Everything You Need to Know About the 2035 Ban on New Petrol and Diesel Vehicles

If you’ve kept an eye on the news recently, particularly when it comes to all things motoring, you may be aware that 2035 has been given by the Government as the year that manufacturers will stop selling brand-new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK. Previously set at 2030, there has been a change of heart, with the Government putting the extension down to concerns about the affordability of electric vehicles, charging infrastructure available, and the impact on jobs in the car industry. Read on to find out more.

Why are new petrol and diesel vehicles being banned? 

In a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cars powered by purely petrol or diesel (also known as fossil fuels) won’t be available brand new to anyone. This is a ban that was first suggested back in 2017 for as late as 2040, but this was brought forward by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to 2030 in late 2020. Now, in September 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pushed this ban back to 2035. 

The ban relies on the mobilisation of manufacturers’ electric vehicle production, as well as improvement to the electric car charging infrastructure around the UK. The result should be a UK motoring culture that’s working towards a zero-emissions future; there’s a target in place to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions to net zero in 2050, and this ban is a huge part of that. 

Will I still be able to drive a petrol or diesel car after 2035? 

If you already own a petrol or diesel vehicle, you will still be able to drive it after the ban in 2035 — there’s absolutely no need to start Googling your nearest scrap yard! The ban is simply on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, to start the winding down of fossil fuel-powered transport. 

Will I still be able to buy used petrol or diesel cars? 

Yes, you’ll still be able to buy used petrol and diesel cars at trusted retailers like West Motors for the foreseeable future. Naturally, petrol and diesel cars will phase out in the absence of new electric-powered vehicles, so it’s worth considering the long-term future of motoring; in time, the infrastructure to support remaining petrol and diesel cars may eventually phase out too. 

Will I still be able to buy a new hybrid car after 2035? 

Hybrid vehicles are powered by a blend of fossil fuels and battery power, producing less emissions than traditional vehicles, with many able to travel certain distances on electric power alone. Under the previous plans, petrol and diesel vehicles were subject to banning in 2030 and hybrid vehicles 5 years later in 2035. 

However, despite extending the ban on petrol and diesel vehicles by a further 5 years, this is not the case for hybrid vehicles. Thus, the ban on the sale of new hybrid vehicles (regardless of what type of hybrid they are) is still coming into effect in 2035.  

What are the alternatives to petrol and diesel cars? 

For many, the alternative has got to be purely electric cars, charged via mains electricity and producing zero emissions. However, the sale of new hydrogen-powered vehicles will also be permitted post-2035, as these emit nothing but water vapour. 

Find petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars at West Motors

The good news is that for now, and for a good while into the future, you’ll still be able to find petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars here at West Motors. Used cars have always been fantastic value in compassion to those on the new market, so if you’re not ready to give up the internal combustion engine just yet, you know where to head for. 

We will also see an increase in the number of electric vehicles on our forecourt in the future, so keep an eye out if you want to be part of the electric revolution without breaking the bank.