Increasing the environmental class in PTS for trucks

Issues discussed in the material:

• What does a car's environmental class mean?
• How did the “ecological automobile transition” begin in Russia?
• What are the environmental classes of cars?
• How to find out the environmental class of a car
• What changes are there in the environmental classes of cars since 2018?
• What is known about the environmental tax

Since Russia is one of the countries party to the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, our country has legally established standards regarding the composition of exhaust gases. The regulations clearly state that only those vehicles that emit no more than a specified amount of harmful substances into the atmosphere can be used on the territory of the country. In our article we will talk about what the concept of “ecological class of a car” includes and what classes exist today.

What does a car's environmental class mean?

The system for dividing cars into environmental classes is based on research concerning the composition of exhaust gases. It has been established that on average, per year of operation, one machine consumes about four tons of oxygen, and emits the following products of its processing into the air:

• carbon monoxide – about 800 kg;
• carbons – 200 kg;
• nitrogen oxides – 40 kg.

At the same time, according to statistics, there are more and more new cars on the roads every day. Environmental experts are seriously concerned about how the constant increase in toxic emissions will affect the Earth's ecosystem. Naturally, it is not possible to limit the number of private vehicles at the legislative level. Instead, it was decided to introduce standards regarding the maximum content of harmful substances in exhaust gases. Today, all companies that produce cars are required to comply with them.

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So, what is the meaning of the concept of environmental class of a car? All vehicles are divided into several categories depending on how much harmful substances they emit into the air during operation. It also takes into account what kind of fuel the car runs on, because evaporation from the fuel also has a destructive effect on the atmosphere.

Harmful fumes include:

• CO – carbon monoxide;
• NO – nitric oxide;
• hydrocarbons;
• fine solids.

An environmental class is assigned to a car when crossing the state border at customs. The car must have a technical passport, which contains a note indicating which class it belongs to.

What is a car’s environmental class and what does it affect?

The environmental class of a car is a concept characterized by a set of technical indicators of a car that determine its impact on the environment. First of all, of course, we are talking about air emissions from internal combustion engines.

There are several regulations that, although not fully, clarify issues related to the concept of environmental class:

1. Technical Regulations of the Customs Union TR CU 018-2011 “On the safety of wheeled vehicles”,
2. Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Economic Development No. 496 / 192 / 134 dated June 23, 2005 on changes to the PTS form.
3. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 609 of October 12, 2005, which approved the Regulation “On emission requirements...”
4. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 832 of July 12, 2021, amending traffic rules regarding new road signs restricting traffic on the EC.

Information about the environmental class must be indicated in the PTS. However, this is not always the case.

Attention! There may be options in which this data will not be available. In this case, the environmental class is considered to be “not established”.

We can talk about an initially established and documented EC only for cars that have crossed the border of the Russian Federation or manufactured since 2006. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 609 of October 12, 2005. Thanks to this, environmental class began to be indicated in PTS, but this only happened in 2006. The question arises: what happened before? But nothing - for cars produced or crossed the border of the Russian Federation before this time, data on the environmental status simply will not be in the PTS. Cars manufactured after 2006 will already have data. They can be indicated in two options: either in the column “special notes” or in column 13. This depends on whether you have an old or new type of PTS on hand.

How it all started

Documents related to the regulation of vehicle emissions of toxic substances began to appear in 1992. Even then, the state of the environment in European countries left much to be desired. The first standard limiting the amount of harmful emissions was called Euro 1. A few years later, a second standard, Euro 2, was adopted, containing even more stringent standards. Subsequently, thanks to the active work of environmental organizations, the third, fourth and fifth editions of environmental standards arose. As a result, in such an issue as environmental classes of cars, the euro is the main standard.

In our country, the first eco-standard for cars was Euro 2, introduced in 2006. Then every two years the document was changed to a newer one. As for cars imported into Russia this year, they must already comply with the most modern standard - Euro 5.

How do car emissions laws affect the lives of ordinary people? First of all, they limit the possibility of importing foreign cars into the country that do not comply with current standards.

Let's explain with an example how this works.

Let's say someone bought a 2003 Citroen car in Europe and wants to transport it to Russia. The problem is that it is impossible to register this car and obtain a technical passport for it. Since the Euro 3 standard was in force in European countries in 2003, and a newer standard is now relevant in Russia, the environmental class of this car is considered outdated. To avoid such a problem, it was necessary to choose a newer Citroen, in the year of production of which the current environmental standard was already in force.

