London residents are eligible for up to £5,000 ($6,200) as part of a £110 million ($136 million) program aimed at reducing pollution by scrapping older, high-emission vehicles. The initiative, designed for low-income and disabled drivers, is specifically targeting cars that don’t meet the standards set by the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) in London.
Currently, only the area within the city’s North and South Circular Roads fall under the ULEZ rules, but starting in August 2023, all 32 boroughs of London will require petrol cars to meet Euro 4 emission standards (2006) and diesel vehicles to meet Euro 6 standards (2015).
Full £5,000 grants are available for drivers with wheelchair-accessible vehicles, and the money can be used for either scrapping the non-compliant vehicle or retrofitting it to meet ULEZ standards. Retrofitting involves adding hardware to bring the vehicle up to current emission standards or converting it to electric power. Drivers receiving means-tested benefits such as Income Support, Universal Credit, and Carer’s Allowance can receive up to £2,000 ($2,500) in scrappage grants, while businesses and charities can receive up to £9,500 ($11,750).
To qualify for the grant, the vehicle must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), have current road tax and MOT certification, and the owner must have been the registered keeper for at least 12 months. The vehicle cannot have previously received money from any TfL scrappage scheme.
