Red diesel, also known as gas oil and tractor diesel, is predominantly for off-road use only and is widely used in machinery across agricultural, marine, rail and construction industries.

Red diesel is similar to white diesel, but there are two distinguishing factors…

  • It’s marked with a red dye – the dye is added to make it more easily identifiable so HMRC can test for its use. Once used, it is almost impossible to remove.
  • It’s a lot cheaper to buy – there is a lower fuel tax duty required to pay on it as it’s a heavily rebated fuel.

Clearing up the confusion

Although many diesel vehicle owners would like to make use of red diesel in their road vehicles to save money. It comes with a long list of guidelines and regulations which go some way to limit who can purchase and use it for every day use. We understand that not everybody will be aware of the law surrounding red diesel, so let’s clear a few things up.

Red diesel although technically the same fuel, is not quite the same white diesel also known as road diesel, DERV and ULSD. White diesel is the diesel fuel that is sold at your local petrol station to power your diesel engined road vehicle.

It’s not shy of the media recently, with prices at their peak since 2014. According to the BBC, the RAC suggested that a “punitive combination” of higher crude oil prices and a weaker pound are both to blame.

Can I put red diesel in my car to avoid heavy costs?

It’s understandable why this questions is so often asked by car and van owners, since red diesel is so much cheaper than regular diesel. The reason for this is because it’s intended solely for off-road use in agricultural, marine and rail to power vehicles and machinery.

So if your vehicle has a tax disk and is driven on public roads, don’t be tempted to fill up with red because this is actually considered a tax evasion and you will in fact be breaking the law.

The dye is almost impossible to remove once used, so if HMRC suspect anything, there’s no hiding! Penalties include a hefty fine or even worse, your vehicle being detained.

Where and how can I buy red diesel?

Remember, red diesel is for business use only. You don’t need a licence but you will need to sign an RDCO when purchasing.

With price increases inevitable, having someone to manage your fuel needs will give you peace of mind and take the hassle away. Our white diesel (DERV) is derived straight from the refinery with full traceability, meaning it’s at the best price on the market.

To order your diesel now, call our team today on 0330 123 3773 to learn more and request a quote.

Taking the stress away

Speedy Fuels offers fuel management services to monitor your supplies and arrange deliveries to make sure you never run out! Most importantly, if you’ve chosen Speedy Fuels as your supplier, our fuel management service is completely free.

Our deep knowledge of the fuel market will secure you the best prices on offer, with fuel that is strategically in line with your demands. Our widespread position across the UK, with over 800 oil tankers at our disposal, means we are ready to reach you in hours, whenever and wherever you are.

If you would like to call our fuels team to discuss your requirements. No matter whether you’re interested in ordering red diesel or white diesel or any of our other fuels, oils or lubricants. Call our team today on 0330 123 3773.