The municipality of Utrecht has extended its subsidy for scrapping old diesel cars until the end of 2027. The city announced the decision of the college of mayor and aldermen on 15 October 2026. The scheme had been due to close at the end of this year.

What residents can get

According to the municipality's application page, residents receive €500 for scrapping a diesel passenger car in emission class 0, 1, 2 or 3, and €1,000 for one in emission class 4. Holders of a U-pas, the city's pass for residents on a low income, can receive an additional €2,000, bringing the maximum to €3,000.

The scheme opened on 1 January 2026. For the first six months it was open only to U-pas holders and other priority groups; since then it has been open to all residents. The total budget is €1 million, and the gemeente says a large part of it is still available. The announcement does not say how many people have applied or how many cars have been scrapped so far.

Why the city is extending it

Alderman Julia Kleinrensink, who holds the environment portfolio, said that the more polluting cars are scrapped and leave city traffic, the better for air quality and residents' health. The scheme is one of several measures to improve air quality in the city. Extending it, she said, gives residents more time to scrap their cars.

The alderman also said the city wants to encourage people to dispose of older diesel cars sustainably regardless of the low-emission zone. In her words, the scheme helps "Utrechters die extra steun kunnen gebruiken bij het overstappen naar schoner vervoer", meaning residents who could use extra support in switching to cleaner transport.

The low-emission zone backdrop

Owners of older diesel cars are barred from entering areas designated as low-emission zones in Utrecht and other cities, which is why the subsidy is tied to the zone policy. As the Utrechter Post reported earlier, the city's plan to widen the zone from 1 January 2027 ran into a legal obstacle under national signage rules. The college described several alternative timings in a June letter to the council, and that letter had already mentioned a possible extension of the subsidy if money remained. The gemeente's latest announcement says only that the college will later present a proposal on whether to expand the zone, and gives no details.

How to apply

Owners of diesel cars in emission classes 0 to 4 will receive a letter about the subsidy. Applications go through the municipality's digital counter at loket.digitaal.utrecht.nl, by searching for "sloop dieselauto subsidie aanvragen". Residents can also call the city on 14 030.

The extension is a decision about funding and timing only. It does not show how much the scheme has improved air quality, and the city has not published a figure for that.