Euro 7 for buses and coaches: dates, limits and what changes

Euro 7 is the new EU emissions regulation for vehicles, Regulation (EU) 2024/1257. For buses and coaches it starts on 29 May 2028 for new types and on 29 May 2029 for every new vehicle registered. Buses already on the road are not affected.

Below you will find the dates, the new limits compared with Euro VI, what changes in the vehicle’s equipment, and what it all means if you buy or run Euro 6 buses. Every figure comes from the official EU texts on EUR-Lex.

What is the Euro 7 regulation?

It is a single regulation for cars, trucks and buses that replaces the two old ones: 715/2007 (Euro 5 and 6 for light vehicles) and 595/2009 (Euro VI for heavy vehicles). It was signed on 24 April 2024, published in the Official Journal on 8 May 2024 and entered into force on 28 May 2024.

Entry into force does not mean the new limits already apply. The regulation gives manufacturers time, with different dates for each vehicle category. Beyond exhaust gases, it is also the first to cover particles from brakes and tyres and the durability of batteries.

When does Euro 7 apply to buses?

Buses belong to categories M2 (up to 5 tonnes, for example minibuses) and M3 (over 5 tonnes). The same dates apply to them as to trucks.

The 2029 exemption covers new buses in categories with a zero-emission target under the CO2 Regulation (EU) 2019/1242: they may be registered with Euro VI approval until the end of 2029. A small manufacturer is one that registers fewer than 450 M2 and M3 buses a year in the EU, which mainly concerns small bodybuilders.

What are the new emission limits for buses?

Limits are measured per kilowatt-hour of engine work (mg/kWh), as in Euro VI. The big change is in nitrogen oxides (NOx): the European Commission announced that for trucks and buses the limit is “halved, from 400 to 200 mg per kWh”. Limits are also added for pollutants that were not measured on every engine before.

The tests stay the same as in Euro VI: WHSC and WHTC cycles in the laboratory, and on-road measurement with portable equipment. In Euro 7, however, the on-road limits are written as separate values with no extra tolerance. Particles are now counted from 10 nanometres, so smaller ones count than before. There is no formaldehyde limit yet: the Commission will review it by the end of 2027.

What the earlier classes meant is explained in Euro 5, EEV or Euro 6.

For how many kilometres must the limits be met?

A Euro 7 bus must stay within the limits for many more years than a Euro VI bus. For large buses and coaches, the main lifetime goes from 7 to 12 years, with the same 700,000 kilometres.

Whichever comes first applies, kilometres or years. During the additional lifetime the limits for gases are relaxed by a factor of 1.2, which for heavy vehicles was set by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1216.

What changes in the bus’s equipment?

The most important new system is OBM (On-Board Monitoring). A Euro 7 bus continuously monitors its own NOx, ammonia and particles and detects when it exceeds the limit by at least 2.5 times. It then warns the driver, without stopping the trip in progress.

• Data: OBM provides its readings through the diagnostic port (for roadworthiness tests and roadside checks) and anonymously over the air.
• Anti-tampering: emission control systems must not be possible to switch off while the vehicle is in use. The regulation explicitly bans tampering by every business, not only the manufacturer.
• Environmental Vehicle Passport: a digital record for each vehicle with its emission class, CO2, consumption and engine power at registration. The manufacturer delivers it with the vehicle, and it will be shown on screen or via a QR code.
• Battery: hybrid and electric buses must have a system showing the battery’s state of health.

For the AdBlue and particle filter systems that Euro 6 buses already have, proper care is described in our bus maintenance tips.

Are there limits for brakes, tyres and batteries on buses?

Not yet. The regulation provides for limits on particles from brakes and tyre wear, but the values for buses and trucks have not been set. The Commission will present a study on brakes by the end of 2027 and will then set limits by a further act.

For bus tyres (class C3), the dates are 1 April 2032 for new types and 1 April 2034 for all new tyres, with limits still to be set. Numerical battery durability limits currently exist only for cars and vans, not for electric buses.

What happens to Euro 6 buses already on the road?

Nothing changes for them. The regulation covers approval of new types and first registration of new vehicles. It contains no retrofit obligation, no ban on use and no other provision for buses that are already registered.

Euro 7 also contains no provisions on low-emission zones in cities. Those are set by national governments and municipalities. We have collected the age limits for regional lines, tourist coaches and imports in our article on bus age limits.

In practice, Euro 6 buses will remain the newest diesel option on the used market for several years. New Euro 7 buses will cost more. When it proposed the regulation in 2022, the Commission estimated an extra cost of about €2,600 to €2,700 per truck or bus. That estimate referred to the original proposal, which had stricter limits than the final regulation.

What does Euro 7 mean if you are planning to buy a bus?

If you are considering a new bus delivered after May 2029, it will be Euro 7. If you order earlier, ask the manufacturer which approval it will be registered under and when. For a cost comparison between new and used, see used or new bus.

If you are looking for a used bus, a Euro 6 bus remains a fully legal and practical choice for many years. The available HellasBus buses show their emission class in each listing. For any question, call +30 23520 61222 or send a WhatsApp message to +30 6977 400157.