Drivers in Scotland are being urged to follow expert advice when selling their cars ahead of the launch of new Low Emission Zone restrictions, forcing them to pay daily fines for non-compliant vehicles.
From June 1, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee, will begin enforcing LEZ fines which will see more polluting petrol and diesel vehicles charged to drive in popular areas.
Motorists could be hit with a £60 fine every day, although this will be cut by half if paid within two weeks. The scheme aims to reduce the number of vehicles in the city centre.
Drivers who have a second breach of LEZ rules will be slapped with a £120 fine, while a third breach will cost £240, with hopes the expensive charges will deter motorists from breaking the rules.
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Low Emission Zones in Scotland will begin charging from June 1
PAHowever, as the rules come into effect in the upcoming months, many drivers are now looking to sell their non-compliant cars. This trend has been spotted around the UK following the Ulez expansion and more Clean Air Zone schemes launching.
Demand for used cars has spiked since the beginning of the year with Carwow seeing a 60 per cent increase in offers made for used cars year on year.
John Rawlings, consumer expert at Carwow, said: “Just because your car doesn’t meet Clean Air Zone standards doesn’t mean it’s worthless.
“For example, drivers in rural areas are likely to be on the lookout for bargains that are being moved out of cities. Your car could be worth more if it’s a popular colour such as grey, silver or black as dealers love to sell used cars as quickly as possible/”
To be LEZ compliant, vehicles must meet minimum emission standards for vehicles permitted within the four LEZ areas.
This includes having Euro 4 emissions for petrol cars and vans and having Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans, registered from September 2015.
Sharing tips on how to sell a non-compliant car before the charges begin to roll out, Rawlings advises sellers to look beyond their own local areas.
He stated: “It’s likely to be tough selling non-compliant cars in cities with an emission zone operating, but one of the advantages of online is that it opens the entire country’s used-car market to you.
“It goes without saying that a clean car is easier to sell than a dirty one, and while you should get any major issues with your car sorted prior to sale, don’t worry too much about kerbed alloys or the odd bumper scuff.
“Dealers can get issues like this sorted out more easily and cheaply than you, with wear-and-tear usage being a fact of life on second-hand cars.”
When it comes to MOTs and servicing, Rawlings advises drivers to have a fresh MOT before trying to sell it as it can save buyers money in the long term.
He also urged motorists to ensure they have any and all relevant paperwork for the vehicle before putting it up for sale, with the V5C logbook being the most crucial.
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Drivers will be charged £60 for driving through Low Emission Zones if their car is non-compliant
PAScottish Minister for Transport, Jenny Gilruth, commented on the upcoming LEZ enforcement periods, saying: “Our air quality is generally good – but for too long air pollution has exceeded legal limits for health in our city centres as a consequence of unrestricted vehicle emissions.
“We have a moral responsibility to act. Air pollution often disproportionately impacts those with the least in our society. It causes the most damage to the youngest, the oldest and those with pre-existing medical conditions.”