The Mayor of London has announced that ‘tens of thousands of more Londoners’ will have access to the ULEZ scrappage scheme, as the Ultra Low Emission Zone is set to expand across the capital this summer.
The £110 million scheme will now see Londoners receiving child benefits, charities, and all small businesses in the capital eligible to apply to help replace polluting vehicles ahead of the ULEZ expansion, due August 29, 2023.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has said: ‘I’ve listened to families and small businesses in outer London who want more support, and I’m pleased to be able to announce today a major expansion to the scheme run by TfL to ensure we can help them.
‘Expanding the ULEZ was an incredibly difficult decision for me. But with toxic air damaging the health of millions of Londoners and the need to tackle the climate crisis, I believe the cost of inaction would simply be far too high a price to pay. ‘
But who is eligible for the ULEZ scrappage scheme, and how do you apply?
Here is what you need to know.
Who is eligible for ULEZ scrappage scheme?
Currently, if you are a charity, sole trader, or business with ten or fewer employees registered in London, you may be eligible for government grants to help you replace or retrofit your van or minibus.
You can apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to scrap your old van or minibus, up to £7,000 to retrofit it, or up to £9,500 to replace it with a fully electric vehicle. The grant for a fully electric van is £7,500.
NEW: Expanding the ULEZ will bring cleaner air to outer London, but I know some have concerns.
Thatâs why today weâve announced more financial supportâexpanding TfLâs scrappage scheme to all families in LDN on Child Benefit & more help for LDN's small businesses & charities. pic.twitter.com/q3hsfKW8sX
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) June 1, 2023
If you live in London and receive means-tested or non-means-tested disability benefits, you may be eligible for cash grants up to £2,000 to get rid of your non-ULEZ-compliant cars, £1000 for motorcycles, or £5,000 to scrap or retrofit wheelchair accessible vehicles to the ULEZ standard. Additionally, you can also obtain bus and tram passes.
From the end of July, the scrappage scheme will also be open to:
- Londoners in receipt of child benefit
- All small businesses registered in London (with less than 50 employees)
- Registered charities operating in London will now be able to scrap up to three vehicles
Mr Khan said: ‘Anyone receiving child benefit and all small businesses in London will now be able to apply for thousands of pounds of support from the end of July.
‘The current scheme can already help couples in London earning up to £40,000 per year, and the expanded scheme will be open to all families claiming child benefit, which supports those earning under £50,000 the most.’
Full details on who is eligible for the ULEZ scrappage scheme can be found on the TfL website.
The scheme is also to be kept under ongoing review.
How to apply for ULEZ scrappage scheme
If you believe you qualify, you will need to apply via two sub-schemes, which are based on vehicle type and applicant:
How to check if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant
According to the Mayor of London, the vast majority of vehicles in the capital are already ULEZ-compliant.
However, you can find out if your vehicle is ULEZ compliant by using the online service and entering your number plate.
MORE : Anti-ULEZ protesters claim London air is ‘not toxic at all’
MORE : Are disabled vehicles exempt from ULEZ?
MORE : How do Ulez cameras work and how many are in London?
