Research and analysis

Vehicle Market Surveillance Unit: results of the 2025 programme

Published 21 October 2026

Introduction

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has a market surveillance unit, which inspects vehicles, trailers and equipment to make sure they meet safety and environmental standards.

This report sets out the findings of vehicle and component testing during 2025.

There’s a different report on the Vehicle Market Surveillance Unit’s 2025 emissions testing programme.

1. Aftermarket emissions components: testing

Aim of the programme

All manufacturers must follow type approval standards when they bring vehicles and components to market in the UK.

The purpose of this programme is to assess the compliance of aftermarket emissions components supplied to the UK market against their type-approved emission standards. This involves testing for breaches of The Motor Vehicles (Replacement of Catalytic Converters and Pollution Control Devices) Regulations 2009.

We tested catalytic converters (CATs) and diesel particulate filters (DPFs) against the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards in Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007.

We carried out testing in line with United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 103 (R103) and Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007 for the type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions.

What we did

To test the components, we selected 3 vehicle models that have large aftermarket sales of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters. We purchased a used vehicle for each model to test the components on.

Of the components tested:

• European, Exhaust and Catalyst (EEC) and BM Catalysts are UK manufacturers
• Walker and AS are non-UK manufacturers

Fiat 500 Twin Air 0.9 (petrol)

We tested 3 catalytic converters against the Euro 6 standard.

They were:

• BM Catalysts BM91759H
• European, Exhaust and Catalyst (EEC) FI6062T
• AS 55326

Ford Fiesta 1.5D (diesel)

We tested 3 diesel particulate filters against the Euro 5 standard.

They were:

• BM Catalysts BM11244H
• AS FD5103
• EEC FR6133T

Renault Clio 0.9 (petrol)

We tested 3 catalytic converters against the Euro 6 standard.

They were:

• BM Catalysts BM92271H
• Walker 28879
• AS 30225

What we found

Fiat 500 Twin Air 0.9 (petrol) aftermarket component results

We found that all 3 of the components tested on Fiat 500 Twin Air 0.9 did not meet legislative standards.

We tested components against United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation No. 103 (R103).

Component	Number tested	Result
BM Catalysts BM91759H	4	Failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.
European, Exhaust and Catalyst (EEC) FI6062T	5	Failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
AS 55326	3	Failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides.

Ford Fiesta 1.5D (diesel) aftermarket component results

Of the 3 components tested on Ford Fiesta 1.5D, 2 components were found to not meet legislative standards. The components identified were AS FD5103 and European, Exhaust and Catalyst FR6133T.

Component	Number tested	Result
AS FD5103	1	Failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
BM Catalysts BM11244H	1	Passed all tests.
EEC FR6133T	3	2 components failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate number. 1 component failed to meet regulatory standards for carbon monoxide.

Renault Clio 0.9 (petrol) aftermarket component results

Of the 3 components tested on Renault Clio 0.9, 2 components were found to not meet legislative standards. They were identified as BM Catalysts BM92271H and Walker 28879.

Component	Number tested	Result
AS 30225	3	Passed all tests.
BM Catalysts BM92271H	4	1 component passed. 3 failed to meet regulatory standards for hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide.
Walker 28879	3	1 component passed. 2 failed to meet regulatory standards for total hydrocarbons, non-methane hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.

Next steps

We wrote to the UK manufacturers of the failed components and asked them to:

• explain the failures
• bring components into compliance to meet legislative standards

All UK manufacturers informed us they have taken up our recommendation to end production and sales in the UK market. They are currently working with the relevant type approval authority to provide an explanation. All type approval authorities are in full support and will be arranging in-service conformity checks of the components. All non-compliant components have been removed from production and sale.

We have reported issues found with non-UK manufacturers to the relevant granting type approval authorities.

We’ll continue our market surveillance of aftermarket sales of catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters into the 2025 to 2026 programme to make sure these components meet legislative emissions requirements.

2. Non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) and agricultural and forestry vehicles

Aim of the programme

We check the supply of new non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) for sale in the UK, focusing on smaller imported products, to make sure that the engines:

• meet the type-approval requirements
• have the relevant approval markings as prescribed in The Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Type-Approval and Emission of Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants) Regulations 2018

We check the supply of new agricultural and forestry vehicles for sale in the UK to make sure the vehicles meet the type-approval requirements as required in the Agricultural and Forestry Vehicles (Type-Approval) Regulations 2018.

