How and where to check the vehicle category and emission class of truck engines

The European emissions standard – known briefly as the Euro standard – is the basic way of classifying emissions from transport vehicles, including light commercial vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. At present, without the relevant emissions standard, drivers are not allowed to enter the more than 200 European cities with green zones and environmental bans.

foto germanemissionssticker.com

Ecological zones with strict restrictions on the movement of commercial vehicles and trucks are becoming increasingly popular. No wonder, transport means are one of the main sources of air pollution. Green zones, where car entry is restricted, create clean, resident-friendly areas. 

However, we can’t do without transport, so manufacturers are racing against the clock to develop more and more eco-friendly solutions. For eco-friendly bans are not as strict or not applicable at all. So drivers need to know which zone and which vehicle they can enter without risking a fine.

How to check the vehicle category

The category of the vehicle can be easily checked in the documentation. Whether the vehicles are registered in Poland or abroad, this can be done in one of the following documents:

1. Vehicle registration certificate.
2. Vehicle Card.
3. Extract from the certificate of approval.

How to check the emission class?

You can find the emission class of your vehicle in the following documents:

1. Registration Certificate.
2. Vehicle Card.
3. EURO certificate.
4. Extract from the approval certificate.
5. Copy of the decision releasing the vehicle from type-approval.
6. Vehicle manufacturer’s document.
7. Document of the manufacturer’s representative.
8. CE conformity certificate.
9. Copy of the registration certificate (attention – with the same VIN number).

Depending on the country of registration of the truck, the emission class may appear in various places on the vehicle registration certificate, but it is clearly marked. However, if for some reason the driver has difficulty in determining the class, it can be checked by the year of manufacture. We provide a detailed overview below:

Vehicles with a GVW (Gross vehicle weight) up to 3,5 t (when the vehicle with trailer exceeds 3.5 tonnes):

1. Manufactured before 1999: Euro 0.
2. 2000-2004: Euro 3.
3. 2005-2009: Euro 4.
4. after 2010: Euro 5.

Vehicles with a GVW (Gross vehicle weight) of more than 3,5 t (when the vehicle without trailer exceeds 3,5 t):

1. Manufactured before 1999: Euro 0.
2. 2000-2004: Euro 3.
3. 2005-2008: Euro 4,
4. manufactured after 1 October 2009: Euro 5.
5. from September 2014: Euro 6.

Some vehicles meeting the latest Euro 6 standard have been manufactured since September 2014, others since September 2015. It’s worth checking this with your documentacion to be sure, although of course with the latest modes of transport there is no need to do so – Euro 6 delivery vans and trucks generally have no problems entering ecological zones. However, there are currently a number of zero emission zones in Europe that diesel trucks are not allowed to drive into.