Euro 1 to Euro 6 – find out your vehicle's emissions standard

Whether your car is a Euro 6 diesel or a Euro 1 petrol, knowing your car's rating is more important than ever now, given the increasing number of levies and fines being introduced for older cars, especially diesels.

Read on to find out what rating your car is and if you will be affected by existing and future charges.

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Guide contents

What are the Euro emissions standards?

Why do we have them?

Why is it important to know your car's emission standard, will I face charges?

What's my car’s Euro emissions standard?

Euro 6 

Motorbike Euro emission standards

What are the European 'Euro' emissions standards?

While emissions regulations date back to 1970, the first EU-wide standard – known as Euro 1 – was introduced in 1992.

Catalytic converters became compulsory on new cars sold in the UK as Europe wised up to the need to reduce tailpipe emissions. This effectively standardised fuel injection on new cars.

Since then, we have passed through a series of Euro emissions standards, leading to the current Euro 6, introduced in September 2014 for new type approvals and September 2015 for the majority - although importantly not all - vehicle sales and registrations.

The regulations – which are designed to become more stringent over time – define acceptable limits for exhaust emissions of new light duty vehicles sold in EU and EEA (European Economic Area) member states.

READ MORE: The real facts on 'dirty' diesels

Why do we have them?

According to the EU, “the air pollutant emissions from transport are a significant contribution to the overall state of air quality in Europe”, with industry and power generation being the other major sources.

The aim of Euro emissions standards is to reduce the levels of harmful exhaust emissions, chiefly:

• Nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Carbon monoxide (CO) 
• Hydrocarbons (HC)
• Particulate matter (PM)

These standards are having a positive effect, with the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), claiming: “It would take 50 new cars today to produce the same amount of pollutant emissions as one vehicle built in the 1970s.”

The SMMT has quoted the following figures in support:

• Carbon monoxide (CO): petrol down 63%, diesel down 82% since 1993
• Hydrocarbons (HC): petrol down 50% since 2001
• Nitrogen oxide (NOx): down 84% since 2001
• Particulate matter (PM): diesel down 96% since 1993

Because petrol and diesel engines produce different types of emissions they are subject to different standards.

Diesel, for example, produce more particulate matter – or soot – leading to the introduction of diesel particulate filters (DPFs).

The EU has pointed out, however, that NOx emissions from road transport “have not been reduced as much as expected. Since emissions in real-life driving conditions are often higher than those measured during the approval test (in particular for diesel vehicles)”.

As the UK government pointed out in December 2016, road transport still accounted for 34% of UK NOx emissions in 2015. The rate of reduction in atmospheric NOx has slowed down due to the increased contribution from diesel vehicles.

Over the same time, average new car CO2 emissions have more than halved, going some way to meeting the target average of 95g/km by 2020. CO2 emissions are linked to climate change and subject to different regulations.

Why is it important to know your car's emission standard?

The Government's air quality plan - which was announced in July and included banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040 - stated that: “local action is needed to achieve improvements in air quality”.

This 'local action' is referring to targeting the areas where air quality is the poorest - such as built-up areas in towns and cities.

This in effect means that certain local authorities will need to produce plans to reduce harmful emissions through clean air zones, with a chance that some will include either charges to enter an area, or restrictions of certain vehicles entering these zones at certain times of the day.

Those vehicles affected are likely to be higher polluting and will almost certainly be based on the vehicles’ Euro emissions standard, much like with Crit'Air stickers which are being introduced in France.

At present, Government policy encourages drivers to switch to new zero emission vehicles through the Vehicle Excise Duty rates, where the annual rate is zero assuming they have a list price under £40,000. Plug-in grant schemes also incentivise drivers to purchase other ultra-low emission vehicles. 

You will also need to know our Euro emissions standard if driving through London from 23rd October 2017 when the London T-charge comes in.

Driving to France?

Knowing your car's emissions standard is more important than ever now, as different cities around Europe are beginning to impose charges for higher emitting vehicles. These vehicles are identified when they enter specific cities by a colour-coded sticker which is based on your car's Euro emissions standard.

