Drivers face £1k fine for excessive emissions

Motorists are being warned they could face a fine of up to £1,000 if their car is found to be producing excessive harmful emissions.

Motor insurance experts at Tiger.co.uk are urging drivers to look out for warning signs that their vehicle may not be complying with UK air pollutant emissions standards, as driving a car with a faulty or tampered emissions control system could result in penalties and an automatic MOT failure.*

According to Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, it’s an offence to use a vehicle on a public road if it doesn’t comply with the air pollutant emissions standards it was originally designed to meet, with fines reaching £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van, lorry or bus.**

Emissions checks form a key part of an MOT test, with vehicles failing if they produce excessive exhaust smoke or if key components such as diesel particulate filters (DPFs) or catalytic converters have been removed or tampered with.*

DPFs are designed to capture and store soot from diesel engines to reduce emissions, but short journeys, missed services or deliberate removal can cause them to malfunction, increasing pollution levels.

Similarly, removing or altering a catalytic converter, which helps reduce toxic gases from petrol engines, will produce more emissions and likely result in an MOT failure. Catalytic converters can also become less effective over time due to wear and tear, contamination, or underlying engine faults.

Common signs that a vehicle may be emitting more harmful pollutants than it should include an unusual sound coming from the car. For example, a rattling noise coming from underneath the vehicle may indicate a loose exhaust pipe or a failing catalytic converter.

A pungent fuel smell inside or outside the car may suggest that emissions are not being properly filtered before leaving the exhaust.

Visible exhaust smoke is another key warning sign. Thick black smoke can mean the fuel mixture is too rich, while blue smoke may indicate oil burning in the engine, both of which could increase harmful emissions.***

A DPF warning light or a check engine light could also signal anything from a blocked filter to problems with the exhaust gas recirculation system.

Reduced fuel efficiency, sluggish acceleration or rough idling can also suggest the engine is not burning fuel as cleanly as it should, potentially resulting in excessive emissions.

Drivers are warned to act quickly if they notice any of these signs, arranging a professional inspection and necessary repairs as soon as possible to help ensure their vehicle remains roadworthy.

Problems with emissions systems are normally treated as a major MOT fault, meaning the vehicle must be repaired and pass a retest before it can be driven legally.*

Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to public health in the UK, known to cause and affect asthma and bronchitis sufferers and even trigger strokes and chronic heart disease. The Governments ‘road to zero strategy’ is pushing for zero-emission road transport and reduce emissions from conventional vehicles, in a bid to drive better air quality.*

Ian Wilson, Managing Director and car insurance expert at Tiger.co.uk said: “Many drivers don’t realise vehicles which give off more harmful emissions than they should can lead to MOT failures and hefty fines.

“Components like diesel particulate filters and catalytic converters are there to reduce the amount of harmful pollutants being released into the air, so if they’re not working properly or are tampered with, the vehicle may no longer meet legal emissions standards.

“Common signs that a vehicle may be producing excessive harmful pollutants aren’t always obvious at first, so we’re urging drivers to pay attention to unusual rattling sounds, strong fuel smells, and DPF and engine management warning lights on the dashboard.

“Taking action early not only keeps the vehicle roadworthy and avoids fines, it also reduces harmful air pollution and helps ensure your car insurance remains valid.”

Tiger.co.uk provides drivers with the tools they need to find savings on all sorts of essentials such as breakdown cover and car insurance.

References:

*https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-mot-standards-improving-our-air-quality

**https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2016-09-02/44118

***https://strperformance.com/en/blog/news/-blue-white-or-black-exhaust-smoke-causes-meanings-and-solutions

This article is intended as generic information only and is not intended to apply to anybody’s specific circumstances, demands or needs. The views expressed are not intended to provide any financial service or to give any recommendation or advice. Products and services are only mentioned for illustrative rather than promotional purposes.