I believe all diesel vehicles registered on and after 01 January 2011 had to be fitted with a DPF and that includes vans. All our recent works vans have had DPF's.

I have never driven a vehicle with a DPF specific light on the dash. The handbooks have always said its the EML that comes on or flashes, when it does follow the 20 minute drive at approx 1800 rpm.

Euro 5 made it mandatory for all existing type approval diesel cars to be fitted with DPF's when registered after 01 January 2011. All new type approvals required DPF's to be fitted September 2009.

As an example our Kia Ceed CRDi was the first our dealer had delivered fitted witha DPF, the Euro 4 ones did not have them in the UK. In preparation for the 01 Jan 2011 requirement all MY11 Ceed CRDi's were fitted with DPF's, ours was delivered September 2010.

From the table I have just discovered new type approved LCV's needed DPF's from September 2010, existing ones a year later

It's Euro 5b that has the particulate limits for the first time, and was mandatory from September 2011/2012 for new/existing Type Approvals.

Euro 5a had particle limits, they are exactly the same as Euro 5b. Euro 5b simply has an extra requirement.

Euro 5a or 5b cars all required DPF from either Sept 2009 for new types or Jan 2011 for existing.

There's only a 1 year exemption for existing type approvals.

I agree that on paper there is only a 1 year exemption for existing types but Euro 4 cars (with or without DPF) could be registered until the end of December 2010. I remember our local dealer still having several Euro 4 Ceeds on stock in December 2010 with huge discounts. Had to pre register them eventually, the bad weather and christmas crippled car sales.

The only mainstream manufacturer that had dpf-free diesels with a 61 plate was honda with their Civic 2.2 CDTI.

Sorry, wrong there.

There are NO diesel cars on the road registered after December 31 2010 without a DPF (unless its been removed of course). Honda are no exception. I know this because we looked at the Civic when we bought the Ceed and whilst its a fact the Euro 4 ones did not have a DPF all Euro 5 ones (like all Euro 5 diesels) have one by law.

My brother has an 11 plate civic without a dpf.

Not unless its been removed after registration.

To repeat myself under Euro 5 it must have a DPF by law and only Euro 5 cars could be registered after 31 December 2010.

That means ALL 11 plate cars are Euro 5.

Suggest your brother needs to check his V5C for emmision figures.

Whatever.

But there is not a law for every manufacturer and a different one for Honda.

There are plenty of 11 plate civic's with the the CDTi engine

The CDTI engine has no DPF hence the reson Honda made the I-DTEC.

I am unsure of what the law says, but its fairly obvious to see that the civic in question meets the criteria of an 11 plate diesel without a DPF

The criteria of Euro 5 is that a DPF is mandatory for diesels AND all the emission limit have to be met - Euro 6 permits the omission of a DPF if the limits can be met without it.

Thank you to everyone for your excellent posts.

Turns out the Transit is Euro 4 so it looks like I won't be able to avoid having a DPF fitted.

Ford confirm it will have one but as the van is in such good conditionan and low mileage I am going ahead.

Can anyone explain what Euro 4 is ?