Red Diesel

Red diesel is a lower-taxed fuel used for agricultural, industrial, and off-road purposes. It’s chemically identical to standard diesel but dyed red to distinguish it from road fuel, making it easy to identify and helping enforce the rules around its use. You may also see it referred to as gas oil.

What is red diesel used for?

Red diesel is suitable for a range of off-road and non-commercial applications, including:

  • Off-road heavy-duty machinery
  • Industrial generators and boilers
  • Forklift trucks and non-road vehicles
  • Boats and vessels
  • Home central heating systems
  • Non-commercial buildings such as schools and churches

Who can legally use red diesel?

The use of red diesel is restricted by law to specific industries and purposes. Permitted uses include:

  • Agriculture, horticulture, fish farming, and forestry: Vehicles and machinery used in these sectors
  • Rail vehicles: To power passenger, freight, or maintenance vehicles designed to run on rail tracks
  • Domestic and community heating: As a replacement for kerosene in homes, places of worship, hospitals, and state schools.
    • Please note: Red diesel cannot be used to heat commercial properties
  • Community amateur sports clubs and golf courses
  • Marine use: All vessels refuelling or operating in the UK, with the exception of private pleasure craft in Northern Ireland
  • Travelling fairs and circus machinery

Important: Red diesel and road vehicles

It is illegal to use red diesel in any road-going vehicle, including cars, vans, and trucks. Because the red dye is strong and persistent, it remains visible inside fuel tanks long after use — which is precisely how enforcement agencies detect misuse. The dye itself is harmless and will not damage your fuel tank, but its presence is a clear indicator of how the fuel has been used.

If you’re unsure whether red diesel is the right fuel for your application, get in touch and we’ll be happy to advise.

Why choose bulk red diesel from Four Seasons Fuel?

All the fuel we supply is of the highest quality, and we make every effort to ensure you receive the best possible value for money.

 Our service includes:

  • Flexible delivery scheduling to suit your needs
  • Automated refill service
  • Emergency top-up deliveries

Professional installation and safety checks

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Reviews that make us GLOW...

It’s such a shame we don’t need to use gas anymore at our new place, as you’ve always been great to deal with and your kind assistance in getting this sorted for me was just wonderful. You’re a credit to the company, Becky. Make sure you keep in touch . Wishing you all the best, thanks again
Tracy Kendall Platinum ambulance service
Just want to say four seasons are a brilliant company, best team and logs around. Neil is very knowledgeable and a very kind man, he has helped our family at a cold time of year as we are new to log burning and his advice and support has been second to none. I would urge anyone who is lucky enough to be able to use this company to reach out to them. We will always only go to them.
Dean Perkins
Fantastic service as always from those at Four Seasons, only too happy to help in my hour of need when we ran out of logs through this period of low temperatures, after using a couple of other local companies and a bit bemused about the quality of logs they were providing, I now wouldn’t go anywhere else but Four Seasons for my fuel needs. Thanks to Scott and the team!
Scott Callow
New to wood burning and this was our first dropped load from four seasons. Had a small issue with lighting the first time and after connecting them for advice we feel they went out of their way to solve the issue. We would certainly use them again and not hesitate to recommend them to others.
Martin Hobbs
A very genuine and caring family business! Great customer service, polite and professional. We are not local to the business, but they delivered the next day. Even the drivers are very polite, and professional. The very best fuel company from Sussex. Cannot recommend them enough!
Deab B
I cannot recommend four seasons enough. They are a family-run business and you very much feel this. They have gone above and beyond on more than one occasion. I moved to four seasons when the previous company left me and my children with no heating and hot water in minus conditions… I have numerous friends that have moved across and never looked back. Highly recommend.
Catherine Raybould

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