Guidance

Carriage by private individuals of diesel (UN 1202), petrol (UN 1203) and kerosene (UN 1223) by road

Updated 6 April 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carriage-of-dangerous-goods-guidance-note-23/carriage-by-private-individuals-of-diesel-un1202-petrol-un1203-and-kerosene-un1223-by-road

Interpretation of CDG 2009

The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 (CDG 2009) as amended, regulate the carriage of diesel, kerosene and petrol by road.

These regulations implement into domestic legislation within Great Britain the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, known as ADR, which governs the international carriage of dangerous goods by road. Northern Ireland produces similar but separate legislation.

These regulations also allow the carriage of certain quantities of these substances without most of these regulations applying. The following information is to remind those carrying them for private or work-related uses the regulatory requirements and the exemptions from them.

The ADR is updated every 2 years.

ADR defines petrol, diesel and kerosene as:

UN Number Name and description
1203 Motor spirit or gasoline or petrol
1202 Gas oil or diesel fuel or heating oil, light (flash-point not more than 60 °C)
1202 Diesel fuel complying with standard EN 590:2013 + A1:2017 or gas oil or heating oil, light with a flash-point as specified in EN 590:2013 + A1:2017
1202 Gas oil or diesel fuel or heating oil, light (flash-point more than 60 °C and not more than 100 °C)
1223 Kerosene

Diesel with a flash-point above 100°C is not considered dangerous for carriage and is not therefore covered by the CDG 2009.

‘Red diesel’ is also covered by these classifications. It is not a separate type of diesel for the purposes of carriage. ‘Red diesel’ is coloured for taxation purposes rather than safety.

Carriage by private individuals

Section 1.1.3.1(a) of ADR states that the provisions laid down in ADR do not apply to:

The carriage of dangerous goods by private individuals where the goods in question are packaged for retail sale and are intended for their personal or domestic use or for their leisure or sporting activities provided that measures have been taken to prevent any leakage of contents in normal conditions of carriage. When these goods are flammable liquids carried in refillable receptacles filled by, or for, a private individual, the total quantity shall not exceed 60 litres per receptacle and 240 litres per transport unit. Dangerous goods in IBCs, large packagings or tanks are not considered to be packaged for retail sale.

Receptacle and transport unit are defined in ADR 1.2 as follows:

‘Receptacle’ means a containment vessel for receiving and holding substances or articles, including any means of closing. This definition does not apply to shells (see also ‘cryogenic receptacle’, ‘inner receptacle’, ‘pressure receptacle’, ‘rigid inner receptacle’ and ‘gas cartridge’);

‘Transport unit’ means a motor vehicle without an attached trailer, or a combination consisting of a motor vehicle and an attached trailer;

Storage by private individuals

Separate provisions apply to the storage of petrol by private individuals in any motor vehicle, boat, aircraft or domestic garage. These are set out in the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014.

Care should always be taken when storing petrol and at the very least the following precautions should be taken:

  • suitable containers must always be used
  • never store petrol in the home itself
  • ensure the storage area is well ventilated
  • store away from sources of ignition or heat that could ignite the petrol or its vapours
  • never decant petrol from one container to another

The HSE website has further information, including the maximum quantity of petrol that may be stored.

(i) Carriage of up to 1000 litres of diesel (UN 1202)

Diesel is assigned to Transport Category 3 in ADR, which permits carriage of up to 1,000 litres in UN-approved packages per transport unit (a motor vehicle with or without an attached trailer) without most of the CDG 2009 applying (see sub-section 1.1.3.6 of ADR).

What is required:

  • compliance with the packaging requirements (see ADR part 4) - diesel must be carried in a suitable UN approved packaging, for example, within UN approved jerricans or drums (ADR 6.1)
  • the vehicle will need to be equipped with at least one portable fire extinguisher with a capacity of at least 2kg of dry powder (or an equivalent capacity for other suitable extinguishing agents) (ADR 8.1.4.2)
  • the driver will be required to undertake the basic training set out in chapter 1.3 of ADR

(ii) Carriage of more than the 1,000 litres

The requirements of CDG 2009 and ADR apply in full.

(iii) Carriage of kerosene (UN 1223)

The requirements for kerosene (UN 1223) are the same as for diesel (UN 1202).

(iv) Carriage of petrol (UN 1203)

Petrol (UN 1203) is more readily flammable than diesel. The ADR provisions for petrol are different from those of diesel, including a lower load threshold of 333 litres to qualify for exemptions from the CDG 2009 regulations and ADR (ADR 1.1.3.6). If more than 333 litres are being carried then the regulations apply in full.

Separate provisions apply to the storage of petrol and diesel at work-places.

Exemptions from CDG 2009

ADR provides a limited number of exemptions from the requirement to comply with the provisions laid down in ADR (ADR 1.1.3). These include:

  • Carriage of packaged dangerous goods ancillary to the main business: providing that the amount does not exceed 450 litres per individual packaging and 1000 litres per transport unit. This applies only to a worker carrying the dangerous goods to a place of work for immediate use by that worker. It would not apply to a driver delivering goods for use by someone else (ADR 1.1.3.1).

  • Emergency transport intended to save lives or protect the environment; or breakdown vehicles (under the supervision of the emergency services) carrying vehicles containing dangerous goods (see ADR 1.1.3.1).

  • Fuel contained in the tank of a vehicle used for its propulsion or operation of its equipment. The total capacity per transport unit must not exceed:

    • 1,500 litres in a fixed tank; or
    • 500 litres in a tank fitted to a trailer; or
    • 60 litres in portable fuel containers

(ADR 1.1.3.3)

In addition to the above exemptions, ADR Special Provision 363 (ADR 3.3) provides an exemption from the full requirements of ADR for certain fuels contained within equipment or machinery (such as generators, compressors, heating units etc) that are being carried.

The above is not an exhaustive list; other exemptions are contained within CDG. However, even if your carriage of fuel is not subject to the CDG 2009, you should still seek to ensure that it is carried safely.

Additional guidance

Additional guidance can be found at:

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