The price of diesel has just topped €2.40 per liter, unthinkable just a few months ago when a welcome lull appeared, though it proved only relative.
Red diesel, a tax-exempt fuel but banned in our cars
In this climate, more and more drivers are looking for clever ways to trim their fuel bills. If owners of gasoline-powered cars can turn to ethanol conversion, a legal and increasingly common solution, those who drive diesel don’t have that option. Some may end up “driving on red,” as it’s familiarly known, referring to the distinctive color of this off-road fuel. Its formal name is gazole non routier, the infamous GNR, which is normally reserved for agricultural machinery, forestry vehicles, or construction equipment. Some even run on home heating oil, a fuel intended exclusively for heating homes. Both enjoy a much lighter tax regime than regular diesel, which explains their significantly lower price, around €1.90 per liter. The 50-cent-per-liter gap might seem enticing on paper, especially for those who drive long distances and fill up several times a week. But there is a catch, because in reality this practice constitutes a form of tax fraud known as “characterized” fraud.
Easy to detect during a roadside check
The French law strictly prohibits the use of these off-road fuels in a vehicle on public roads, and the sanctions are steep. A driver caught in the act faces a fine ranging from €500 to €1,250, the outright confiscation of their vehicle, and, in the gravest cases, up to three years in prison. Of course, the severity of the punishment will also depend on the context: a private individual who has merely filled up once won’t face the same consequences as a business that has organized the fraud for an entire fleet, for example. Another pitfall of GNR and heating oil: it won’t pass unnoticed! The odor emitted from the exhaust is recognizable and very different from that of ordinary diesel, and the red dye added to these fuels can be visible at the exhaust or at the diesel filter. A seasoned police officer won’t be fooled. In the end, the savings at the pump, however tempting, are likely to be more than canceled out by a hefty fine if you’re caught.
