What is Red Diesel?

Red diesel is a fuel that is used for machinery and off-road vehicles across a wide variety of industries including farming and construction. This product is just like regular diesel, but is dyed.

What is the point of red diesel?

Red diesel, also known as gas oil, cherry red and tractor diesel, is a fuel that is used in off-road vehicles and machinery. Red diesel is the same as regular diesel, but with a red marker (dye) added to it to prevent illegal use on road-going vehicles, hence the name!

Does red diesel damage your engine?

Can Red Diesel Damage Your Engine? No, it can't. It's the same as on-road diesel except for the dye. If you have a diesel engine, it can run on farm fuel.

Is red diesel the same as road diesel?

Red diesel is different from white or “road” diesel in two ways: its colour, and the rate at which it's taxed. Chemically, the two fuels are identical, and release identical levels of greenhouse gasses when burned. Its colour is changed through the use of a red dye that's used to differentiate it from unrebated fuel.

What is the difference between red diesel and green diesel?

Red diesel fuel is for use as a heating oil or for off-road use, which means it is not subject to federal taxes like gasoline or standard diesel fuel. Green diesel refers more to the elements that comprise the fuel, which come from plant and animal fats, renewable energy sources.

What is Red Diesel Fuel?

Is red diesel tax free?

No, red diesel isn't completely exempt from tax. However, it is a heavily rebated fuel, so the tax charged is much less than on other fuels such as white diesel.

Is red diesel the same as heating oil?

There are two types of heating oil – gas oil and kerosene. Gas oil (also known as red diesel and 35-second oil) is generally for commercial and agricultural use. Kerosene (also known as home heating oil or 28-second oil) is a lighter oil that is used in many homes.

What happens if you get caught using Red diesel?

If you're caught using red fuel illegally, your vehicle could be seized by the authorities and you'll have to pay a fee for the vehicle's release, along with the amount to cover the duty owed. Serious offences could result in an unlimited fine to the operator and a prison sentence of up to two years.

Can police check for Red diesel?

Who checks for red correct diesel usage? HMRC and the police check for illegal red diesel use by carrying out random spot checks using a dipstick test.

Who can legally use Red diesel?

At the time of writing, farmers are able to use red diesel to travel between different plots of land so long as they are both owned by the same individual/business, up to a maximum distance of 1.5km. Some exceptions also exist for vehicles using red diesel for horticulture or forestry.

Does cat litter take the dye out of red diesel?

A man who carried out a scam involving red diesel fuel has been given a suspended jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court. Marius Legavicius used cat litter to remove the red dye from the diesel fuel which carries a significantly lower level of excise duty.

Can farmers still use red diesel?

Can an agricultural contractor use rebated fuel? Provided a contractor is using an allowed vehicle or machine for an allowed purpose, they can continue to use red diesel driving to and from the farm, carrying materials or equipment needed for the job and removing waste resulting from the contracted work.

Is red diesel being discontinued?

Businesses in the construction industry will no longer be able to use 'red' diesel from 1 April 2022 for most purposes. From this date, it will no longer be legal to use red diesel for non-road mobile machinery such as bulldozers and cranes or to power mobile generators on construction sites.

Why is red diesel illegal in cars?

Why is red diesel illegal? Red diesel is illegal because it has a lower fuel duty applied to it - but is not designated to be used on public roads. Therefore, using red diesel on a public road is considered tax evasion which means it is illegal.

Do locomotives use red diesel?

Rail freight, as with rail passenger services uses red diesel throughout its operations. Red diesel is used for all activities by locomotives, including shunting in yards and sidings as well as main line haulage.

Is off-road diesel the same as on-road diesel?

There is no chemical difference between on-road and off-road diesel fuels. On-road diesel, also known as clear diesel, can be purchased at the local gas station. Off-road diesel is dyed red and is sold through bulk distributors. The only differences are in the color, cost, and intended use.

What is white diesel?

White diesel is also referred to as the 'taxed' diesel and is the standard fuel which can be found in vehicles. It is also known as Derv (Diesel Engine Road Vehicle) or Ultra-Low Sulphur Diesel too. It is significantly more expensive than red diesel fuel which is a rebated fuel.

What are the new rules on Red diesel?

The current law is that red diesel can be used in any machine which is not a road vehicle. From 1 April 2022 the law will change so that rebated fuel use is limited to certain types of vehicles, machines, and appliances when the fuel is used for specific purposes only.

Can I still buy red diesel after April 2022?

From April 2022, red diesel can only be used for the following purposes: For vehicles and machinery used in agriculture, horticulture, fish farming and forestry. This includes allowing vehicles used for agriculture to be used for cutting verges and hedges, snow clearance and gritting roads.

Can I put red diesel in my heating oil tank?

There are limited circumstances in which you can use a vehicle running on red diesel. In most circumstances, using a vehicle with red diesel in the fuel tank on a public highway is considered tax evasion, since red diesel does not incur the same level of fuel duties as regular diesel.

Can I use off-road diesel in my oil furnace?

The answer is generally yes; dyed and off-road diesel is an acceptable alternative to heating oil. Dyed and off-road diesel are typically ultra-low-sulfur diesel these days. Heating oil can be either low sulfur or high sulfur, according to EPA and most state laws.

Can I mix diesel with heating oil?

The very short answer is yes, it can. Diesel is close enough to home heating oil to act as a substitute, and it will burn fairly safely.

Can I still drive my diesel car after 2030?

Can I still drive a petrol and diesel car after 2030, and a hybrid with a "significant" zero emission range after 2035? Yes. The bans on these dates only apply to sales of new cars, and there are no current plans to outlaw the use or sale of second-hand cars based on these criteria.

How far can you drive a tractor on red diesel?

How far can I travel using red diesel? There are no distance limits on the use of red diesel in agricultural vehicles involved in an agricultural activity. However, if you are moving produce you must consider if you need an operator's licence when travelling more than 15 miles from your base.

Is red diesel being banned for boats?

Budget 2021 announced that the government would maintain the entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022 for all commercial boat operating industries, including but not limited to the fishing and inland water freight industries.