Millions of petrol and diesel cars to be impacted by new emissions rules launching soon

Any potential changes to update the minimum emission standard to Euro 7 would apply to new cars, vans, trucks, buses and coaches.

Euro 7 emissions standards will apply to new light-duty vehicle models from November 29, 2026, with the same rules applying to heavy-duty vehicles from May 29, 2028.

The new Euro 7 rules would bring Great Britain in line with the European Union and follow on from Euro 6e and Euro VI, which were introduced in 2023 and 2021, respectively.

The consultation questions whether Great Britain should adopt Euro 7 and how the scheme will be implemented, if support is there.

It also questions whether drivers and organisations believe that the proposed implementation dates should remain the same.

Euro 7 could have an impact on vehicle taxation, especially for plug-in hybrid company cars paying Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax.

The proposed changes would increase official CO2 emission figures for plug-ins, and require higher-emitting vehicles to pay more tax if the rules are introduced.

To combat any issues, the Government has introduced a BiK easement for plug-in hybrids that will apply from January 2025 until April 2028.

This aims to "mitigate the impacts on users of PHEV company cars and their employers during this period".

It would also apply to vehicles approved to the Euro 7 standard, provided the rules are accepted and rolled out across Great Britain later this year.

The UK helped develop the Euro 7 emissions standards through the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

Northern Ireland applies the current EU standards, including Euro 6e and Euro VI Step E, under terms included featured in the Windsor Framework.

Euro 7 builds on existing emissions standards by strengthening current requirements, while introducing several new measures to crack down on harmful pollution.

This will include battery durability requirements for plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, such as minimum capacity retention thresholds over defined mileage and time periods.

It would also require vehicles to be fitted with "accurate, accessible and comparable" battery health monitors to provide assurances to drivers looking to buy second-hand EVs.

Several popular car brands have already confirmed that they will include battery "passports" in their vehicles as standard over the coming months and years.

Polestar is one of the manufacturers to introduce the so-called "passports" to provide an electronic record with information on the lifecycle of the battery.

Drivers and organisations looking to provide feedback on the proposals have until 11.45pm on May 25, 2026, to respond to the consultation.