What we did

We carried out open-source research of UK-based online suppliers of NRMM. We sent requests for type approval information to 5 of these suppliers. The suppliers sent us type approval information for all relevant products.

Across the year, we bought 13 NRMM products from online platforms.

We carried out open-source research of suppliers of agricultural and forestry machines. We sent requests for type approval information to 2 suppliers within the UK and EU. The suppliers sent us type approval information for all relevant products.

We attended one industry exhibition in the UK and did not identify any non-compliant products.

What we found

We found that 7 of the NRMM products purchased did not have relevant type approval markings. We contacted the online platforms, and the platforms removed the products from sale. All 7 products were advertised on the AliExpress platform by the following sellers:

• Yitin Tool Store
• Shop4215004store
• Buyready Official Store
• The Treasurefind Store
• ZZ Kanze Tool Store
• Weide Display Speciality Store
• The Tool Palace Store

Next steps

Our work in 2026 will continue to be guided by the ongoing concern regarding NRMM and Agricultural and Forestry Vehicles products available on the UK market through online platforms. We’ll do further research online and continue to make test purchases where required.

3. Motorcycle exhaust systems and silencers

Aim of the programme

We check aftermarket motorcycle exhaust systems and silencers on the market in the UK to make sure that they comply with The Motor Cycle Silencer and Exhaust Systems Regulations 1995.

What we did

We carried out broad market surveillance across online sales platforms where suppliers were advertising aftermarket motorcycle exhausts and silencers without any information regarding approval to regulations. We went to 2 industry events as part of market surveillance activity. We re-checked 5 UK suppliers from the previous year’s work programme to assess compliance.

We checked that exhaust markings met The Motor Cycle Silencer and Exhaust Systems Regulations 1995 and that suppliers were advertising and supplying them correctly.

We tested a sample of aftermarket exhausts and silencers, both approved and non-approved, to check if they met noise approval standards. We carried out decibel testing on a selection of products to find out if aftermarket exhausts and silencers were within the limits placed on noise emissions set out in UNECE Regulation 41.

We attended industry events around motorcycle vehicles and motorcycle emissions components, including Motorcycle Live and National Motorcycle Museum Live

We attended industry events around motorcycle vehicles and motorcycle emissions components, including Motorcycle Live and National Motorcycle Museum Live.

What we found

As a result of our work, online sales platforms removed unbranded and non-approved products advertised as “universal motorcycle exhaust”. eBay removed over 2,400 products and Amazon removed 124 products from sale.

We revisited 5 UK suppliers from previous work programmes and found:

• Motorcycle Products Ltd are no longer selling motorcycle exhausts
• Powertech Exhausts is selling for race and non-road use only
• the other 3 suppliers have no information regarding approval or legal use of their products

We are continuing investigations into the 3 non-compliant suppliers. We’ll use information gathered from broad market surveillance to help us plan future work in this area.

We also continue to develop relationships with online marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and Temu, to regulate the supply of non-compliant exhaust systems and silencers within the UK market.

Tests

We tested 12 aftermarket exhaust systems and silencers across 3 different types of motorcycle:

• 2018 Honda CRF 1000L Africa Twin
• 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
• 2019 Yamaha YZF R-125

We chose one motorcycle each for small, mid and large engine sizes. We also chose motorcycles:

• of a make, type or style that we had not previously tested for that engine size
• popular in the UK
• with available aftermarket exhausts

We tested the motorcycles in an independent laboratory with the original exhaust fitted to establish baseline noise values and see if they met regulations.

We tested aftermarket exhaust systems and silencers. We tested:

• 5 components for the Honda CRF 1000L Africa Twin
• 5 components for the Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
• 2 components for the Yamaha YZF R-125

All products we tested were declared as being approved components.

Test results

We found 3 components met the regulatory noise level requirements:

• Mivv
• REMUS
• HP Corse

We found 6 components were marginally over the approved noise levels, but the levels were within the tolerance of 3dB allowed by the regulations:

• Mistral
• Projsix
• Storm
• Zard
• Akrapovic
• LeoVince

We found 3 components had noise levels that did not meet the regulations:

• Mass
• V-Performance
• Riot Motor

Next steps

We have contacted the manufacturers of the 3 components that did not meet noise level regulations. We have also contacted the relevant type approval authorities. We are carrying out follow-up work.

Mass said they are stopping supply of the product that did not meet regulations and are going to test the exhaust on the same motorcycle DVSA used. They will tell us their results and we will continue to work with them to make sure their exhaust system meets regulations.

