Euro 6 checker
On newer cars, TfL says the V5C may list the Euro standard in section D.2. Without the logbook to hand, the date it was first registered tells you the standard it most likely meets.
From January 2011, every new car had to meet Euro 5. London's ULEZ asks a petrol car for Euro 4, so yours meets it.
What does a Euro standard mean?
The Euro standards are legal limits on how much exhaust pollution a new car may emit. They run from Euro 1 in 1993 up to Euro 6 in 2015. Every step brought the limit down. Who pays in the clean air zones depends on these standards. Diesel cars must reach Euro 6 for London's ULEZ, and petrol cars must reach Euro 4.
Each new standard first covered new models, then a year later it covered every new car. Cars registered between those two dates may meet either standard.
Dates for each Euro standard
Each standard applied to new models from the first date. From the second date it applied to every new car sold. A car registered between the two dates could meet either one.
| Standard | New models from | All new cars from |
|---|---|---|
| Euro 1 | July 1992 | January 1993 |
| Euro 2 | January 1996 | January 1997 |
| Euro 3 | January 2000 | January 2001 |
| Euro 4 | January 2005 | January 2006 |
| Euro 5 | September 2009 | January 2011 |
| Euro 6 | September 2014 | September 2015 |
These figures come from the RAC.
What the ULEZ requires by vehicle
| Vehicle | Standard it needs | Usually meets it |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol car | Euro 4 | Most petrol cars first registered in 2006 or later (many from 2001) |
| Diesel car | Euro 6 | Most diesel cars first registered in September 2015 or later |
| Hybrid car | Euro 4 if it's a petrol hybrid, Euro 6 for a diesel hybrid | A hybrid uses the same years as whichever engine it has, petrol or diesel |
| Petrol van | Euro 4 | Petrol vans registered from January 2006 |
| Diesel van | Euro 6 | Diesel vans sold new from September 2016 |
| Motorbike or moped | Euro 3 | Most motorbikes registered from July 2007 |
| Electric car | None: no exhaust | Always meets the rules |
These figures come from TfL.
Finding it on your V5C
On newer cars, section D.2 of the V5C may list the Euro standard, such as EURO 6 or EURO 5a, according to TfL. If the section is blank or shows just a code, the manufacturer can confirm the standard using the vehicle identification number.
Euro standards: common questions
How can I tell if a vehicle is Euro 6?
Section D.2 of the V5C is where newer vehicles may show it, according to TfL. A blank one means you turn to the first registration date. Euro 6 had to be met by every new car sold from September 2015.
Is it possible to make my Euro 5 car Euro 6?
There's no approved upgrade that makes a Euro 5 car Euro 6 for the clean air zones.
Which is better, Euro 5 or Euro 6?
The stricter limit is Euro 6. On a diesel, it tells you if the ULEZ charge applies or not.