Ecological car classes

Euro-1 is a standard that was the first small step towards protecting the environment from the harmful effects of automobile exhaust. The standards outlined in it applied only to gasoline-powered vehicles. Euro 1 established the maximum possible content of substances such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in exhaust gases. However, these restrictions cannot be called strict.

Euro-2 is the next version of the environmental class of cars, which stipulated that the content of toxic substances in automobile gases should be reduced by three times. In Russia, it was legally recognized in 2005 and began to be used in 2006.

Euro 3 was the first standard that diesel vehicles also had to comply with. The standards regarding the amount of harmful impurities in exhaust gases have become even more stringent here. The maximum content of such substances has decreased by almost 40% compared to the previous edition.

Euro-4 began to be actively used in European countries since 2005, and in the Russian Federation - since 2010. Cars that meet this environmental class must emit another 40% less harmful compounds into the atmosphere than Euro 3 class vehicles.

Euro-5 is the latest edition of the environmental standard. Since 2008, the standards of this edition have become mandatory for trucks, and since 2009 for cars. In 2015, this standard was adopted in our country. At the moment, both in Russia and in all countries of the European Union, only cars of this class are allowed for sale.

After the Euro 5 environmental class of cars became widespread, it became dangerous to purchase vehicles of a different class abroad. Such a car can be imported into a country where the new standard is in force, but it cannot be used for its intended purpose. When entering Russia at customs, you will not receive a technical passport for a Euro 4 or Euro 3 class car, which means you will not be able to register it with the traffic police. This situation will occur regardless of the purpose for which you purchased the car, whether it is a truck or a passenger car, new or used.

The only opportunity to purchase a Euro 4 environmental class car and drive it is to turn to reliable domestic suppliers. If at the time of purchase the car is already in the country and has a valid title, then new documents will not be required, and the car can be driven legally.

Changes in environmental legislation affected not only transport, but also the oil refining industry. All enterprises are now required to use gasoline that complies with Euro 5 standards. This reform has been prepared for quite a long time, and in 2016 all the necessary modernization measures were completed.

So, an environmental class is assigned to each car depending on its characteristics. Both in Russia and in other countries there are regulations related to the use of machines of one class or another. Thus, a number of rules apply to movement in protected areas. Vehicles that emit unacceptable amounts of chemicals into the atmosphere are prohibited from entering protected areas.

List of classes

Eco-standards of the European Union such as “Euro” regulate the composition of vehicle exhaust gases.

The standards are different for different engine options, for example, models of passenger cars, commercial vehicles (of different weights), and freight vehicles.

Before determining the standard, it is recommended to find out the main characteristics and the number of all standards. There are five of them in total:

• Euro1.
• Euro 2.
• Euro 3.
• Euro 4.
• Euro 5.

Separation into certain groups is carried out regarding emitted chemical compounds that have toxic gases. An additional negative is the evaporation of fuel applied to the internal combustion engine.

When crossing the Russian border, when importing models under additional control, the product is included in the first of the existing environmental standards.

This mark is included in the transport passport. It is an important document that accompanies the car for the entire operational period, so it is recommended to learn in detail about the specified environmental standards of the car.

Euro 1

Euro-1 is the first standard. It establishes permissible values ​​for substances harmful to the environment. It applies only to vehicles that have a gasoline engine. This type, introduced in 1991, streamlined the standards for chemical oxides. Due to the fact that this is the 1st eco class. It is “soft” to the vehicle, but hard to the external environment.

Euro 2

It's improved. There is information about reducing the composition of chemicals harmful to nature by 3 times. In the Russian Federation, it became legal in the fifth year. Full use began in 2006.

Euro 3

Here the role is about regulating the volume of chemicals in the exhaust gases of cars with gasoline and diesel engines. Normally, Euro-3 includes even greater requirements for vapors and gases. Compared to previous economic standards, a reduction of up to forty percent is expected.

Euro 4

It has been operating in Europe since 2005. It began operating in our country in 2010. Considering this eco-class, the reduction in the composition of hazardous chemical elements should contain almost half (40%) less than in the past.

How to find out the environmental class of a car

Due to changes in regulations, motorists may need to re-equip their vehicle. To understand whether you will have to change the engine or whether it is enough to make changes to the documents, you need to find out what environmental class the car currently has. The list of actions that will allow you to bring the car into compliance with current standards will depend on this.

There are several ways to determine the environmental class of a car:

Examine the vehicle registration certificate.