V-Performance said that the product we tested has not been in production for 8 years and was approved for a Euro 4 motorcycle, not Euro 5. We tested the product using a Euro 5 motorcycle. They confirmed that the retailer was advertising the product incorrectly. We are following this up with the retailer.

Riot Motor said that all their exhausts are racing systems and not for street use, despite most of the products on their website being advertised as approved for road use. We will continue to work with the manufacturer and type approval authority to make sure this product meets regulations.

4. Electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) and EAPC conversions

Aim of the programme

We check the supply of electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPCs) and assess suppliers providing a service to convert standard pedal cycles into electric bicycles using conversion kits in the UK, to make sure that they are either:

• compliant with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983 as amended by The Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (Amendment) Regulations 2015
• approved to the required safety standards as laid down in Regulation (EU) No. 168/2013 on the approval and market surveillance of two-wheel or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles, implemented by The Motorcycles (Type Approval) Regulations 2018

What we did

We researched 55 different suppliers of electric bicycles and conversion service providers to find out if the products they supplied met the EAPC regulations. This included:

• 2-wheeled cycles
• 3-wheeled cycles
• 4-wheeled cycles
• e-cargo cycles

Of the suppliers we checked, 46 were supplying EAPCs and the other 9 suppliers were offering services to convert standard pedal cycles into EAPCs. Four of these service providers also advertised electric bicycles for sale alongside conversion services.

We have carried out stakeholder engagement about EAPC enforcement with various authorities including:

• Humberside Police
• Hull City Council
• Police Scotland
• Metropolitan Police
• West Yorkshire Police
• Cheshire Police
• Bicycle Association
• Association of Cycle Traders
• authorities in the Netherlands

We carried out 2 in-store establishment visits and attended 1 event.

What we found

We carried out further investigation into 3 suppliers from the 2023 programme and found:

• True Electric marked all their products as out of stock and no longer appear to be supplying electric bicycles
• JR Commercial Group brought their products and advertising into compliance

The third supplier is still under investigation.

Of the 46 electric pedal cycle suppliers we investigated, we found:

• 31 suppliers were only selling EAPC-compliant electric bicycles
• 2 suppliers were no longer actively selling
• 5 suppliers had approval in place for throttled e-bikes
• 1 supplier had full legal information and was advertising only off-road style high powered bikes
• 3 suppliers made changes to their product offerings after we contacted them
• 1 supplier removed products from their eBay selling page

We are still following up with 3 suppliers.

Of the 9 conversion service providers we investigated, we found:

• 1 provider was fully compliant in their offerings
• 2 providers were no longer offering conversion services
• 4 providers updated their information and selling practices to bring their services into compliance

We are still following up with 2 providers. We have completed one test purchase.

Our broad market surveillance also covered online selling platforms including eBay, Amazon and OnBuy. Across the 3 platforms, 240 non-compliant electric bicycle listings were removed from sale.

Next steps

We’ll continue this programme into 2026 and continue to investigate non-compliance identified in 2025.

We’ll work alongside other government agencies, industry bodies and trade associations to educate suppliers and end users to make sure they follow the regulations.

5. Electric and petrol-powered scooters

Aim of the programme

We carried out online open-source research and visited retailers, industry, shows and events to investigate suppliers and manufacturers of petrol and electrically powered standing and seated scooters in the UK. We checked products are being sold in line with the relevant regulations:

• standing scooters - Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) and Section 65 of the Road Traffic Act 1988
• seated scooters - Regulation (EU) 163/2013 and The Motorcycles (Type Approval) Regulations 2018

Retailers must provide their customers with accurate information about the legal restrictions on petrol and e-scooter use. Failure to do so is an offence.

What we did

We carried out broad market surveillance across the UK by attending relevant industry events and doing open-source online research.

We identified 24 retailers of e-scooters and checked their compliance against the regulations.

We also carried out follow-up compliance checks on 96 suppliers investigated as part of the 2023 and 2024 programmes to make sure the retailers were continuing to provide correct information at the point of sale, with no conflicting imagery or videos.

We visited one establishment selling e-scooters to check what information was being given to the public at the point of sale.

We identified 3 retailers of an Urban Logistics E-scooter and checked their compliance against the regulations.

We checked online marketplaces for non-compliant e-scooter listings.

We identified one retailer of petrol-powered scooters and checked their compliance against the regulations.

