, there was no help. I’m still cross about it.

Badbudgeter · 14/02/2023 22:41

If you’re a resident of the zone you can apply for a 90% discount.

edwinbear · 14/02/2023 22:42

@Badbudgeter that wasn’t the case when it expanded to the south circular.

cestlavielife · 14/02/2023 22:44

Badbudgeter · 14/02/2023 22:41

If you’re a resident of the zone you can apply for a 90% discount.

Not for ulez

These discounts do not apply to the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Find out about paying the Congestion Charge. To qualify for the 90% residents' discount, you must live within the Congestion Charge residents' discount zone. Our location checker will confirm if your address is within the residents' discount zone.

cestlavielife · 14/02/2023 22:45

Risk Paying 12.50 per day or buy a new car

edwinbear · 14/02/2023 22:46

Yep, the 90% discount is on the congestion charge. Not ULEZ.

tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/cc-provisional-resident-before-you-begin-33357

Astralitzia · 14/02/2023 23:02

Are there truly no public transport options? You're in London so there are probably more than one or two ways of getting to school and work?

lemonsaretheonlyfruit · 14/02/2023 23:07

I was in your position OP when the South circular ULEZ came in. My diesel was fine but had to sell (to we buy any car) - got hardly anything for it as not many buyers for Diesel cars due to intro of ULEZ . I had to get a loan out to buy a fairly crap petrol car that I will be paying off for the next 3 years

userno777 · 14/02/2023 23:09

Hardly anyone within Greater London actually NEEDS a car. Public transport is great.

TwigTheWonderKid · 14/02/2023 23:13

userno777 · 14/02/2023 23:09

Hardly anyone within Greater London actually NEEDS a car. Public transport is great.

This ^

We've got get rid of our car. Public transport is frequent where we live and there are Zipcars on our street if we ever absolutely need one. Also means DSs are much more self-reliant.

EmmaEmerald · 14/02/2023 23:27

OP you'll need to do the sums on whether it's better to pay the fees than change your car.

I agree, it's shit.

EmmaEmerald · 14/02/2023 23:29

PS probably wait and see what happens as some councils are challenging it - there may be hope of help yet!

blippyissilly · 14/02/2023 23:34

Could you sell the diesel and buy an older petrol car?

Older petrol cars are exempt compared to the equivalent aged diesels

QuietlyConfident · 14/02/2023 23:37

Have you actually checked whether you need to pay the charge on your specific car? We're not psychic, and don't know your car's age, make and model.
tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle/?intcmp=52335

whatdoidonowffs · 15/02/2023 07:13

userno777 · 14/02/2023 23:09

Hardly anyone within Greater London actually NEEDS a car. Public transport is great.

How do you suggest I get to work for five in the morning or home when I finish in the early hours then ? I live in dartford and work in rainham Essex
no busses or trains across the river
I’ve had to sell a decent car that was so low on emissions I only paid £30 per year tax on it and buy an older petrol car either that or pay £15 per day just to go to work

Optionally · 15/02/2023 07:20

It’s all very well saying you don’t need a car in London, and yes we do all commute by tube. But I can’t get the tube to DD’s football matches all over Surrey or to visit my parents four hours drive away in the rural South West.

I think it’ll be cheapest for us to keep our old diesel and just pay on the two days a week it’s impossible to do the necessary journey by public transport. It’s either that, or stop dd doing doing football…

Pigeonchested · 15/02/2023 07:21

That really sucks. And all the ‘use public transport’ people really piss me off - even in London, if you’re working weird shifts/strange hours outside the usual 9-5 then that’s not always possible. I wish people would realise that not everyone does regular hours.

SpotOnMyBot · 15/02/2023 07:21

It's a pita. We sold our diesel a year or so ago in anticipation of this and bought a totally crap old petrol car.

We need a car because dp has to collect his dcs when he has them (they live in a rural village with no public transport) and bring them to ours.

Not everyone can do without a car!

LlynTegid · 15/02/2023 07:23

No, though you have until August to get a car which meets the requirements, or have a plan to use public transport/walking/cycling instead.

Okunevo · 15/02/2023 07:24

Does it necessarily mean a new new car? I've looked up both my 2009 car and my new 2013 one and I would only have to pay congestion charge in London on either, fine to drive in other cities.

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 15/02/2023 07:27

userno777 · 14/02/2023 23:09

Hardly anyone within Greater London actually NEEDS a car. Public transport is great.

Do you think people in London don't actually go anywhere else?

KendrickLamaze · 15/02/2023 07:29

Have you checked your car isn't compliant? I drive a not very new diesel and it's perfectly compliant or both LEZ and ULEZ.

DanseAvecLesLoup · 15/02/2023 07:35

userno777 · 14/02/2023 23:09

Hardly anyone within Greater London actually NEEDS a car. Public transport is great.

Except that in plenty of places public transport is a bit shit or you need to make multiple changes so that 15 min car journey turns into an hour plus of fannying about with connections. Good luck doing the family weekly shop without a car. I actually agree with the thrust of direction insofar as clean air policy, I just think the way ULEZ has been rolled out is very short sighted. Sadiq Khan is also in a spot of bother over the manipulation of public consultation data and a number of councils are now refusing to install cameras as the financial impact on those least able to afford it becomes clear.

QueenofFox · 15/02/2023 07:43

Why can’t the weekly shop be online? We scrapped our car and use zip car or a longer term rental company for trips to the south west. It works out cheaper than buying a new car.