New emissions rules could make maintenance history even more important

Fleet managers could face tighter responsibility for keeping petrol and diesel vehicles within their original emissions standards under new Government proposals.

The Department for Transport is consulting on rules that would require in-use vehicles to continue meeting the emissions requirements that applied when they were built and registered. The change would close a gap affecting many Euro 5, Euro 6 and Euro VI vehicles.

Poor maintenance and modifications affecting DPF, EGR, catalytic-converter or AdBlue systems are specifically in scope, with potential fines for breaches. The Government expects legislation in summer 2027, followed by a proposed six-month lead-in period.

For fleets, the immediate priority is control of maintenance history. Managers should ensure emissions-system faults are repaired correctly, supplier work is documented and vehicles are not modified in ways that could compromise compliance.

The consultation runs until 6 September 2026.

For mixed fleets keeping ICE vehicles beyond the next replacement cycle, robust SMR records could become increasingly important evidence that vehicles have been properly maintained.

Similar Stories

Back to blog