Quick answer: In a September 2026 survey of 60 UK car dealers by Startline Used Car Tracker, 83% backed a national EV scrappage scheme. No scheme has been confirmed by the Treasury yet, but London drivers — who already face ULEZ and congestion charges — stand to gain the most if one is introduced. If your current car is costing you heavily in fees or repairs, waiting for an unconfirmed scheme rarely makes financial sense; if it isn’t, it may be worth watching the next few months.
Before you decide to delay your move to an electric vehicle, one data point from this month’s dealer survey is worth knowing: 83% of UK car dealers now want a national EV scrappage scheme.
That’s not a fringe opinion. Dealers spend every working day watching buyers weigh up a price tag and walk out empty-handed. When more than four in five of them point to the same fix, it says something about how stuck the market feels right now — and it’s especially relevant if you’re driving in London, where ULEZ and congestion charges already make an old petrol or diesel car expensive to keep.
What Is an EV Scrappage Scheme?
You hand in your old petrol or diesel car, and in exchange the government knocks money off a new or used electric car. It works like a trade-in, except the discount is funded by the state rather than a dealership.
A scrappage scheme is designed to do two things at once:
- Remove old, polluting vehicles from the road — cutting emissions and improving local air quality
- Make electric cars affordable for ordinary buyers, not just those who can already afford a premium EV
Why Are Dealers Pushing So Hard for This Right Now?
The figures come from the Startline Used Car Tracker, based on responses from 60 UK car dealers surveyed in September 2026. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Dealer sentiment | Share of respondents |
| Support a national scrappage scheme | 83% |
| Say EVs need to be more affordable | 74% |
| Believe government should do more to encourage EV uptake | 72% |
| Say EVs are simply unaffordable for many consumers | 32% |
| Blame the number of old, polluting cars still on UK roads | 26% |
Two things stand out. First, affordability is the dominant concern — dealers aren’t asking for a gimmick, they’re describing a genuine barrier stopping buyers from switching. Second, there’s a real environmental angle too: over a quarter of dealers pointed the finger at the sheer number of old, dirty vehicles still in daily use.
Has a Scheme Like This Worked in the UK Before?
Yes — and it has a track record on both sides of the country.
The 2009 Scrappage Scheme
Launched in 2009, this scheme helped generate close to 400,000 vehicle orders nationally. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) estimated that around 70% of those were genuinely additional sales — purchases that wouldn’t have happened without the incentive.
The London ULEZ Scrappage Scheme
More relevant if you actually drive in the capital: the London-wide ULEZ scrappage scheme removed more than 53,000 polluting vehicles from the road before it was withdrawn in September 2024. Unlike a lot of government incentive schemes, this one delivered on its environmental targets.
Scrappage schemes: then vs. a possible 2026 national scheme
| 2009 National Scheme | London ULEZ Scheme | Proposed National EV Scheme | |
| Goal | Boost new car sales | Cut polluting vehicles in London | Cut emissions + grow EV affordability |
| Result | ~400,000 orders, ~70% additional sales | 53,000+ polluting vehicles scrapped | Not yet confirmed |
| Coverage | UK-wide | London only | UK-wide (proposed) |
| Status | Ended | Withdrawn Sept 2024 | Under dealer pressure, no Treasury decision |
What Could a New National Scheme Actually Look Like?
There’s been no official announcement, but based on past schemes and current dealer demands, a plausible structure would include:
- A fixed cash incentive for trading in an eligible petrol or diesel vehicle
- Eligibility rules based on the age or emissions rating of the vehicle being scrapped
- Coverage for both new and used electric vehicles, not just brand-new stock
- A defined application window, to create urgency and control the cost to the Treasury
With a new government in place, dealers believe the conditions are finally right for this to happen. Whether the Treasury agrees is a separate question — but the pressure is building month on month.
What Does This Mean for London Drivers Specifically?
London runs under tighter rules than the rest of the UK, which is exactly why a national scheme would land hardest — in a good way — for drivers here.
- ULEZ fees add up fast. A non-compliant vehicle costs £12.50 a day just to drive through the zone.
- Congestion charge stacking. Combine ULEZ with the congestion charge and an old car quickly becomes one of the most expensive things you own.
- Local parking incentives already exist. Several London boroughs offer cheaper or free parking for EV owners, which sweetens the switch further.
- Air quality is a genuine problem. London consistently records some of the worst air pollution in the UK, so any national scheme is likely to prioritise the capital.
If you’ve been holding on to an old diesel simply because getting rid of it feels like a hassle, that’s less of an obstacle than it used to be. Most licensed car breakers — including firms based right here in London — will collect the vehicle from your driveway and pay you the same day, with no need to drive it anywhere yourself.
Should You Wait for the Scheme Before Buying an EV?
There’s no single right answer — it depends on what your current car is costing you.
If waiting makes sense:
- Your current car runs reliably and passes its MOT with no major issues
- ULEZ and congestion charges aren’t a significant cost for you
- You’re not in a rush and can monitor announcements over the next month or two
If waiting probably doesn’t make sense:
- Your car is racking up ULEZ or congestion charges every time you drive
- Repair costs are becoming frequent or unpredictable
- You’re already spending more sitting in an expensive-to-run car than any future incentive is likely to save you
UK scrappage schemes have historically moved fast once approved, so “wait and see” doesn’t have to mean waiting for months once a decision is actually made.
Final Thoughts
The case for a UK EV scrappage scheme is building real momentum, and with 83% of dealers in agreement, it’s looking increasingly like something the government will have to address. For London drivers already absorbing high ULEZ and congestion charge costs, a well-designed national scheme would meaningfully lower the cost of switching to electric.
Keep an eye out for official statements over the coming months. And if you do decide it’s time to let go of your old petrol, diesel, or even electric vehicle, working with a licensed, reliable car breaker makes the process straightforward. Brits Car Breakers, based in Bethnal Green and covering North, South, East, West, and Central London, offers free same-day scrap car collection, instant online quotes, and same-day payment by secure bank transfer — so scrapping your old car before you switch to electric doesn’t have to be the hard part.