Do you have a goldmine on your driveway? Full list of ULEZ-friendly cars that AREN’T electric & could make you a fortune
CAR owners could have a gold mine sitting on their driveway as demand surges for ULEZ-friendly options.
If your vehicle is non-electric and complies with the emissions rules, it could be worth a fortune.
Many assume that their car has to be electric to avoid the charge, but petrol and diesel models that meet certain pollution restrictions are also great options.
Given how expensive electric vehicles (EVs) are, ULEZ beaters that are powered by internal combustion have seen their value rocket.
This has seen even small cars given a big bump in value.
For example, the 2015 Fiat 500 Vintage 57 usually sells second-hand for between £3,000 and £5,000.
But new market data from online car marketplace Motorway showed that the model has attracted bids of up to £5,605 in recent sales.
Meanwhile, a 2015 BMW 330 D M Sport Auto usually sell for between £13,000 and £15,000 but has seen people snap them up for as much as £16,435.
The trend continues with the 2018 Mini Cooper, which has leapt in price from around £13,000 to as much as £15,219.
A VW Golf GTI TCR S-A from 2016 would usually fetch around a similar price but have been sold for up to £17,149 since motorists began to feel the ULEZ pinch.
The inflation has even made its way to the pricier end of the scale, with a 2020 Porche 911 Turbo S now selling for as much as £201,946.
That’s over £45,000 more than it cost when brand new three years ago.
There are also a number of hybrid cars that have jumped in price as drivers look to beat emissions charges while retaining at least some element of petrol power.
For example, the VW Golf GTE from 2021 has seen its value grow from around £40,000 to £44,227.
What is ULEZ?
ULEZ stands for the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone.
It is the area of London between the North Circular and South Circular roads.
Owners of vehicles that do not comply with the emissions standards enforced by Transport for London have to pay £12.50 each day they enter the zone.
It runs 24 hours a day every day of the year except Christmas Day and applies to all cars motorcycles, vans and specialist vehicles up to 3.5tonnes and minibuses up to 5 tonnes.
These vehicles have to meet Euro 4 standards for petrol models and Euro 6 for diesels.
You can check online if your vehicle is compliant but, as a general rule, petrol cars made after January 2006 and diesel cars made after September 2015 are compliant.
Always double check before driving into London.
Electric cars and zero-emission vehicles are exempt, as are classic cars that fall into the historical vehicle tax bracket, which usually covers vehicles built more than 40 years ago on a rolling basis.
The zone is set to be expanded on August 29 to cover all London boroughs.
Similar schemes in the form of Clean Air Zones have also popped up in cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield.