What is the Euro 7 emissions standard?

Not sure what the Euro 7 emission standard is and how they will apply to your car? This guide tells you everything you need to know.

Once a niche topic for policymakers and car manufacturers, Euro emission standards now affect every driver. Authorities use them to regulate access to low-emission zones and influence taxes. For example, London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) charges drivers whose cars fail to meet specific Euro standards, and HMRC taxes non-compliant diesel cars more heavily.

Euro standards have been around for some time, but the Euro 7 emissions standard is the latest regulation that will affect the availability, technology, and cost of new cars sold in the UK and EU from November 2026 for new models, and November 2027 for all new cars on sale. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to help you better understand how it affects you.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

What are Euro standards?

Euro standards set the maximum allowed exhaust emissions for cars before they can be type-approved and sold. Type approval ensures vehicles meet safety and environmental requirements. Introduced in 1992 with Euro 1, standards have become progressively stricter, with Euro 6 currently in force since 2014. Diesel and petrol cars are measured differently because of how their fuels burn: diesel emits less CO2 but more nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Euro 7 implementation

Euro 7 rules apply to all mass-produced cars from 1 July 2025. Smaller carmakers that build fewer than 10,000 vehicles a year get a little longer, with a deadline of 2030. While the new rules aren’t as tough as many expected, they still bring some important changes.

The biggest shift is that petrol and diesel cars will now have to meet the same limit for nitrogen oxides (NOx): no more than 60mg per kilometre (97mg per mile). Tests will also be carried out in more challenging conditions, including short journeys and temperatures up to 45°C, to better reflect real-world driving.

For the first time, Euro 7 also tackles pollution from tyres and brakes, which release tiny particles into the air as they wear. Cars will need to produce low emissions not just when they’re new, but throughout their lifespan too.

So, instead of being checked for five years or 100,000km (62,000 miles), they now have to meet emissions requirements for 10 years or 200,000km (125,000 miles). New on-board sensors will help spot issues that could increase pollution.

Electric and plug-in hybrid cars are covered as well, with new rules to ensure their batteries keep a reasonable amount of capacity as they age – good news for anyone considering a used electric car.

The European Commission says these changes will add about £264 to the cost of a new car.

Impact on petrol and diesel cars

Although the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned in the UK from 2030, Euro 7 rules will apply to new vehicles for at least 5-10 years. Considering the average car lifespan of 14 years, Euro 7 cars will remain on roads until around 2044-2049.

One thing to bear in mind is that the EU is thinking of delaying its ban on new petrol and diesel cars until 2040. Whether the UK will follow suit is yet to be known, but this may have an impact on Euro 7 emission standards in the future.

Will Euro 7 rules affect ULEZ and other emission zones?

There’s currently no sign that Euro 7 rules will change how emission-zone schemes work, including London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). However, governments and city authorities have a history of tightening clean-air policies over time rather than relaxing them.

In London, for example, the ULEZ has already expanded beyond its original boundaries and was extended again to cover all London boroughs in 2023. While nothing has been formally linked to Euro 7, further updates to local emission rules in the future are always possible as cities continue to focus on improving air quality.

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Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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