What we found

Of the retailers we researched, we found:

• 5 retailers were correctly advertising e-scooters for use on private land only, with no misleading images or messages
• 17 retailers were advertising e-scooters for sale with legal information about use on private land only, but they were openly displaying images and videos showing e-scooter use on road, pavements and in public places, as well as referring to “commuting”, “city use”, “getting around town” and other suggestions of riding on roads and in public places
• 4 retailers were advertising e-scooters for road use, riding on pavements and use in publicly accessible places, with no information on where privately owned e-scooters can be ridden
• 1 online retailer website was not active
• 1 online retailer website had no e-scooters for sale

We carried out open-source research into 1 supplier of petrol-powered scooters. The retailer was correctly advertising petrol scooters for private land use only with no misleading images or messages.

We contacted 3 retailers to request type approval documentation, which was not provided. All 3 retailers withdrew the products from sale.

We checked 1,290 listings for e-scooters on online marketplaces, of which 810 were non-compliant. The marketplaces removed these listings.

We sent letters to 15 suppliers who were not in compliance, outlining current regulations regarding petrol and e-scooter use and advertising.

Following the letters, changes can be seen across the industry with retailers removing misleading imaging and adding the correct statement of the current law.

Of the 15 retailers we contacted, 3 have since changed their advertising and have removed all references that suggest e-scooters can be used in places other than private land only and have added legal information for consumers.

There were 9 retailers of e-scooters that continued to ignore regulations and failed to engage with DVSA. We reported these suppliers to the Advertising Standards Authority:

• Diamond Electricalz Ltd, trading as Electric Bike Scooter Car
• EnviroRides
• Traxsion Ltd, trading as Apachie
• Isinwheel
• iScooter
• Halfords
• Bokhari Communications Ltd, trading as Bikevibe
• Pure Electric
• Smyths Toys UK Limited

The retailer we visited gave all the correct legal information at the point of sale.

We are still investigating one retailer.

Next steps

Although non-compliant private e-scooter ads persist, their number has decreased compared to last year. Some suppliers still ignore DVSA advice and have not updated their marketing.

To address this, we will continue with broad market surveillance of the e-scooter market and improve communication and guidance for consumers and retailers to help make sure retailers follow the regulations and reduce the demand for e-scooters from consumers. We’ll work closely with police and other enforcement agencies to target the supply for these products, raising awareness and changing behaviour.

We will also test e-scooters involved in government-approved rental schemes to check if they comply with the Vehicle Special Orders that allow them to be used on public roads.

6. GB type approval

Aim of the programme

The GB type approval scheme applies to manufacturers that want to put passenger and goods vehicles, their trailers and components on the market in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).

Vehicles sold in Northern Ireland must use UK (NI) or EU type approvals. Vehicles can also be dual approved to both the GB and EU schemes for sale in both markets.

There are two GB type approval schemes:

• provisional GB type approval, which is a temporary scheme that applied from 1 January 2021
• full GB type approval, which was put in place in 2022

Passenger and goods vehicles and trailers that have provisional GB type approval must be moved onto the full GB type approval scheme when their provisional approvals expire. The provisional scheme still applies to other types of vehicle.

Check which scheme applies to different vehicle categories:

• provisional GB type approval scope and timings from the Vehicle Certification Agency
• full GB type approval scope and timings from the Vehicle Certification Agency

We checked compliance across the industry to make sure manufacturers and suppliers of vehicles and aftermarket components have the correct GB type approval (provisional or full) in place, based on the date they were approved.

What we did

We wrote to 500 manufacturers and suppliers of categories to make them aware of the GB approval scheme and what they need to do to make sure they follow GB type approval requirements, based on the date the vehicles or components were approved.

We wrote to manufacturers and suppliers of the following categories:

• category L – motor vehicles with less than 4 wheels and quadricycles
• category M – power driven vehicles having at least 4 wheels and used for the carriage of passengers
• category N – power driven vehicles having at least four wheels and used for the carriage of goods
• category O – trailers, including semi-trailers
• category T – agricultural vehicles

Next steps

We’ll continue our market surveillance of industry compliance in 2026 to make sure manufacturers and suppliers have the correct GB type approval.

7. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS)

Aim of the programme

We assessed passenger vehicles (category M1) and light goods vehicles (category N1) to see if the advanced emergency braking system (AEBS), which is a specific advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), was operating correctly and followed AEBS regulations.