If you drive a car, you must have a document confirming its registration. There is a line in the new evidence that is called “ecological class”.

In this line, the class number is written in words: fifth, fourth, and so on.

If you have just such a certificate, you can easily find out which class your car belongs to. Then you only need to take into account changes in laws that apply from 2021.

But the new type of STS began to be issued quite recently. In the documents received several years ago, the environmental class was not indicated. If you are the owner of such a certificate, then the restrictions that will come into force in 2021 will apply to your car.

There is one more point: the environmental class of the car may not be indicated in the certificate, but noted in the technical passport. However, according to the new rules, it will still be considered that the class of your vehicle is unknown. Accordingly, all new restrictions will be relevant for you. This situation will upset drivers, especially if they intentionally purchased a car with a high class of environmental safety, but at the time of purchase the corresponding mark had not yet been placed on the certificate.

To avoid problems in the future, you should contact the traffic police and request a new vehicle certificate. You still have time to do this, since the changes will take effect only in a few years. Replacing a car certificate is not difficult: the procedure takes several days, and the fee is 500 rubles for a paper version or 1,500 for a plastic version.

Look in the car's passport.

The passport of any car contains basic data about it, which may include an environmental class number. In documents of the new type there is also a special line for this, where this information is written in words.

In PTS issued several years ago, the environmental class may be indicated in the column for additional information.

If your PTS does not say anything about whether the car belongs to a particular class, refer to the Rosstandart table.

Determine the environmental class of the car using the Rosstandart table.

The environmental class of a car can be determined using a special table. It was compiled by the agency involved in vehicle certification, taking into account the standards in force in the country.

The table takes into account two main criteria: in what year the vehicle was produced and in what country. Among the producers are EU countries, as well as a number of other countries. At the same time, in order for the data in the table to be reliable, the compilers took into account not only UNECE standards, but also local legislative restrictions adopted in each of the designated states.

Although the table was developed in Russia and for Russians, our country is not on the list. The fact is that all environmental standards in the Russian Federation were introduced late compared to European countries, and for a long time they were completely absent. Accordingly, it is impossible to compare a car produced in the early 2000s or earlier in Russia with a similar vehicle imported from Europe.

If you have determined the environmental class of your car using this table, but still have some questions, you can contact the electronic database with your VIN code.

This code can be located on different parts of the car. Most often this is the engine, body pillar near the driver's seat, driver's side dashboard, floor trim, door sill. Also, the identifier can always be found in the passport.

So, to help car enthusiasts, Rosstandart has compiled a table, by studying which you can find out the environmental class of the car. To do this, you need to know only two parameters: where the car was produced and in what year.

The table takes into account the environmental legislation of the EU, the USA and all other countries that are on the list of manufacturers.

Ecological classes of cars: table

If you cannot accurately determine the class of your car from the table (for example, the required country of manufacture is not listed in it), the Rosstandart website will help you. To make an online request, you only need to enter your VIN code.

Use the Rosstandart service, which works by VIN code.

Knowing the VIN code of your vehicle, you can easily find out the necessary information about it. To do this, you need to go to the Rosstandart website, where there is a special service for requesting the environmental class of a car.

The biggest advantage of this method is that you get a completely accurate result. At the same time, using the service is extremely simple: you enter the VIN code numbers, and then study the information from the electronic database. The site will provide you with the following information about the car:

• brand;
• type of transport;
• approval number;
• date of issue of the document and its validity period;
• environmental class number.;

However, this method is not suitable for everyone. Despite the vastness of the electronic database, it still does not contain all possible VIN codes. If information about the environmental class is not in any of your documents, and the above site does not provide it either, the only option is to contact the department in person.

Where can you find out the value of the eco-class?

If a car is assigned an eco-class value, data about this will be reflected in the PTS (vehicle passport) by making a special note. If there is no corresponding entry in the title documentation for the car, the organization is not obliged to calculate the tax taking into account this indicator. Nevertheless, many vehicle owners additionally contact Rosstandart (in person or via the Internet) to clarify information about the environmental class. In this case, it is recommended not to limit yourself to searching for information on your own, but to make a written request to government agencies to officially substantiate the taxpayer’s position on assigning an environmental class to a vehicle.

Ecological car class from 2021

Next, we will talk about how traffic rules will change due to new laws from July 1, 2021 and from July 1, 2021. It is planned to introduce a number of new road signs that will one way or another restrict the movement of cars with a high content of harmful substances in their exhaust.

The first stage involves the introduction of signs into operation, and the second - the expansion of the list of cars that will be subject to the designated prohibitions.

• Group of signs “Zone with environmental class restrictions”

In July 2021, the following signs will begin to appear on the roads:

Next to signs 5.35 and 5.36 you can also see sign 8.23, warning about the presence of video recording:

• Valid from July 1, 2021 (if the certificate contains an environmental class mark)

Let's figure out how to interpret each of these signs:

5.35: Passage is prohibited for all vehicles whose environmental class is lower than that required by the sign.

Above you can see an example of such a sign. The minimum environmental class of the car in this case is fourth. Accordingly, cars of the first, second and third classes are prohibited from driving in this zone.

5.36: Similarly establishes the minimum environmental class for trucks, tractors and self-propelled vehicles. Passage is prohibited for vehicles with a lower class.

• Valid from July 1, 2021 (if the certificate does not contain information about the environmental class)

5.35: Passage is prohibited for all vehicles whose environmental class is lower than that required by the sign. This restriction also applies to vehicles whose documents do not say anything about the environmental safety class.

That is, theoretically, in 2021, this ban could affect even a car with the highest environmental class. If the car was purchased before 2010, then the information about the environmental class was not entered into the STS. Having the necessary information in the PTS will not be enough: the car will still be prohibited from entering under this sign.

5.36: Similarly establishes the minimum environmental class for trucks, tractors and self-propelled vehicles. Passage is prohibited both for vehicles with a lower environmental class, and for those whose class is not indicated in the documents.

Signs 5.37 and 5.38 will be installed where prohibitory signs 5.35 and 5.36 end:

• Exceptions for “Zone with Environmental Class Restriction” signs

It is worth noting that a number of vehicles can ignore the prohibition signs 5.35 and 5.36. Among them:

• armed forces vehicles;
• police cars;
• rescue vehicles;
• ambulances;
• emergency transport;
• postal machines with a white diagonal stripe on a blue background on the side surface.

Regardless of what class such a car has and whether it is indicated on the certificate, its movement still cannot be limited by any of the new road signs.

• Vehicle environmental class plate

Also in 2021 a new plate 8.25 will appear:

It can be seen along with a number of familiar signs:

And also with signs:

The signs above are divided into two groups because, when combined with each group, the sign should be understood differently. We will explain this in more detail below.

• Valid from July 1, 2021 (if the certificate contains an environmental class mark)

If you see such a sign next to the sign, then the effect of the signs applies to cars with a lower environmental class than indicated on it.

For example, if the sign has the number 4, then the sign may prohibit (or, conversely, allow) turning for those cars that belong to the first three classes.

Here the meaning will be exactly the opposite. A sign allowing parking in combination with a sign means that only cars of the specified or higher class can stop here.

That is, if you see the number 4 on the sign, then parking is permitted for cars with fourth and fifth environmental safety classes.

• Valid from July 1, 2021 (if the certificate does not contain information about the environmental class)

The principle of operation of the signs remains the same, but their effect will also apply to all vehicles whose certificates do not indicate an environmental class. For example, this sign prohibits turning all cars of the first, second, third, as well as those not installed in the STS class.

From 2021, this combination should be understood as follows: if the environmental class is equal to or greater than the number on the plate, and also if the environmental class is not indicated in the STS, then such a car can park under this sign.

We can say that in this case the restrictions are not tightened, but, on the contrary, softened. If from July 2021 to July 2021 parking under this sign is prohibited for cars with an unknown environmental safety class, then from 2021 it will be allowed.

• Table of actions of signs with environmental class

The table below briefly and clearly explains how the new signs will operate from 2021 and what will change in 2021:

• Fines for violating the requirements of environmental road signs

At the moment, the Administrative Code does not have separate articles relating to violations of the requirements of environmental legislation and environmental road signs in particular. But violators can be fined in accordance with Article 12.16 of the Administrative Code:

12.16 Part 1: warning or fine in the amount of 500 rubles for all violations, except those indicated separately.

12.16 p.2: fine from 1,000 to 1,500 rubles for violating the requirements of a sign prohibiting left turns.

12.16 p.6: 500 rubles for driving trucks with a prohibitory sign (throughout the country, except Moscow and St. Petersburg).

12.16 part 7: 5,000 rubles for a similar violation committed in Moscow or St. Petersburg.

I would like to separately note that the presence in the registration certificate of the environmental class of a passenger car from 2021 will become a key parameter determining whether certain restrictions apply to it. Therefore, car enthusiasts should now think about the need to replace the STS if it does not have the corresponding column.

