Driving in the UK – London specifically – has never been more expensive.

From rising fuel costs to spiralling used car prices, it seems that everywhere you turn, there are more ways to part with your hard-earned cash.

Now joining the list comes ULEZ, or Ultra Low Emission Zones.

Currently only in force in the capital, ULEZ is a levy charged on the most polluting vehicles in Central London, meaning only cars that meet the latest emissions standards avoid it.

The average daily fine for a car that does not meet new emissions standards is £12.50, in addition to the congestion charge – that could add up to nearly £65 a week for someone commuting every day.

And while the levy currently only affects London, there are plans to roll it out across the rest of the country in the coming years.

So, how can you avoid being stung by the charge?

A new motor

You might think that the obvious solution is to sell your old, inefficient car and buy one with emissions within the accepted levels.

But stop. Are you really using your car that much anymore? Enough to justify buying a new one?

With more and more of us working from home – the figure doubled over lockdown and plenty of people are in no hurry to return – your car may well sit unused most of the time.

It’s worth calculating how much you really need a car (as opposed to wanting one) before you splash out on something new.

Avoid it

Alternatively, you might decide to simply avoid the ULEZ areas altogether, although that brings its own set of problems.

First, you’ll have to find somewhere to park (and that’s a challenge in itself), which costs a pretty penny, and then you’ll be at the mercy of public transport to get where you’re going – another cost that could soon mount up.

And that’s not to mention the delays and overcrowding…

Join the club

If you find you only need a car for a couple of days a week, then the Co Wheels car club could be the answer.

You can hire a car from just £4.75 an hour and we’ve plenty available that are ULEZ compliant, from micro models to electric vehicles.

And on the days you don’t need to drive, there’s nothing sitting on your drive or in the car park costing you money.

With 100s of vehicles across the UK, Co Wheels is not just cheap and convenient, it’s environmentally friendly too - every car club car takes 18.5 private cars off the road in the UK.

For more information, visit the homepage and find out how it works.