In 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) checked 127 car dealers to see if they comply with the legal obligation to inform consumers about fuel consumption, efficiency category, and CO₂ emissions of new passenger cars.
At 50 dealers (39%), the ILT found one or more deficiencies, such as no energy label or not the correct energy label with the car or no information overview in the showroom. This makes it harder for consumers to consciously choose a more economical and cleaner car. These dealers received a written warning. The ILT then conducted a recheck at 30 dealers, which led to the imposition of a penalty order (LOD) at one car dealer. In case of repeated violations, this dealer incurs a penalty of €250 per deficiency, with a maximum of €10,000. An LOD is imposed to end a violation and prevent a recurrence of a violation.
Fair Comparison
Car dealers are legally required to visibly place an energy label on new passenger cars inside and outside the showroom. There must also be an information overview present in a clearly visible place in the showroom, containing data on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions of all vehicles sold by the dealer.
The ILT emphasizes that it is important for the sector to comply with its legal obligations. The energy label provides objective information about fuel consumption, efficiency category, and CO₂ emissions of a car. This allows consumers to make a fair comparison and see which car is, for example, the most economical within the size class they are looking for. The energy label thus stimulates the sale of more economical and cleaner cars.
New Energy Labels for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
Under current regulations, the energy label compares new passenger cars only based on fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions. For zero-emission cars, all of them fall into the most economical class A, making them impossible to compare.
It is expected that the energy label will be changed in 2026 and that when determining the energy efficiency class of a passenger car, a calculation method will also apply to zero-emission cars. This concretely means that a mutual comparison between new passenger cars powered by fossil fuels, electricity, and hydrogen will become possible for consumers.
Market Regulator
The ILT is also the market regulator for the Directive 1999/94/EC and the Decision on the labeling of energy consumption of passenger cars. The Decision states that an energy label must be present when selling a new passenger car. This rule applies to vehicles that have not yet been registered and does not apply to vehicles for special purposes such as a camper.