Vehicles can be sent to Ukraine through ULEZ scrappage scheme from next week

• From next Friday 15^th March applicants to the scrappage scheme will have the option to donate their ULEZ non-compliant vehicle to support humanitarian and medical needs in Ukraine while still receiving a scrappage grant
• Transport for London has collaborated with UK registered charity British-Ukrainian Aid (BUA) to expand ULEZ scrappage scheme to allow vehicle donation, with support from Embassy of Ukraine   
• A range of ULEZ non-compliant vehicles can be donated through BUA

From next Friday (15 March), applicants to the ULEZ scrappage scheme funded by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will have the option to receive a scrappage grant and donate their non-ULEZ compliant vehicle to support humanitarian and medical needs in Ukraine, rather than scrapping or retrofitting it.  

The Mayor has worked quickly to set up a viable scheme with partner organisations since his lobbying of the Government resulted in Transport Secretary Mark Harper confirming at the end of January that the Government does not consider there to be any legal barrier to allowing non-compliant vehicles to be donated to Ukraine and to still receive the same level of grant payment.  

Last month the Mayor asked Transport for London (TfL) to explore how the scheme could be used to encourage vehicle donations, and TfL have confirmed UK registered charity British-Ukrainian Aid (BUA) as an appropriate intermediary to roll out the new scheme.

The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is planning to join the effort by donating 50 decommissioned ambulances to Ukraine. While LAS currently has agreements in place with TfL meaning ambulances are not charged to drive in the ULEZ, it plans to steadily decommission non-compliant vehicles.

Ukraine’s infrastructure has been significantly damaged in the conflict and access to health care in many areas has been severely impacted. Donating a range of different vehicles to Ukrainian authorities and their partners will provide humanitarian and logistical assistance as Russia’s illegal invasion continues.  

TfL has now put arrangements in place with BUA, who will facilitate the donation of the vehicles to Ukraine, provide the relevant documentation for customers to receive their scrappage grant, and report on the number of vehicles donated in this way. A range of non-ULEZ compliant vehicles can be donated subject to need and suitability assessed by BUA.  

From Friday 15 March applicants to the landmark scheme will have the option of donating vehicles from London that are not compliant with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) standards in return for the same level of grant payment that is available to those who choose to scrap their vehicle.    

The Mayor’s Office and TfL have engaged extensively with the Ukrainian Embassy to understand which charities and organisations have worked with them so far on similar initiatives. BUA works directly with organisations on the ground in Ukraine and has procured and delivered over 300 medical and evacuation vehicles during 2023 to where they are most needed. Vehicles will be permanently removed from the UK following their donation to Ukraine, with BUA providing evidence of this to TfL. 

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As the devastating consequences of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine continue, the country’s infrastructure has been significantly impacted. I have worked quickly to amend our scrappage scheme so that from next week, non-compliant vehicles can be donated to Ukraine, helping to meet medical and humanitarian needs while also removing old, polluting vehicles from London’s roads. There is still plenty of money left in the scrappage fund and I encourage anyone applying to consider donating their vehicle to this cause.” 

Christina Calderato, Director of Transport Strategy and Policy, said: “We are very pleased that from Friday 15 March, applicants to the ULEZ scrappage scheme will be able to receive a scrappage grant while having the option to donate their non-compliant vehicle to Ukraine. We know that Londoners want to help those affected by the war, and by working with UK registered charity British-Ukrainian Aid (BUA) to expand the scheme in this way, we can support vital access to humanitarian and medical aid.

“The £210m scrappage scheme, the largest of its kind, remains open to all Londoners and is helping drivers transition to more sustainable modes of transport, resulting in a cleaner, greener, capital.”

Dr Rainer-Elk Anders, Trustee of British-Ukrainian Aid, said: “Each donated vehicle will make a tremendous difference between life and death for those in need of humanitarian or medical aid in Ukraine. These vehicles will enable us to evacuate and transport the injured, including children, women and the elderly, and they will help medical personnel and aid reach critical locations. Thank you to Londoners for being a beacon of hope in times of crisis, and for considering giving your vehicle a new purpose to help save more lives in Ukraine. The process of donation has been designed to be as simple as possible for successful scheme applicants.”

While the vast majority of vehicles – 95 per cent – seen driving in the Ultra Low Emission Zone on an average day are already compliant and do not have to pay the charge, the Mayor is committed to supporting those still driving non-compliant vehicles through his £210m scrappage scheme – the largest of its kind. Millions of pounds of support are still available, offering grant payments to eligible Londoners, charities and businesses to scrap or retrofit vehicles that do not meet the ULEZ emissions standards and switch to cleaner, greener modes of transport. Since its launch, the Mayor has continued to further invest in the fund and widen eligibility, with support now available to all Londoners with an eligible non-compliant vehicle, and eligible small businesses, charities and sole traders.