As I understand it, a proposal document was issued on 6th July, aimed at better respecting emission requirements for used vehicles.

Please don’t take the following as gospel, but a brief scan suggests, cat backs, DPF, Adblue deletes will be taken as unacceptable since the vehicle has been modified from the manufacturer’s construction. It is likely that any mapping of ECUs will fall under the same umbrella.

If passed, this could be implemented as early as mid/late 2027.

Anyone, who has had such modifications carried out, would be advised to study the document carefully, and tender your objections - by September?

Regards,

Gareth.

If this

https://bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Regulating-environmental-impact-of-in-use-emissions-of-road-vehicles-GOV.UK_-1.pdf

is the proposal you refer to Gareth, then pages 3 and 8 will require old vehicles to be maintained and operated to the same emissions standards as existed at the time of manufacture. In other words any modifications that increase emissions will be illegal, as will natural wear and tear. That's going to be quite a blow to many drivers.

5 hours ago, Magnet said:

As I understand it, a proposal document was issued on 6th July, aimed at better respecting emission requirements for used vehicles.

Please don’t take the following as gospel, but a brief scan suggests, cat backs, DPF, Adblue deletes will be taken as unacceptable since the vehicle has been modified from the manufacturer’s construction. It is likely that any mapping of ECUs will fall under the same umbrella.

If passed, this could be implemented as early as mid/late 2027.

Anyone, who has had such modifications carried out, would be advised to study the document carefully, and tender your objections - by September?

Regards,

Gareth.

Hi Gareth/Cliff, this was always coming the Germans tried it back in the late 70s with type approval on car parts within Europe, you were obliged to use manufacturer parts, that went out of the window when everybody and their dog worked out that the manufacturers had changed their practise and were not making the parts anymore but buying from people like Bosch Febi LUK Hella, the list is endless, therefore what was the difference between a Bosch part direct and a Bosch part with a VAG Logo, nothing except the Bosch direct part was about half price, this will not be as easy as they have a more than valid point, I love my cars but am realistic enough to take on board that Nox 1 is deadly and has to be reduced as it has been by the manufacturer, I agree in principle to what they propose as it drives me mad with the remap brigade who will happily try and belittle those who don't have their vehicles mapped as being dull and stupid, think of all the extra power you could have, then I have to smile when they end up on this forum bleating for help with problems of their own making which no one can help with because the vehicles been modified or as they put it improved, what price improvement, prime example being the poster with the A1 that had low compression and running problems because of a melted piston, after wheedling out of him you begin to wonder why anyone in their right mind would remap an engine that has a supercharger and inline turbo fitted and a history of melting pistons on its own without the aid of a remap, we have to get past a basic ignorance of what this process does to your car long term.

Steve.

From my quick scan, I think they are serious about this, and have a September deadline for comment, and it will then go forward towards possible legislation during next year.

I think anyone with modified vehicles will need to take notice of this, rather than perhaps take a view of ‘oh yeah’.

Will trendy pop-pop exhaust notes come under the same umbrella? Quite possible.

Regards,

Gareth.

8 hours ago, Magnet said:

From my quick scan, I think they are serious about this, and have a September deadline for comment, and it will then go forward towards possible legislation during next year.

I think anyone with modified vehicles will need to take notice of this, rather than perhaps take a view of ‘oh yeah’.

Will trendy pop-pop exhaust notes come under the same umbrella? Quite possible.

Regards,

Gareth.

Hi I think you are correct as the popping is caused by unburnt fuel exploding after the cat and in the exhaust which is basically untreated hydrocarbons and C02, the side benefit of this is that if you still have a cat it will destroy it, some people even have spark plugs fitted past the silencer which ignites the unburnt fuel so you have popping and flames emanating from the exhaust, when I used to work nights any driver going to anywhere near Lakeside retail park lived in fear of the hoards of lunatics popping and flaming as they forced you in to the middle of the dual carriageways whilst overtaking both sides of your vehicle, the Police claim to have not enough officers to cover the area and no powers to stop this, well, they will have soon, some Thurrock drivers can attest to horrific accidents a lot of them high speed and caused by defects in braking and suspension, why not forget the overpriced straight through exhaust and its remap and spend the money on making sure you can stop and go around corners, my main objection is when they take some unsuspecting soul out as well, why does insurance cost so much because you can bet your bottom dollar that alarge percentage of these people with modified cars don't declare the said modification because they won't get insurance therefore what they do have insurance wise is void via the non disclosure clause on their policy, this leaves any victims of their stupidity with what? you got it, claiming off their own insurance.

Steve.

This is interesting I hadnt heard about this untill now. The issue will be the modified car parts scene will nosedive and I believe this brings in a good amount to the tax man every year through vat etc.

I'm not condoneing illegal mods by the way, just stating the impact on last revenue from vat and then income tax/corporation tax etc if businesses close down.

1 hour ago, Steve Q said:

This is interesting I hadnt heard about this untill now. The issue will be the modified car parts scene will nosedive and I believe this brings in a good amount to the tax man every year through vat etc.

I'm not condoneing illegal mods by the way, just stating the impact on last revenue from vat and then income tax/corporation tax etc if businesses close down.

Hi I am sure all the Herberts that run mapping adverts on Facebook are totally upfront on their tax declarations, it won't affect the modified car scene insomuch if they stick to exhaust systems that work in line with emissions equipment that is already fitted to the car, it won't be stopping super wide wheels or lowering and suspension its aimed at the emissions, the manufacturers manage models that fit the criteria and positively fly along so the simple equation is if you save your money then buy fast you have got a better deal, the flip side of that is the ones that do save up and buy fast seem to end up on sites like this because they don't factor in running costs or servicing or sudden failure of key components, never going to be a winner is it.

Steve.