Old cars in the London area.
Posted: October 14th, 2023, 4:17 pm
About 15 years ago, I bought a 7 year old low mileage diesel car, planning towards my old age. I was thinking that as I aged, our mileage would decrease, and diesel was the economic fuel. At that time, it was vaguely encouraged by the Government.
Since then, diesel cars have become unacceptable, especially in cities, and now in London, with the ULEZ zone entering force, my diesel car would cost £12.50 each day to drive in the zone. Parked = free, but being used, £12.50 per day. The other discouragement is that as the car has aged, its become less reliable, and if sold, was only worth about £450.00 plus was getting used less and less. The days of pleasure in driving (for me) seem to have gone.
Enter that nice Mr. Sadiq Khan. To bribe Londoners to get rid of the cars that are so dangerous, he offered a Scrappage Allowance.
The economics were simple - my old car worth about £450 was offered and approved for scrappage. I received £281.00 scrap value from the disposal company, and then £2000 from that nice Mr. Khan.
I don't have a car at the moment. I do have £2281.00 in the bank, and don't pay car insurance and road tax each month. It may offend my social standing, but each month, we say: "Thank you Mr. Khan! Thank you TFL! " Not only that, think of all the lives we have improved by our generous gesture of giving up our car.
Perhaps worth considering if any of you are in London area, and have elderly vehicles. Afaik the £2000 is a flat sum, irrespective of vehicle. It just need to be taxed,MOT'd and insured, and you can offer it to TFL for approval. If they've still got funds, and they give you the go ahead, you know what to do. One car per family apparently.
Since then, diesel cars have become unacceptable, especially in cities, and now in London, with the ULEZ zone entering force, my diesel car would cost £12.50 each day to drive in the zone. Parked = free, but being used, £12.50 per day. The other discouragement is that as the car has aged, its become less reliable, and if sold, was only worth about £450.00 plus was getting used less and less. The days of pleasure in driving (for me) seem to have gone.
Enter that nice Mr. Sadiq Khan. To bribe Londoners to get rid of the cars that are so dangerous, he offered a Scrappage Allowance.
The economics were simple - my old car worth about £450 was offered and approved for scrappage. I received £281.00 scrap value from the disposal company, and then £2000 from that nice Mr. Khan.
I don't have a car at the moment. I do have £2281.00 in the bank, and don't pay car insurance and road tax each month. It may offend my social standing, but each month, we say: "Thank you Mr. Khan! Thank you TFL! " Not only that, think of all the lives we have improved by our generous gesture of giving up our car.
Perhaps worth considering if any of you are in London area, and have elderly vehicles. Afaik the £2000 is a flat sum, irrespective of vehicle. It just need to be taxed,MOT'd and insured, and you can offer it to TFL for approval. If they've still got funds, and they give you the go ahead, you know what to do. One car per family apparently.