Your Guide to Red Diesel

We all rely on fuel in some form or another, whether it’s home heating oil, petrol for your car, or fuel for machinery. Most types of fuel can be purchased by anyone, but there are some important rules and regulations to be aware of if you want to purchase red diesel. Red diesel is widely used in the agricultural and construction sectors, so if you want to know more about this fuel and the regulations surrounding it, see below for our handy guide.

What is red diesel?

Red diesel is essentially the same as regular diesel but it has a red dye added to it. This is to differentiate it from clear diesel, which is taxed at a much higher rate. Red diesel is a low-tax fuel and it can only be used for certain purposes. The red dye prevents red diesel being used illegally in on-road vehicles.

Can red diesel be used on the road?

It’s illegal to use red diesel in standard on-road vehicles like cars, motorcycles or lorries. This fuel is mainly used for vehicles and equipment in the agricultural or construction sector, such as tractors, combine harvesters, dump trucks and drill rigs. 

Red diesel can be used to power equipment for outdoor events, such as backup power generators, and it’s also used by the railway industry.

Who can buy and use red diesel?

You don’t need a licence to purchase red diesel but it isn’t available to the general public, i.e at petrol stations. You must buy red diesel from a company that’s registered with HMRC and you must use it for a legitimate reason (like the ones mentioned above). 

You can buy red diesel if you work in agriculture, construction, civil engineering or any other legitimate industry. It’s illegal to use red diesel in your car and this is considered tax evasion. You can use red diesel on public roads in some cases, but only if you’re moving between different areas of land occupied by the same person. The purpose must be related to agriculture, forestry or horticulture and you cannot travel on public roads for more than 1.5km.  

For red diesel delivery in Nottingham, Derbyshire or Leicester, get in touch with the team at Northern Oil. We’re proud to offer reliable, affordable red diesel for customers in the agricultural or commercial sector, as well as a range of fuel additives and lubricants. With over 130 years in the industry, you can count on us for all your red diesel needs, so give us a call today or contact us online to find out more.