Should I sell a diesel car?

Selling your diesel car

With the ban on production of new petrol and diesel cars fast approaching, many diesel drivers are understandably wondering whether they should sell their diesel cars now in order to get the best sale price. In actual fact, the diesel resale market is just as unpredictable now as it always has been, with resale prices continuing to fluctuate

While many expected diesel car values to plummet following the announcement that they would be phased out, the fall was generally very slight.

With this in mind, there’s no guarantee that selling right away will secure you the best possible sale price for your vehicle.

Once you do decide to sell, remember that the value of your car is dependent on much more than just being equipped with a diesel engine. With the 2030 end-date for diesel vehicle production set, it might be much more difficult to sell privately, especially if your car is damaged or worn down in any way.

If you’re looking to sell your diesel car, you can avoid the hassle of a private sale and sell in under an hour with webuyanycar. Simply get a free valuation in less than 30 seconds and book an appointment at one of our 500+ UK branches.

Should I buy a diesel car?

Whether you should buy a diesel car over a petrol, electric, or hybrid car is a complicated decision, and there’s no universal right answer. Here are some factors that you should consider when making your decision:

• Diesel cars are generally more fuel efficient

  Diesel engines are, for the most part, more efficient than petrol models; particularly in heavy cars that need more energy to get moving. Diesel engines require less pressure on the accelerator and fewer engine revs – the less energy required, the more you'll save on fuel.

  If you have high annual mileage or tend to cover a lot of miles on the motorway, you may find that a diesel car is the best option for you. Despite the surge in taxes, diesel cars remain cheaper to run than petrol cars for high-mileage drivers. If you're clocking up over 12,000 miles a year, the outlay of a diesel car may be worth it as you might recoup this cash.

• Consider diesel cars’ depreciation

  Diesel cars generally depreciate in value faster than petrol cars, and that’s especially been the case since 2017. As diesel cars become cheaper, however, they could offer better value-for-money for buyers despite the extra surcharges and taxes.

• Diesel cars won’t necessarily incur emissions charges

  You can reduce the risk of being hit with inner-city diesel charges by buying a newer Euro 6-compliant diesel car. These vehicles are not subject to fees in London's ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ), or Birmingham's clean air zone. Similarly, cars that meet future emissions regulations (Real Driving Emissions Step 2, or Euro 6d) will be exempt from the recent road tax increases.

• Suitable for large company cars

  The new car tax system reduced the long-held advantages of diesel cars. The company car tax system, on the other hand, maintains its links to CO2 emissions, so you could make savings if you opt for a diesel company car. Moreover, large diesel cars like SUVs are more fuel-efficient than their petrol equivalents and tend to attract lower company tax rates.

• Suited for towing

  Like their suitability to powering heavy vehicles, diesel cars are also the optimal engine for towing. Their superior pulling power (torque) is more effective than electric or petrol cars at hauling heavy trailers and caravans. In contrast, petrol cars are more likely to stall when towing a trailer up a hill, and if they do make it, you'll have to foot a much higher bill than you would with a diesel model.

• Choosing new vs used

  All brand-new diesel cars should comply with the Euro 6 limits, and there are no plans to charge owners of these vehicles for driving in city centres in the next few years. However, diesel cars that only meet the previous Euro 5 emissions standard or below, such as some used cars from before 2015, are subject to the emissions charges in London. Bear in mind that other major cities may also charge these cars for driving within central clean air zones in the near future.

• Look into Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) plans

  One way of protecting yourself against diesel’s uncertain future is by taking out a PCP finance plan. PCP agreements give you two choices that counterbalance the risk of depreciation. Firstly, they allow you to keep your car at the end of the contract by paying a pre-agreed lump sum. Alternatively, you can hand over the car at the end of the contract with nothing more to pay - regardless of whether it has depreciated quicker than expected.

• Diesel Particulate Filters

  The diesel particulate filter (DPF) is the most important component of most diesel engines, as well as the most likely cause of any problems. If you tend to drive in city centre stop-start traffic, your car won’t have the chance to get hot enough to burn off soot that gathers, causing the DPF to become clogged.

  A blocked DPF is expensive to clean and even more expensive to replace. Therefore, if you mainly drive around town, a diesel car may not be the best choice for you.

The future of diesel cars

The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned as early as 2030, along with most hybrid cars that use current technology. This is part of a £3 billion plan to tackle air pollution in the UK. While this policy sounds radical, the aftermath might not be as impactful as first thought.

Motor industry experts predict that in two decades, most cars sold will be either enhanced hybrid cars exempt from the ban, electric, or potentially hydrogen-powered. At the time of writing, there are no plans to ban diesel cars from the roads altogether, and second-hand sales may continue unaffected.

Diesel car taxes and toxin tax explained

Diesel fuel has a very high carbon footprint, with one gallon of diesel fuel emitting around 10,180 grams of CO2 once combusted. For that reason, the UK government has outlined several taxes specific to diesel drivers in an effort to discourage the use of diesel-only vehicles.

One such tax was the toxin tax. Outlined by legislators in 2017, it was proposed that diesel drivers in some of the UK’s major cities would be required to pay a £20 daily emissions fee. This fee would affect drivers of diesel lorries, passenger cars, taxis and coaches.

While this tax specifically was never officially introduced, there are plenty of other taxes and surcharges that diesel drivers need to be aware of.

Increased taxes

Diesel drivers are subject to higher road tax and company car tax than petrol cars. For example, a diesel vehicle with carbon dioxide emissions of 90-100g/km of carbon dioxide may cost around £160 a year to tax, compared with £140 for the petrol equivalent.

Charges to drive in London (ULEZ charge)

Drivers of non-Euro 6 diesel cars and vans are subject to a daily charge of £12.50 when driving around London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), which runs from central London to the North Circular and South Circular roads.

Clean Air Zone charges

London isn’t the only area within the UK where diesel drivers are taxed to reduce air pollution, with Manchester, Edinburgh and Newcastle amongst the many UK cities with proposed Clean Air Zones.

Parking surcharges

London is the first of many cities to have raised parking fees for diesel drivers, with Bath, Birmingham and Manchester amongst the cities set to follow suit. In fact, Westminster Council plans to raise on-street parking fees for all diesel cars sold before 2015 by up to 50%.

Frequently Asked Questions