What we did

We chose vehicles for this programme based on their:

• market popularity
• diversity of vehicle and engine types
• range of ADAS functionalities

We chose the vehicles to make sure that we could test for every requirement for AEBS set out in UN Regulation No. 152.

We checked how each system functioned across the following 5 tests specified in UN Regulation No. 152:

• Section 6.4 - warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target
• Section 6.5 - warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target
• Section 6.6 - warning and activation test with a pedestrian target
• Section 6.8 - failure detection test
• Section 6.9 - deactivation test (functional test)

We tested the AEBS fitted to 5 category M1 vehicles. The vehicles were:

• Hyundai Tucson
• MG HS PHEV
• Vauxhall Astra Hybrid
• Ford Kuga PHEV
• Ford Ranger

We prepared the vehicles before testing, which included:

• vehicle checks to make sure each one was fit for test
• diagnostic scans to make sure advanced emergency braking associated parameters had no fault codes present
• making sure the minimum load was placed on the vehicle under test - no additional weights were placed into the cabin or payload area beyond the required test equipment

What we found

Hyundai Tucson ADAS test results

Section	Test	Result
6.4	warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target	Passed
6.5	warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target	Passed
6.6	warning and activation test with a pedestrian target	Passed
6.8	failure detection test	Passed
6.9	deactivation test (functional test)	Passed

MG HS PHEV ADAS test results

Section	Test	Result
6.4	warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target	Failed
6.5	warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target	Passed
6.6	warning and activation test with a pedestrian target	Failed
6.8	failure detection test	Failed
6.9	deactivation test (functional test)	Passed

Vauxhall Astra Hybrid ADAS test results

Section	Test	Result
6.4	warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target	Passed
6.5	warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target	Passed
6.6	warning and activation test with a pedestrian target	Passed
6.8	failure detection test	Passed
6.9	deactivation test (functional test)	Passed

Ford Kuga PHEV ADAS test results

Section	Test	Result
6.4	warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target	Passed
6.5	warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target	Passed
6.6	warning and activation test with a pedestrian target	Passed
6.8	failure detection test	Failed
6.9	deactivation test (functional test)	Failed

Ford Ranger ADAS test results

Section	Test	Result
6.4	warning and activation test with a stationary vehicle target	Passed
6.5	warning and activation test with a moving vehicle target	Passed
6.6	warning and activation test with a pedestrian target	Passed
6.8	failure detection test	Failed
6.9	deactivation test (functional test)	Failed

Next steps

We have informed all 5 manufacturers of the findings. The UK is considering whether to mandate UN Regulation No. 152. We have advised manufacturers to take the findings into consideration for future implementation of AEBS to make sure they meet the relevant standards.

We’ll continue to test advanced driver assistance systems programmes in 2026. We’ll continue testing on passenger and light-goods vehicles (category M1 and N1) and heavy goods vehicles.

8. Tyre labelling testing

Aim of the programme

We tested a range of new car and van tyres supplied into the market to make sure that tyre manufacturers are assigning an appropriate performance class to their tyres as shown on the labels for these tyres. The testing was carried out in line with Regulation (EU) 2020/740.

What we did

We tested 10 different tyres in 2 top-selling sizes, which was 20 tyre types in total. We tested them against 3 main parameters on the tyre labels:

• wet grip performance
• fuel efficiency (rolling resistance)
• noise levels

We selected 2 tyre sizes based on 2 different types of vehicle:

• 225/40 R18 – C1 car tyre
• 235/65 R16 – C2 van tyre

We chose tyre brands:

• based on known non-compliance from previous testing
• to cover value, mid-range, and premium brands
• based on declared label ratings for wet grip and fuel efficiency

What we found

Of the 20 tyres tested, 13 failed to meet the class for one or more of the parameters presented on the tyre label as declared by the manufacturers.

Regulations mean that we have to carry out 3 further validation tests on each tyre for each failed parameter. The average values are taken to determine whether the tyre meets the class of the parameter declared on the tyre label.

Initial results show that 11 of the 13 tyres subject to verification testing failed to meet the class for one or more of the parameters presented on the tyre label. We found that:

• 7 tyres failed to meet 1 parameter
• 3 tyres failed to meet 2 parameters
• 1 tyre failed to meet all 3 of the parameters on the tyre label

10 of the 13 tyres failed to meet the wet grip class on the tyre label as declared by the manufacturers.

Next steps

We’ll continue to work with tyre manufacturers and verify the results. We’ll update this report when we have completed this programme.