The system is currently active in some cities in France, and if you are caught entering a city without one of the stickers - or drive a vehicle which is banned on a particular day - you could face a fine. To find out more, including how to apply for a sticker, visit our clean air certificates page.

Importantly, if you drive a pre-1992 car that doesn't meet any Euro emissions standard (double check with your manufacturer if you're not sure), you're vehicle will not be permitted to enter those zones during times when restrictions are in place.

What's my car’s Euro emissions standard?

The table below, reproduced from that developed by the European Commission, shows the different Euro categories that apply to new vehicle models approved after a specific date. Every car sold up to a year after the dates below should conform to the appropriate standards, but do check with your manufacturer directly if you're not sure.

Important note: Be aware of websites that claim to give you accurate information on your car's Euro emission standard by entering your number plate - as of 10 November 2017, the RAC understands there is currently no comprehensive online look-up website for UK drivers.

If your vehicle is older than any dates listed below, it won't be classed as even a Euro 1 - meaning certain cities may charge or ban you from driving in them at certain times.

Important note: as the Jaguar website helpfully explains, 'individual vehicles already on sale that were built by, and dispatched from, the manufacturer before 1st June 2015 can continue to be sold until 1st September 2016'. This in effect means that a car sold before 1st September 2016 may still have a Euro 5 engine. Check with the manufacturer to be certain.

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Euro 6 and Euro 6 diesel

Implementation date (new approvals): 1 September 2014

Implementation date (most new registrations - see important point below table above): 1 September 2015

The sixth and current incarnation of the Euro emissions standard was introduced on most new registrations in September 2015. For diesels, the permitted level of NOx has been slashed from 0.18g/km in Euro 5 to 0.08g/km.

A focus on diesel NOx was the direct result of studies connecting these emissions with respiratory problems.

To meet the new targets, some carmakers have introduced Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), in which a liquid-reductant agent is injected through a catalyst into the exhaust of a diesel vehicle. A chemical reaction converts the nitrogen oxide into harmless water and nitrogen, which are expelled through the exhaust pipe.

The alternative method of meeting Euro 6 standards is Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). A portion of the exhaust gas is mixed with intake air to lower the burning temperature. The vehicle’s ECU controls the EGR in accordance with the engine load or speed.

Euro 6 emissions standards (petrol)

CO: 1.0g/km

THC: 0.10g/km

NMHC: 0.068g/km

NOx: 0.06g/km

PM: 0.005g/km (direct injection only)

PN [#/km]: 6.0x10 ^11/km (direct injection only)

Euro 6 emissions standards (diesel)

CO: 0.50g/km

HC + NOx: 0.17g/km

NOx: 0.08g/km

PM: 0.005g/km

PN [#/km]: 6.0x10 ^11/km

MORE INFO: An indepth guide to Euro 6 diesels

MORE ADVICE: Petrol or diesel? Facts and quiz to help you choose

What next?

While vehicle emissions have reduced, the so-called ‘dieselgate’ scandal highlighted that there’s still work to be done, not least because carmakers felt the need to ‘cheat’ to meet the stringent standards.

In light of the use of ‘defeat devices’, the EU is introducing a ‘Real Driving Emissions’ (RDE) test procedure, starting from 1 September 2017. It is hoped that this will better reflect the actual emissions on the road, reducing the discrepancy between real-world emissions and those measured in a laboratory.

Although the UK is negotiating its exit from the European Union, the emissions standards are expected to remain unchanged. One thing’s certain: cars are easy to regulate, so we can expect stricter Euro emissions standards over the coming years.

Keep up to date with the latest air quality news

Motorbike Euro emission standards

The Euro emissions standards for motorbikes are slightly different from cars, with fewer new standards having been introduced over the years (due to motorbikes emitting less emissions than cars and other larger vehicles do).

Currently new motorbikes are regulated at a Euro 4 standard with Euro 5 due to be introduced in January 2020.

The implementation of emission standards for motorbikes is also a little more complicated than the standards for cars.

Motorbike emission regulations for Euro 1 to 3

Motorbike emission regulations for Euro 4 and 5

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