Originally, from 2030 the sale of new petrol and diesel cars was to be banned in the UK, with the sale of some hybrid cars being allowed to continue until 2035. However, the Government has recently announced that it will be pushing the ban back 5 years, with the ban now taking place in 2035.​

Part of the government’s 10-point ‘green industrial revolution’, the ban is undoubtedly set to shake up the motoring industry in a big way. As for motorists, you likely have a fair share of questions concerning how the changes could affect you.

But before you go scrapping your existing car in favour of a shiny new electric model, we’ve answered the most frequently asked questions surrounding the 2030 ban, so you know what to expect when it comes into effect eight years from now.

Why are new petrol and diesel cars being banned?

The ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars is being rolled out to protect the environment and speed up the move towards zero-emission vehicles. Since petrol cars produce CO2, and the UK has a legal target to cut greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2050, the ban would significantly reduce carbon emissions – which currently make up around a fifth of all harmful emissions in the UK.

It's also hoped that the new strategy will create jobs. Part of the wider £12 billion ‘green industrial revolution’, the government has stated that the ban has the potential to create 250,000 jobs as the country invests more in battery technology, carbon capture and green energy.

Why was the ban pushed back?

The ban on the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles has been pushed back largely due to Government concerns that the previous timeline was too quick for manufacturers and consumers to implement.

Manufacturers have expressed concern that this may affect their internal plans, but acknowledge that this gives consumers more time to plan the logistics and financials of converting to fully electric motoring.

Will hybrid cars be banned in 2035?

When the ban on petrol and diesel cars was initially announced, hybrid vehicles were partially excluded with only short-range and mild-hybrids being included in the ban. When the Government pushed the policy back by five years, it was also announced that the 2035 ban would include hybrid models, bringing everything in line.

Are trucks, vans and other commercial vehicles also affected by the petrol and diesel ban?

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Will I still be able to drive my current petrol and diesel car?

Absolutely. The ban doesn’t mean you can’t drive a petrol or diesel car. The government have stressed it is only the sale of new petrol and diesel cars that will be banned.

This means that everything you’re used to doing, whether that’s filling up a petrol station or having your car serviced, will carry on for years to come.

Can I still buy a second-hand petrol or diesel car after 2030?

Like the above, the ban only affects the sale of new vehicles, so you’ll still be able to buy and sell used petrol or diesel cars after 2030. For the same reason, you’ll also be able to buy and sell used hybrids after 2035, too. 

What will happen to the value of my petrol or diesel car?

Unfortunately, the resale value of typical petrol and diesel cars is likely to be negatively affected due to falling demand. Ultra-low emission zones (ULEZ) will also play their part in this reduced value too.

Introduced in London in 2019, such areas were introduced as a way of encouraging people to drive cars less and get around via alternative means. Drivers entering ULEZs have to pay a charge if their vehicle does not meet certain emissions standards.

By the end of 2022, there’s a chance you could be affected too; a total of 15 cities have plans to follow the capital in implementing ULEZs including Birmingham, Portsmouth and Sheffield.

Are electric vehicles expensive?

Generally, pure-electric cars are more expensive to make. At Brindley, an MG ZS starts at £17,795 but its all-electric equivalent starts at £30,495. So, certainly, the initial cost of an electric vehicle is more expensive.

With that said, electric vehicles are likely to cost you less over the course of ownership. Along with being cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars, their low maintenance costs also make them a cost-effective alternative.

Additionally, when the 2035 ban comes into effect, sales will increase. As a result, the cost of producing electric vehicles will decrease and prices will naturally reduce. It’s thought that by the 2030s, the upfront cost of electric vehicles will be on the same level as petrol and diesel cars are currently.

Are there any financial incentives to buying an electric car?

The government has reduced the number of grants to include wheelchair-accessible vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds now only, small and large vans, small and large trucks, and taxis.

Although the government has wound down many grant schemes, EV motorists also pay zero road tax, are exempt from the congestion charge, pay less for servicing and pay less on electricity per mile compared to petrol and diesel, meaning they are still an attractive option for many financially-conscious drivers.

How do I charge an electric car?

If you don’t have off-street parking, then charging your electric car at home might prove a problem. Luckily, there are ways and means that either exist or are in development to remedy this issue.

Along with an increase in the number of charging stations around the country, chargers that pop out from curbs and lamp post chargers have also been installed throughout the UK. We should expect to see more of these as more and more drivers make the switch over to electric vehicles.

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