From November 29, 2026, all newly registered cars and vans across Britain must comply with tougher emissions regulations under fresh legislation.
Euro 7 represents a new emissions standard aimed at reducing harmful pollutants and pollution from non-exhaust sources, including tyre particles and brake dust, for new vehicles, including electric models.
The regulation mandates that cars emit lower levels of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and guarantees they stay within these limits for an extended duration (10 years or 200,000 km). This will affect British manufacturers and the cost of new vehicles.
The Euro 7 emissions standard is likely to raise the cost of new cars, especially for petrol and diesel models, because making cleaner technology and meeting tougher testing rules will be more expensive. Industry experts estimate the extra cost will be about £155-£393 for cars and vans, and around £2440 for trucks and buses, and will likely be passed on to buyers starting in late 2026 or 2027.
The European Union is poised to introduce the Euro 7 standard towards the end of the year - its strictest vehicle emissions regulation yet. Euro 7 represents a major move towards restricting CO2 and other pollutants released by vehicles.
The regulations establish permissible thresholds for exhaust emissions in new light-duty vehicles sold across EU and EEA member states, seeking to diminish the contribution of transport, which represents up to 28% of total CO2 emissions in Britain, reports the Mirror.
Emissions standards trace back to 1970, with the inaugural EU-wide standard, Euro 1, launched in 1992, which required catalytic converters on new cars. This was succeeded by a succession of standards culminating in the present Euro 6, which was implemented by September 2015.
Vehicle emissions are a significant cause of both local air pollution and global greenhouse gases. At a local level, pollutants such as NOx and particulate matter are claimed to contribute to the deaths of approximately seven million people worldwide through poor air quality, according to the World Health Organization.
On a global scale, the European Environment Agency (EEA) estimates that transport is responsible for roughly 25% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions, with up to 75% of that figure stemming from road transport.
The Euro 7 standard represents the seventh evolution of emissions regulations, growing progressively stricter to strike a balance between environmental safeguarding and manufacturers' capacity to comply. Euro 7 is the most rigorous standard to date, and the first to encompass non-exhaust emissions, applying to all petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric cars, as well as vans, lorries, and buses.
Although originally anticipated in mid-2025, the official timeline was delayed owing to disputes over the severity of the regulations. According to Regulation (EU) 2024/1257, the Euro 7 standard will be introduced in two principal stages for light vehicles: Additional vehicle categories, including buses, lorries and trailers, will face separate introduction timelines extending further ahead.
Regarding the longevity of Euro 7, the RAC explains: "It's difficult to predict exactly when the next stage of emissions standards will be put in place. Proposals must be drawn up and consultations must be made before the European Parliament can vote on the standards, which takes time. The last few emissions standards have been in place for between four and six years. Expect a similar timeframe for Euro 7."
Environmental vehicle passport: Each new vehicle will be issued with a digital passport at the point of registration. It will outline its environmental credentials.
Extended compliance lifetime: New vehicles will need to meet the standards for a considerably longer duration. Cars and vans must now keep emissions beneath the thresholds for 10 years or 200,000 kilometres (124,000 miles), effectively doubling the durability requirement of Euro 6.
EV battery testing: Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will be subject to assessments for battery deterioration over time, with minimum operational-life standards. Batteries must preserve 80% of their initial capacity after five years or 60,000 miles, and 72% after eight years or 100,000 miles.