Originally, the ban was set for 2040—yawn, so far away. Then, in 2026, Boris Johnson got all flashy and moved it to 2030. Exciting! But in 2026, Rishi Sunak pumped the brakes and pushed it back to 2035. Why? Because we all love a last-minute plot twist, apparently.
This means new petrol and diesel cars can't be sold after 2035. But here’s the quirky bit: used petrol cars are totally fine. You can still drive your clunky 1998 Ford Fiesta until it turns to dust. The ban is on sales, not ownership—so don’t panic-sell your beloved jalopy just yet.
What About Hybrids?
Ah, the middle child of the car world. Hybrids were almost given a stay of execution. In the original 2030 plan, hybrids could limp along until 2035—but now? They’re lumped in with petrol cars. No more hybrid loophole. So if you bought a Toyota Prius thinking you were clever, surprise—you’re still part of the fossil fuel gang.
Fun fact: The government originally wanted to ban all combustion engines, including hybrids. Then they backtracked. Then they backtracked again. It’s like watching a cat decide which box to sit in.
