Petrol and diesel ban brought forward to 2030

🚨 UPDATED – 21st Sept 2023:

Rishi Sunak confirms he’s delaying ban on new petrol and diesel cars.

Rishi Sunak has now announced the petrol and diesel ban in 2023 will be pushed back by 5 years!

Mr Sunak said this would give businesses “more time to prepare”.

He also said people would still be allowed to buy secondhand diesel and petrol cars after that date and this would align the UK’s approach with countries across Europe, Canada and many US states.

What is the ban on petrol and diesel cars UK?

In 2020, Boris Johnson announced that petrol and diesel vehicles will no longer be sold in the UK in 2030. The original plan had been scheduled for 2040 but Johnson announced that it would be brought forward by a decade to tackle climate change.

The petrol and diesel ban will mean that no new petrol or diesel vehicles will be on sale in the UK after 2030 but hybrids will still remain on sale till 2035. The ban comes as part of the 10-point plan to make the UK carbon-neutral by 2050.

The prime minister has announced that he will invest £2.8 billion in electric vehicles, increasing the number of charging points across the UK and also creating batteries which last longer. The plan also includes the creation of the first UK town to be heated entirely by hydrogen.

Why are petrol and diesel cars being banned in the UK?

As the UK looks toward their net zero by 2050 plan, part of the problem is the amount of CO2 released by petrol or diesel vehicles. To reach net zero, the UK would need to not produce more CO2 than we get rid of. To help tackle the rate of climate change, the ban on all new petrol and diesel cars means that no combustion engine vehicles can be manufactured or sold in the UK. It’s good news for the used car finance market though as second cars will be exempt from the rule. If a further transition appears feasible then the ban could be brought forward to an earlier date. However, as of 2023, the ban still remains in place for 2030. 

When will the ban come into play? 

So far, the diesel and petrol car ban UK is scheduled for 2035. However, the government are optimistic and has not ruled out bringing the ban forward again if it is feasible. 2030 is still quite a way away and drivers can still enjoy the benefit of getting a brand-new car that is petrol or diesel. Find out which petrol car to buy this year. However, many car manufacturers have already started adopting a clean way of living and some of the best-selling cars of the year were electric cars last year!

What will the petrol and diesel ban 2030 mean for drivers?

For many drivers, there may be a few concerns around the petrol and diesel ban in 2030. If drivers want to buy a brand-new car, they will have to get a hybrid car instead. However, hybrid cars will also be phased out by 2035 too so it’s worth keeping in mind. After 2030, you will still be able to buy and sell used petrol and diesel cars though. If you want to get a vehicle that is more eco-friendly there are many benefits of owning an electric car.

For classic car lovers, so far it is good news as you will still be able to buy and sell classic cars after the ban comes in. It is likely however that after the ban, there may be a shift away from classic cars. This may be due to the increase in electric car charging points and decreases in traditional petrol and diesel stations.