A strict fuel ban implemented in Delhi, effective July 1, has proved to be a discomfort for the capital’s vehicle owners, forcing many to sell their high-value cars for a mere fraction of their original cost. The new regulation prohibits fuel stations from dispensing fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles exceeding 15 years in age.
This decisive measure, based on an order from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), is reportedly a direct effort to combat the severe air pollution prevailing in the capital.
According to Money Control, Varun Vij, a resident, was forced to sell his luxury SUV, a 2015 Mercedes-Benz ML350. Vij, who originally purchased the vehicle for Rs 84 lakh, was forced to sell it for just Rs 2.5 lakh due to the ban.
Vij described the emotional toll of letting go of a car that had been an integral part of his family’s life for a decade. He remembered about the weekly 7–8 hour drives he used to make to pick up his son from the hostel, highlighting the vehicle’s role in their cherished memories. Despite having run only 1.35 lakh kilometres and requiring minimal maintenance beyond routine servicing and tyre replacements, the car proved unsellable for anything close to its value.
He told Money Control that, “I had hoped to renew the registration, but that didn’t work out.” He added, “No one wanted to buy it, and eventually, I had to sell it under compulsion. Imagine—a car worth Rs 84 lakh, reduced to just Rs 2.5 lakh. I had no choice.”
He further stated that he has invested Rs 62 lakh in an electric vehicle to avoid any similar inconvenience in the future. He added, “I just want to use this one for 20 years unless another government policy changes things again.”
The money control report highlighted that since the rule’s implementation, Vij has received numerous calls from other vehicle owners grappling with similar dilemmas, unsure of their next steps.
Adding to the growing number of affected vehicle owners, Ritesh Gandotra, the proprietor of an 8-year-old diesel Range Rover, is also facing significant losses. Gandotra highlighted that his premium SUV, purchased for Rs 55 lakh in 2018, had been largely unused for two years during the COVID-19 lockdown, leaving it with over two lakh kilometers of potential operational life.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Gandotra emphasised that his Range Rover was a meticulously maintained vehicle with a mere 74,000 km on its odometer. Despite its excellent condition and remaining lifespan, he is now compelled to sell it at a drastically reduced price due to Delhi’s diesel vehicle ban, echoing the financial distress experienced by many others in the capital.
He wrote, “My car is in its 8th year, a diesel vehicle, meticulously maintained, with just 74,000 km on the odo. It spent two years parked during Covid and easily has over 2 lakh km of life left. But thanks to the 10-year diesel ban in NCR, I’m now forced to sell it and that too to buyers outside NCR, offering throwaway prices.”
He further stated, “To make it worse, buying a new one comes with 45% GST + cess. This isn’t a green policy. It’s a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense.”