What is red diesel? Red diesel is exactly the same as regular diesel, except it’s red. It is a criminal offence if you use red diesel when you aren’t supposed to. This is because the VAT charged on red diesel is much lower than regular diesel, it’s 5% up to 2,300 litres and 20% above 2,300 litres.
How do police check for red diesel?
HMRC and the police check for illegal red diesel use by carrying out random spot checks using a dipstick test. The chemical dye added to the fuel is designed to linger in a tank and is almost impossible to remove, so if you’ve used red diesel in the past, you could be caught years down the line.
Can farmers use red diesel on the road?
Using red diesel is legal only in a tractor used solely for agricultural use. For fuel duty purposes, as long as you only use the road for agricultural work, red diesel can be used off-road whatever the activity.
Why is off road diesel illegal?
Why is off road diesel illegal for pick up trucks to use? Off road diesel is dyed red to show that the on-road fuel taxes are not paid or that it is a tax-free fuel. The Federal Government and State Government’s have fuel taxes for on-road fuel usage to help pay for the roads we all drive on.
Who do you report the use of red diesel to?
HM Revenue & Customs
Report someone to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) if they’re using red diesel on public roads. It’s illegal to use red diesel on public roads. You can report it to the HMRC Fraud Hotline.
How often do police check for red diesel?
normally they do 28 days a month on Commercial vehicles and 2-3 on cars. The bigger multipoint checks are reputed to have a benefits officer and a magistrate in their portacabin so once VOSA and HMRC are done taking your car, cigarettes and drugs you can be charged and have your dole stopped.
What is the punishment for 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 I use red diesel in my truck?
Red diesel is chemically no different than any other fuel, so it can be used in your truck, as heating fuel, and in a generator. However, this product is reserved for agricultural and construction equipment and other off-road uses.
