02/09/2026
The Government wants vehicles to continue meeting the emissions requirements that applied when they were manufactured and first registered and Motorists could face fines of up to £1,000 if their cars fail to meet these standards
Modern cars contain increasingly sophisticated systems designed to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
Depending on the vehicle, these can include diesel particulate filters (DPFs), catalytic converters, selective catalytic reduction systems using AdBlue and other emissions-control technology.
Problems arise when those systems are removed, deliberately disabled, modified or inadequately maintained.
The Government says there are currently gaps in the legislation covering newer vehicles.
Its proposal would strengthen the law so that road vehicles used in Great Britain from 1 January 2001 would be required to have their emissions-control systems maintained so that they continue to operate to the legal requirements applicable when the vehicle was manufactured.