How many environmental classes of cars are there: a complete guide to Euro standards

Introduction: why environmental ratings are important for every car owner

Every year, environmental standards for cars are becoming stricter - and this is not just a bureaucratic whim, but a real necessity. Emissions of harmful substances from transport amount to up to 30% of total air pollution in large cities, and in some megacities (for example, Moscow or St. Petersburg) this figure reaches 50%. That is why states are introducing increasingly strict standards, limiting the movement of old cars and stimulating the transition to environmentally friendly transport.

But how many environmentally friendly car classes are there? If you think that there are only 5-6 of them, as is often written in simplified articles, then you are very mistaken. In fact, the system is much more complex: there is European standards (Euro-1 - Euro-7), American, Japanese, Chinese, as well as national classes (for example, Russia has its own register). At the same time, some countries are introducing additional categories for hybrids, electric vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles. It’s almost impossible to understand all this without a clear structure - especially if you plan to buy a used car or travel abroad.

In this article we will not just list all existing classes, but also explain: which ones are relevant in 2026, how they affect taxes and fines, and why even a new car may not meet modern standards.

How many environmental classes exist in the world: complete list

At the global level there are more than 10 main environmental classes, but their number varies depending on the country. The most common system is the European one (Euro 1 up to Euro 7), but there are others:

• 🌍 European standards (Euro): Euro-1, Euro-2, ..., Euro-7 (introduced in 2023).
• 🇺🇸 American (Tier, LEV, ULEV): Tier 1, Tier 2, LEV III (Low Emission Vehicle).
• 🇯🇵 Japanese (JE05, Post New Long-Term): valid since 2005 and 2009.
• 🇨🇳 Chinese (China 6a/6b): analogues of Euro-6, but with strict local amendments.
• 🇷🇺 Russian classes: tied to the Euro, but with its own nuances (for example, Euro 5 in Russia ≠ Euro 5 in the EU).

However, some countries introduce additional subclasses. For example, in the EU from 2026 it will begin to operate Euro 7, but there are already intermediate stages (Euro-6d-TEMP, Euro-6d-ISC). In the USA they use the system Bin (1–10), where Bin 1 - the cleanest, and Bin 10 - the dirtiest.

Important: in 2026, the Euro 7 standard was officially introduced in the EU, but its full implementation is planned for 2026–2026. This means that new models must already comply with the new standards, even if cars with Euro 6 are still sold on the market.

European classes: from Euro-1 to Euro-7 (standard table)

The European system is the most widespread, so we will analyze it in detail. Each standard limits emissions four key substances:

• 🔥 CO (carbon monoxide) - Formed during incomplete combustion of fuel.
• 🌫️ NOx (nitrogen oxides) - the culprits of smog and acid rain.
• 🛢️ HC (hydrocarbons) - carcinogens, affect lung health.
• 💨 Particulate matter (PM) - soot from diesel engines.

Below is a comparative table of standards for gasoline and diesel cars (g/km):

*Preliminary values for Euro 7 (exact standards are being specified).

Please note: with each new standard, the standards become more stringent 2–10 times. For example, the permissible particulate matter emissions for diesel engines has decreased from 0.14 g/km (Euro-1) up to 0.003 g/km (Euro-7) - this is almost 50 times stricter!

How to determine the environmental class of your car?

There are several reliable ways to find out the class of your car - and not all of them require a trip to the traffic police. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

1. View in PTS or STS:

   In the column "Ecological class"(usually on the back of the STS or in the “Special Notes” section of the PTS) the standard is indicated. If the field is empty, the machine is automatically assigned Euro 2 (for cars older than 2006) or Euro-0 (until 1992).

2. Check by VIN code:

   Use services Autocode, Traffic police online or European base VCA (for imported cars). Enter the VIN - the system will show the class.

3. Navigate by year of manufacture:
   Approximate assignment of class to year (for Russia and the EU)

   :

   • Before 1992 — Euro-0 (no standard).
   • 1993–1996 — Euro-1.
   • 1997–2000 — Euro-2.
   • 2001–2005 — Euro-3.
   • 2006–2010 — Euro-4.
   • 2011–2014 — Euro-5.
   • Since 2015 — Euro-6 (and higher).

⚠️ Attention: these are average data! The specific class depends on the model and modification of the engine. For example, Volkswagen Golf IV 2003 maybe like Euro-3, so Euro 4.