Is requirement for an MOT a ‘loophole’ in the ULEZ scrappage scheme?

A car must have a valid MOT to be eligible for the £2,000 grant

Is requirement for an MOT a ‘loophole’ in the ULEZ scrappage scheme?
Photo: Bigstock

The London mayor’s ULEZ car and motorcycle scrappage scheme has come under fire for what some news outlets are calling a “loophole” in the application process.

To qualify for the £2,000 scrappage payment, a car must have valid insurance, road tax (VED) and an MOT, and not meet the ULEZ emissions standards. The vehicle also needs to have been registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) at the address of the applicant since 30 January 2022 or before.

The scrappage grant is available to every London resident living in one of the 32 London boroughs or the City of London and comes ahead of the ULEZ expansion on 29 August.

Earlier this month, the London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I have continued to listen to the concerns of Londoners over recent months, and today I can announce a huge expansion to the scrappage scheme that means that all Londoners with non ULEZ-compliant cars will now be able to get financial support to switch to greener, less polluting vehicles.

“As we continue to build a greener and healthier London for everyone, I’m determined that no Londoner and no London business is left behind. We need to take people with us on the path to a sustainable future. We are ensuring that help is now available for everyone – and I urge Londoners to come and get it.”

But some campaigners and London residents have questioned the scrappage scheme’s green credentials in light of the requirement for a car to have a valid MOT before it can be scrapped.

Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK and Reform UK’s London mayoral candidate, told MailOnline: “You couldn’t make this up. Your ULEZ non-compliant car must have an up-to-date MOT certificate [and] be fully taxed before you qualify for Sadiq Khan’s scrappage tax payer-funded dosh.

“He expects you to fork out your hard-earned money to ensure your pride and joy is fully road legal. His cash-grabbing hatred of drivers just got even more punishing for low-income families and small business.”

George Morrison of Ruislip says he needs to spend £760 to make his 1994 BMW roadworthy before he can claim the scrappage grant. He told The Sun: “It’s a crazy situation, absolutely absurd. I can’t believe I’m being forced to shell out a fortune fixing it up just to have it crushed days later.

“It seems to run against the ethos of the ULEZ scheme. This is a much-loved car that has been taxed, insured and MOT’d for years.”

In response, a spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL) said: “As this car is not allowed to be driven on the road as its MOT has expired, it would not achieve the aim of the scheme to pay to scrap a car that cannot be driven.

“Should the vehicle pass an MOT, we would be able to pay a grant payment of up to £2,000 to remove the polluting vehicle from the roads.”

Should owners of cars without an MOT be forced to get them tested before applying for a grant, or this an unnecessary expense for motorists during a cost of living crisis? Let us know by leaving a comment.

2 Comments

  1. why would an mot be necessary on a car that is gong to be scrapped/crushed? Anther con to stop people having the ability to use this farce of a scheme!.

    Reply
  2. I applied for the ULEZ scheme on 21st August when it was fully MOT’d and taxed, they rejected my application 2 days after the MOT expired (6th Sep) stating one of the documents I supplied was blurry. I was not allowed to re-submit the document and have to start a new application which means I’ll not only have to fork out for an MOT, but potential costs to fix anything, and will need to pay £12.50 ULEZ charge to get it to the garage.

    Reply

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