London cars that don't meet Ulez standards will be shipped to Ukraine

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From today, owners of cars in London that do not meet the standards of the capital's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) will be able to ship their cars to Ukraine to support humanitarian and medical needs in the country.

In an initiative by TfL, the British-Ukrainian Aid Agency (Bua) and the Ukrainian Embassy, ​​applicants to the Ulez scrappage scheme can donate their vehicles in exchange for the same payment they would otherwise receive.

The vehicles will be used to transport vulnerable people, medical personnel and aid supplies. Since the Russian invasion began in March 2022, Ukraine's infrastructure has been severely damaged, resulting in compromised access to medical services.

The scheme will be open to all London residents, small businesses and charities with an eligible vehicle, subject to availability.

Under Ulez, vehicles must meet Euro 4 emissions standards, which means they produce no more than 1 gram of carbon monoxide per kilometer, no more than 0.10 grams of total hydrocarbon emissions per kilometer, and no more than 0.08 grams of nitric oxide emissions per kilometer. .

Non-compliant cars will have to pay £12.50 per day to drive within the zone, which was first launched in central London in 2019 and expanded to all London boroughs in August 2023. According to the mayor's office, around 200,000 cars drive illegally in London on an average day.

The Ulez charge comes amid rising car insurance premiums and higher costs for petrol and diesel. Although oil prices have fallen from their peak following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, they are still at high levels.

The Mayor of London has set aside £210m for a scrappage scheme, under which car owners can claim up to £2,000 and motorcycle owners £1,000. Owners of wheelchair-accessible vehicles can claim a scrappage fee of £10,000 or a modification fee of £6,000.

The London Ambulance Service also donated 50 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine. Although its vehicles do not charge any fees to drive within Ulez, the company is phasing out non-compliant vehicles.

Christina Calderato said: “Londoners have a long history of helping people in need outside the UK – the extension of this scheme will allow them to play a role in providing more care to those affected by war. Important humanitarian and medical assistance.” Director of Transport Strategy and Policy, TfL.

Eligible owners will be able to apply on TfL’s website, and Bua will assist with transporting the vehicles to Ukraine and provide customers with documentation to receive the grant.

Eleanor Brown, an administrator in Forest Hill, south London, plans to donate her Land Rover to the scheme.

“I can't stand the thought of it having to be scrapped, so this new scheme from TfL is the perfect outcome. I hope many other vehicles will do the same,” she said.