Sell my diesel car the Motorway way

Around a decade ago, the prices of second-hand diesels fell sharply. However, they have recovered moderately over the course of the last few years. Prices are holding particularly well for larger diesel models – which are still in demand due to their better fuel economy. If you’ve got a bigger, luxury vehicle, you should get a good price when you come to sell.

However, the recent introduction of London’s ULEZ, and other city-based clean air zones (CAZs) has had a negative impact on resale values – and the rate of depreciation for them is likely to escalate again as the UK approaches the 2035 electric vehicle ‘switchover’, which will ban the sale of all new fossil fuel cars.

Recent research shows that diesel cars hold around 40% of their value after three years and 30,000 miles. Whereas petrol models retain around 43% under the same conditions.

The UK Government announced in February 2020 that it will ban the sale of new fossil-fuel vehicles – including diesels – by 2035. 

The decision to bring forward the deadline from 2040 was reportedly made after taking soundings from scientists on the Committee on Climate Change, who suggested that, if the UK were to meet its own decarbonisation goals, then an outright ban on non-electric vehicles and diesels needed to be implemented by 2032 at the latest.

However, the ban only applies to the sale of new cars. There are no plans to ban diesel cars already on the road. But this does mean that now could be a good time to sell, as diesels are likely to become less desirable as the 2035 cut-off approaches

The current uncertain economic climate has seen UK drivers make the move to more fuel-efficient cars to weather the oncoming storm of the ‘cost-of-living crisis.’   

Second-hand diesels offer great fuel efficiency and lower tax rates, making them popular with families who are worried about the cost of running a car as the price of fuel continues to fluctuate.

The VW Golf, for example, has a very strong resale value due to its fuel-efficient engines and impressive 56.4 miles per gallon. The Ford Focus is another popular choice in the UK, as it is renowned to deliver a smooth drive – even on uneven roads – and achieves 58 mpg. 

The high-spec BMW 3 Series is a popular diesel on the more prestige side of the market. With its luxury comfort and sleek design, the 3 Series remains desirable with drivers – despite having a relatively low 47.9 mpg. 

For those drivers that do a lot of motorway miles every year, diesels are more cost-effective – despite a higher initial cost at the pump. This is particularly true of MPVs and SUVs, like the Renault Scenic and Skoda Kodiaq, that have greater torque and are ideal for long-distance journeying, towing, and off-roading.

The reason why diesel cars have traditionally been popular is due to their relatively high fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions, particularly over long distances.

However, if you live in an urban or suburban area, as most people do, journeys will generally be relatively short – and so there’s not enough reasons to recommend buying a diesel. This is because the fuel savings won’t be enough to offset the higher purchase price at the pump and the renowned ‘fuel efficiency’ doesn’t really come into play in stop-start traffic conditions associated with urban living.

Short journeys are also harmful to the diesel car’s DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), the screen that prevents some of the nasty pollutants associated with diesel entering the air.

The recent introduction of London’s ULEZ, and other city-based clean air zones (CAZs) has had a recent negative impact on diesel resale values – and the rate of depreciation for them is likely to speed up as the UK approaches the 2035 electric vehicle ‘switchover’, which will ban the sale of all new fossil fuel cars.

Recent research shows that, in terms of depreciation, diesel cars hold around 40% of their value after three years and 30,000 miles. Whereas petrol cars retain about 43% under the same conditions. So, whilst diesels do depreciate quicker than petrol cars, the rate is marginal.

The major disadvantage of diesel cars is usually seen as their emissions. Diesels are known to produce harmful pollutants like nitrous oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO). Whilst it is true that all fossil fuel cars – petrol, hybrids and diesels – emit pollutants, diesels produce a whopping 11.5 times the NOx of other petrol variants. Diesel cars’ DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) can also get clogged by exhaust soot and other debris over time, which can push harmful fumes into the atmosphere.  

Another downside to diesel car ownership is that they are generally more expensive to buy than petrol cars and less cost-effective at the pump. The higher purchase price of a diesel car also typically makes insurance more expensive – and, not only that, but new diesel cars cost more to tax than their petrol counterparts.

Diesel cars are usually best suited to drivers that cover over 15,000 miles a year, so if you’re an urban, low-mileage driver you would probably be better off with a petrol, hybrid, or electric alternative. Also, if you’re looking for low upfront – and ongoing – costs, or a vehicle with a low carbon footprint, you should probably look elsewhere.