Introduced in 1992, the classification of internal combustion engines in “Euro” establishes a maximum limit on the polluting substances – therefore carbon monoxide (Co), unburned hydrocarbons (Hc), nitrogen oxides (Nox) and particulate matter (Pm) – that a vehicle must issue in order to be registered in Europe. Obviously, each class corresponds to a maximum limit, increasingly restrictive as you go up, from Euro 1 (with Euro 0 we mean all pre-Euro 1 engines) to Euro 6. For motorbikes we have started to set these limits later and, today, we are at Euro 5 (very similar to Euro 6 cars). But let's proceed in order and try to clarify by referring to category L vehicles, i.e. motorbikes and scooters.
Euro 0
All motorcycles registered in Europe before 1992, i.e. before the introduction of the European standard on polluting emissions, belong to this “class”.
Can they circulate?
Marketed until 06/17/2003, the Euro 0 models are the most at risk: they can still circulate, but not in all cities and not in all areas, and perhaps only in certain periods of the year or day. This is decided by the regions and individual municipalities through the introduction, for example, of ZTLs or specific “areas” closed to traffic: to stay calm and not risk fines, it is best to check timetables and restrictions directly on the website of your municipality.
How to recognize a Euro 0
Euro 0 vehicles (motorcycles or scooters) do not have any specific wording in the registration document. In practice, they are all those vehicles that do not comply with Directive 97/24/EC and subsequent ones.
How to recognize the category you belong to
The registration date is already a good indicator in itself, but there are exceptions. To know with certainty the Euro category to which the vehicle belongs, it is necessary to consult the registration document, where the polluting category is expressed by specific wording. Let's see them.
Euro 1
The Euro 1 class includes all models approved after 17 June 1999. On the registration certificate they bear the words “97/24 cap. 5 phase I”, in the case of mopeds, and “97/24 Cap. 5” in case of motorbikes.
Euro 2
The Euro 2 standard is valid for mopeds from 17 June 2002 and for motorbikes from 1 April 2003. The former must bear the words “conforms to Directive 97/24 EC chapter 5 phase II” in the manual, while the latter “complies with Directive 2002/51/EC phase A”.
Euro 3
All motorbikes registered starting from 1 January 2006 fall under Euro 3. For mopeds, however, the starting date is July 2014. On the registration certificate of Euro 3 motorbikes it must be written “conforms to Directive 2003/77/EC”, or ” 2006/120/EC”. For mopeds instead 2013/60/EC.
Euro 4
The entry into force dates back to 1 January 2016, but it only became mandatory in 2017. The code reported on the registration document that identifies the Euro 4 of motorcycles and mopeds is E4 168/2013.
Euro 5
In force from 1 January 2020 but mandatory only from 2021, Euro 5 for motorbikes and scooters is equivalent to Euro 6 for cars. In our case, it applies to all L category motor vehicles (mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles) approved after 31 December 2019. In the registration document of a Euro 5 category L vehicle we find the following written: “It complies with regulation 134/2014/EU (Euro 5)”.
Euro 5+
It is the highest class for L category vehicles. It came into force in 2024 and will replace Euro 5. More in detail, starting from January 2024 all newly homologated models must be Euro 5+, even if the “old” Euro 5 models will still be able to be sold, while starting from 2025 all models on sale must be Euro 5+, although manufacturers will be able to request an exemption to sell batches of Euro 5 in 2025 and 2026. In the booklet it is reported this acronym: “Complies with regulation 134/2014/EU (Euro 5+)”
How many pollutants have we saved ourselves?
In over 20 years, i.e. from the introduction of the Euro 1 regulation for motorcycles and mopeds (active, as mentioned since 1999), to the current Euro 5, the combined emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) have been reduced by 96.6%, while carbon monoxide (CO) emissions were cut by 92.3%.
Fines and sanctions
As mentioned above, the blocking of traffic (total or limited to a certain time or to a certain area) is decided first by the region and, ultimately, by the single municipality, which is granted the right to open or close to the circulation of certain vehicles. To date, based on the Highway Code, anyone who violates the provisions relating to the traffic ban can be sanctioned with the payment of a sum ranging from 168 to 679 euros and, in the event of a repetition of the violation within the two-year period, the additional administrative fine of suspension of the driving license for fifteen to thirty days.
The “exemption” for historic and 2-stroke bikes
Historic motorbikes belonging to the Euro 0 category enjoy exemptions regarding circulation in areas closed to traffic for pollution reasons. Also in this case, it is the Regions and Municipalities that decide, but, generally, if historic, that is, if registered in the Historical Register and with the certificate of historical relevance reported in the booklet, the Euro 0 can circulate more or less freely. The same goes for 2-stroke models, whose circulation is generally permitted if registered in the Historical Registers, but in any case it is up to the individual municipalities to decide.
“Upgrade” to the next Euro
Is it possible to bring a motorbike to a later Euro? It is a rather complex issue: the transition from Euro 0 to Euro 1 is quite simple, while that from Euro 1 to Euro 2 is more difficult but not impossible. In fact, the manufacturers had foreseen this transformation for some models. For the two-stroke the exhaust had to be replaced and conversion kits no longer exist, for the four-stroke it was sufficient to have the vehicle registration document updated by presenting the manufacturer's authorization.
If the idea excites you, the process we recommend you follow is to ask the dealer if your model can make the switch and then get the documents from the manufacturer – always through the dealer – to have the registration document updated.
