Cars & Travel — Page 6

The Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London charges non-compliant petrol vehicles (pre-Euro 4) and diesel vehicles (pre-Euro 6) a daily fee of £12.50. Other UK cities operate Clean Air Zones (CAZ) with varying daily charges (typically £8–£10). Check whether your vehicle is compliant using the relevant city council tool before travelling.

EVs typically cost less per mile to fuel (especially with home off-peak charging) and have lower servicing costs (no oil changes, fewer brake jobs). However, purchase prices remain higher and public charging is more expensive. The full picture includes insurance, depreciation and charger installation. Use the EV total cost calculator to compare your specific situation.

HMRC approved mileage allowance payments (AMAP) for cars: 45p/mile for the first 10,000 business miles per year, then 25p/mile above that. For motorcycles: 24p/mile. You can claim the difference between AMAP and any amount your employer pays. Electric vehicle owners using their own car for business can claim the same AMAP rates.

Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) spreads the cost of a car with a monthly payment covering depreciation, not the full purchase price. At the end (typically 3–4 years) you pay an optional final balloon payment to own the car, return it, or part-exchange. PCP is popular but total interest costs can be high. Compare total cost vs HP (Hire Purchase) using the car finance calculator.

Certain medical conditions (epilepsy, diabetes requiring insulin, sleep apnoea, sight problems, heart conditions) must be notified to DVLA. Failure to notify is a criminal offence and can invalidate insurance. The DVLA website lists all notifiable conditions. Your GP or specialist can also advise. Articles in this category explain the most common conditions and their driving implications.

UK car insurance is priced based on: your age and experience (young drivers pay most); the car's insurance group (1–50, higher = more expensive); your address (theft/accident rates); annual mileage; no-claims discount; and whether you have additional drivers. Comparing quotes annually and increasing your voluntary excess can reduce premiums. Black box (telematics) policies reward safe driving.

For employees who use a company fuel card for private mileage, HMRC sets Advisory Fuel Rates (AFRs) that change quarterly. For petrol cars up to 1,400cc, the AFR is typically around 13p/mile. For EVs, the rate is 7p/mile. These rates are used to calculate the fuel benefit or to reimburse fuel costs for business journeys. Check the HMRC website for the current quarter's rates.