Is EGR delete legal on UK roads?
An EGR delete is not legal on a car or van used on UK roads. The EGR system is part of the emissions equipment the vehicle was approved with, and switching it off or blanking it breaks the rules for road use. It's only legal on vehicles kept off the road or leaving the country.
Why the EGR system is a legal requirement
Exhaust gas recirculation lowers combustion temperatures, which cuts the nitrogen oxides (NOx) a diesel produces. Every modern diesel is type-approved to a Euro emissions standard with its EGR working, so the system is part of what makes the vehicle road legal.
Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, emissions equipment has to be maintained in working order. A vehicle with its EGR disabled no longer meets the standard it was approved to, and using it on the road is an offence. The DVSA has said fines for removing emissions equipment such as a DPF can reach £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van.
What the MOT looks at
The MOT doesn't measure NOx, which is the gas the EGR exists to reduce. That's why some people assume a delete is fine. Testers still check several things that an EGR delete can affect.
- Emissions equipment fitted by the manufacturer, which the inspection manual says includes EGR valves where they're visible, must not be missing, obviously modified or obviously defective
- An induction or exhaust leak that could affect emissions is a major fault
- Diesel smoke has to stay within the opacity limit for the vehicle
- The engine management light must not be showing a fault on diesels first used from 1 July 2008
When an EGR delete is allowed
A delete is legal where the vehicle won't be used on a UK public road, and these are the only cases we carry one out for.
Motorsport and track use
Competition and track-day vehicles that are trailered to events and never used on the road.
Private land
Vehicles that work only on farms, building sites and other private ground.
Export
Vehicles leaving the UK for good. Once there, the destination country's rules apply, so check them first.
What a delete means for insurance and warranty
An EGR delete is a modification, and your insurer needs to be told about any modification to a vehicle they cover. Leaving it out of your policy can give them grounds to refuse a claim.
A delete is also likely to affect any manufacturer or extended warranty on the engine. If a vehicle is coming back onto the road, the EGR system has to be working again before it's used. We save the original ECU file before a delete, so it can be written back for a separate charge.
Repairing an EGR fault on a road vehicle
If your car or van stays on the road, the EGR fault needs repairing. This table shows the legal routes and where we can help.
| Fix | What it involves | Road legal | Who does it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | Codes and live data to confirm the fault | Yes | SGR, £100 + VAT |
| Wiring or sensor repair | Fixing the circuit or a separate sensor | Yes | A garage |
| Valve cleaning | Removing and cleaning the existing valve | Yes | A garage |
| Valve replacement | Fitting and coding a new valve | Yes | A garage |
| EGR delete | Switching EGR off in the ECU | No, off-road and export use only | SGR, £220 + VAT |
Our EGR valve replacement cost guide goes through what a garage repair involves, and EGR valve problems and symptoms helps you work out what's wrong.
Will an EGR delete fail an MOT?
It can. If the tester can see the valve is missing or modified, or the engine light is on, it's a major fault. Even if it passes, the vehicle isn't legal to use on the road.
Is an EGR blanking plate legal?
Not on a road vehicle. A blanking plate stops exhaust gas recirculating, which takes the vehicle outside its approved emissions standard, so the same rules apply as for a software delete.
Do I need to tell my insurance about an EGR delete?
Yes. It's a change to the engine and emissions system, and insurers expect every modification to be declared.
Why do people delete the EGR if it's illegal?
Mostly to stop repeat EGR faults on vehicles that are used off-road, raced or exported. For those, a delete is a legal choice. For a road vehicle, the fault has to be repaired instead.
Get the right fix for your EGR fault
If your vehicle is used on the road, start with a diagnostic check at your home or workplace for £100 + VAT, so you know exactly what needs repairing. For off-road and export vehicles, we carry out EGR deletes on site for £220 + VAT.
Need a delete for an off-road or export vehicle? See our EGR delete service, for off-road and export use only, or email sales@sgrautomotive.co.uk.
Eccles, Manchester M30 0SF