Increasing and confirming the compliance of the vehicle’s environmental class

provides services to improve the environmental class of cars and confirm the existing environmental class of cars. The services include a full range of necessary actions and documents for making changes and marks to the PTS and STS of vehicles.

Increasing the environmental class of a vehicle

A full range of measures to improve the environmental class of a car:

• Collection of documents and information
• Vehicle diagnostics

• Preparing the vehicle for installation of the necessary equipment

• Equipment installation

• Preparation of documents at the certification center

• Registration of an increase in environmental class in the traffic police authorities

Procedure for providing the service:

1. Provide us with a copy of the title and photographs of the car (if necessary) for inspection.
2. 
An agreement for the provision of services is concluded, after which you make an advance payment.
3. Provide us with the car for inspection.
4. At the agreed time, you provide a vehicle for preparation and installation of special equipment.
5. Specialists carry out a set of necessary environmental measurements.
6. You provide the car to the traffic police to carry out the procedure for making changes to the PTS and STS.

The service to improve the environmental class is paid; prepayment is a prerequisite for its provision. Please check with our specialists for the amount of prepayment and terms of service provision.

Confirmation of the vehicle's environmental class

The RU-PROPUSK company provides assistance in confirming the existing environmental class of the vehicle and making appropriate changes to the PTS and STS in the traffic police.

This is relevant in the case when the car has an environmental class, but is not included in the PTS and STS. For example, a car was registered with the issuance of an old-style PTS, which did not have a clause on compliance with the environmental class (clause 13 of the modern PTS). However, in order to make a note about the environmental class in the PTS, it is necessary to provide the traffic police with information confirming the existing environmental class of the vehicle.

Procedure for providing the service:

1. Provide us with a copy of the vehicle's title for inspection.
2. 
We conclude a service agreement.
3. 
At the agreed time, give us the original PTS and STS to carry out the procedure for making a note about the existing environmental class of the car in the traffic police.
4. 
You receive a PTS with a mark and a new STS
5. We sign the certificate of completed work.

How can you change the environmental class of a car?

First, it is necessary to outline an important point: if your car does not meet currently accepted standards, then this can only be changed through real modernization. The traffic police will not accept a certificate issued without re-equipping the vehicle. Therefore, you should not contact organizations that promise to easily and quickly solve your problem on paper.

You can increase your car's environmental class to fifth by installing special neutralizers and filters. They reduce fuel consumption, and at the same time the concentration of chemicals in the exhaust decreases.

New signs and, in general, all environmental regulations do not apply to vehicles recognized as self-propelled mechanisms. This means that bulldozers, excavators and other equipment with a maximum speed of up to forty kilometers per hour can ignore prohibitory signs associated with the environmental class.

The driver of such a vehicle can drive under a sign prohibiting cars with a low level of environmental safety from entering or turning.

This exception to the rules was introduced due to the excessively high cost of construction equipment that complies with environmental standards. Numerous bans on the movement of conventional bulldozers and excavators would hamper construction and repair work.

Read more about environmental classes of cars in Russia

In the Russian Federation, the introduction of new environmental standards occurs much later than in Europe. Until now, on the roads of our country you can find cars that do not meet even the very first Euro 1 standard. Most often, the reason is that the environmental class is simply not specified in any documents. The situation is better in Moscow, where there is a restriction on the entry of cars of low environmental class.

How many cars are there in Russia that meet the most stringent safety standards? These include foreign-made cars starting in 2014, as well as domestic cars produced in 2021 and later. This is due to the fact that manufacturers are focusing on the newer environmental class of the car and producing cars that could comply with rules that have not yet been adopted.

Russian cars with a fourth safety class can still be used in the country without any restrictions. This means that it is worth upgrading such cars only if you are going to travel to European countries.

Ecology and transport tax

Drivers monitor changes in environmental legislation because transport tax is part of it. So far, the only characteristic of a car that affects the amount of this tax is engine power. At the same time, owners of cars running on electricity are exempt from any fee.

However, in the future, the main criterion may be the environmental class of the car. The Ministry of Transport is developing a bill according to which drivers will pay an environmental fee instead of a transport tax. The higher the safety class of the car and the less its operation harms the environment, the less the owner will have to pay. This system has been in effect for a long time in many developed countries. Due to the difficult environmental situation, the issue of environmental protection comes to the fore, including in the automotive sector. This trend is worth taking into account if you are going to soon purchase a car in Russia or import it from abroad.