When are Petrol and Diesel Cars Banned?

In November 2020, the UK government confirmed their plans to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. Whilst the move to ban new petrol and diesel cars might seem irrelevant now, this is an issue that isn’t going away. 

Not only has this ban been pushed forward from 2040 to 2030, but the government has already taken steps to ensure that the plan to ban new petrol and diesel cars in the UK is thriving.

In addition to this, the UK will be hosting the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November 2021, where, according to their website, they will be stressing the need to speed up the transition to zero carbon transport by phasing out petrol and diesel engines in the UK.

This is a big move for car manufacturers, sellers and road users in the UK, and we at Scrap Local want to let you know about the plan to ban new petrol and diesel cars in 2030.

We will also go through the steps that the government has put forward to ensure that the ban on new petrol and diesel cars will run as smoothly as possible for both the motor industry and UK road users.

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New Petrol and Diesel Cars Banned in 2030

In 2030, the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK.

The ban does not include petrol and diesel cars sold and bought before 2030 and registered on the road

However, as soon as 2030 begins, new petrol and diesel cars will no longer be sold to UK road users and alternative, cleaner vehicles such as electric cars are likely to rise in sales.

The government’s plan to ban new petrol and diesel cars is part of their goal to reduce air pollution by tackling the leading cause of this problem: high CO2 emissions produced by diesel and petrol engines in the UK.

To ensure this goal is achieved, the move to have new petrol and diesel cars banned in 2030 will be supported by £1.8 billion and by 2035, all new cars and vans will be entirely zero-emission at the tailpipe.

Can I Still Drive My Petrol or Diesel Car after 2030?

Understandably, a big plan is bound to get people talking, and there has been some confusion surrounding whether UK road users can use petrol and diesel cars following the ban in 2030.

As mentioned before, the plan to ban petrol and diesel cars in 2030 only means that new petrol and diesel cars will no longer be sold and bought in the UK.

If you have bought and registered your petrol or diesel car before 2030, you will still be allowed to drive it.

In addition, some vehicles could be exempt from the move to have new petrol and diesel cars banned in 2030.

According to an article by the official GOV.UK website, hybrid cars and vans that can produce zero emissions whilst travelling a specific distance will be exempt from the plan to have petrol and diesel cars banned in the UK until 2035.

Unfortunately, the distance that hybrid cars and vans will be expected to travel without producing carbon emissions has not been stated yet.

What’s Happening Now?

To make sure that new petrol and diesel cars are phased out successfully, the government has encouraged road users in the UK to transition quickly and easily to cleaner vehicles before 2030.

When Will Electric Cars Take Over?

Currently, electric cars are better for the environment as they produce fewer emissions than petrol and diesel cars.

According to the official GOV.UK website, almost £500 million will be spent during the next four years on the development and mass-scale production of electric car batteries in the UK.

Yet despite being eco-friendly, electric cars are notorious for having a high price tag.

Additionally, some road users looking to purchase an electric car are concerned about the number of charge points available to power these vehicles. After all, what good is a clean car if you can’t use it?  

Luckily, the UK government has already taken steps to make electric cars more appealing to potential buyers.

Will Electric Car Prices Come Down?

Currently, it’s unclear whether the upfront cost for electric cars will come down.

However, the official GOV reported on the 18th of November 2020 UK website that the government promised to give £582 million in grants to people buying zero or ultra-low-emission cars in the UK. 

This was done to encourage more road users to transition to eco-friendly vehicles before 2030.

Where Can I Charge My Electric Car?

So far, the government has helped to set up 140,000 residential charge points and 9,000 charge points in company car parks by providing grants for homeowners, businesses and local authorities. 

There has also been an increase in the number of rapid charge points on major roads and motorways in England alone.

The official GOV.UK website claims that currently, drivers are no more than 25 miles away from a rapid charge point in England!

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