The long-running scrappage debacle still fills us with dread every time we hear the term, with the prospect of perfectly decent old motors being scrapped in exchange for money off a new car.
The original government car scrappage scheme was launched in April 2009, in the wake of the 2008 global recession. It offered £2000 off the cost of a brand new car for anyone trading in a vehicle more than 10 years’ old, which was then scrapped.
There is no nationwide government scheme at present, but Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Renault and Toyota are all offering scrappage discounts. In addition, London mayor Sadiq Khan has promised to introduce a car scrappage scheme later this year to help ‘low-income’ motorists switch to less polluting cars and avoid having to pay the £12.50 daily charge when the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is expanded in October 2021.
However, getting a discount off a new car doesn’t have to mean the trade-in vehicle is scrapped. MG has come up with a ‘Swappage Allowance’ of £2000 against a new MG3 if you trade in a car that’s over seven years old, or £2500 if it’s an MG over seven years old.
One of the first garages to adopt the scheme is Summit Garage in Dudley, with owner John Newey stressing that this is very different to a regular scrappage scheme, as part exchanges don’t have to be permanently removed from the road.
“I guess its MG’s way of thanking loyal MG owners by offering this great deal against a new MG3,” said John. “Most people are mistakenly thinking that I’m going to scrap the part exchanges, but I’m not. Instead these modern-day classic MGs will be offered to good homes!”
The move to save part-exchange MGs rather than scrap them coincides with the recently-launched ‘Save the Zeds’ campaign launched by the MG Car Club’s ZR/ZS/ZT Register – a scheme that MG Motor UK is keen to embrace. For further details see www.mgcc.co.uk/zedregister. Summit Garage can be reached via www.summitgarage.co.uk.
