What is red diesel?

I am watching a program about undercover customs and are investigating someone for posessing red deisel. I missed the begginning so i dont know what it is. Is it illegal or has he just not paid tax or something? Thanks
Answers:
Commercial diesel is one of the highest taxed products that consumers buy. (Outrageously so.)

Duty free diesel has a special red dye added to it that cannot be removed. This way it can be used by farmers, shipping, fishermen etc to make a living without having to pay the tax which is primarily meant as a 'road tax' as they shouldn't be using any public roads in their vehicles!

Customs and Excise, usually in conjunction with the local police, routinely set up a block somewhere and stop any vehicles they suspect could use red diesel and 'dip' their tanks. if red dye is found in sufficient quantity they can confiscate the vehicle and impose a hefty fine. Yes, they really have that power!

However, because red dye will stay forever in the tank, if your car is second hand and does not have a significant quantity you could fight this in the courts by saying that you weren't the one to use it. I have a friend who did this..but i must find out the outcome of the case!

Basically, it's a very cheap way to run your car.unless you get caught! Best advice is to stick to the usual stuff from the overpriced forecourts!
Deisel thats been tinted red ,it doesn't have tax applied to it.
Im not sure who uses it, but the public cant have it.
it is illegal its used mostly for farmers etc no tax paid on it also im sure
Red diesel doesn't carry road tax, you're supposed to use it for tractors, generators, boats and other stuff that doesn't drive on the public road.
The red dye sticks to the tank so if Customs find it in your vehicle you get prosecuted for not paying tax; it's illegal to use it in a vehicle that drives on the road.
THIS IS EXTREMELY CHEAP DIESEL FOR FARMERS AND STUFF.
YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO USE IT IN GENERAL
Red diesel is a cheaper diesel which can be used by the agricultural professionsals, by that I mean farmers, which is more economical for them, it is however illegal to put into commercial road vehicles such as your car to drive to work etc. If caught doing so it could result in hefty fines and possible imprisonment. In brief its a poor mans diesel.
RED DIESEL IS NOT ILLEGAL,IT IS FOR USE BY FARMERS ETC.WHO PAY NO TAX ON IT .IT IS THE SAME AS CAR DIESEL ONLY DYED RED INSTEAD OF BLUE.
well red diesel is just like normal diesel but had die added, you can only use this in agricultural vehicles and other plant, there is no tax paid on this, if you use this then it dies the inside of your engine and tank, you will be prosecuted if caught, you can only be prosecuted if using it not possession.
used by the transport industry eg farmers haulage etc.and also many paramilitaries in n.Ireland..
Farmers use it mainly. It doesn't have vat added to the cost for it. So if you have it in a car and not a tractor etc. You will be prosecuted. Poor man's diesel is a bad name for it as farmers, despite their claims do have a fair bit in readies.
It is Duty free diesel that can not be used on the public highway. It is used mainly by Farmers - on the fields, but they can travel a limited distance between fields.
It is also used on the docks - again just around the dock estate.
Because it is duty free - it is very cheap. So people sell it on at big profits - but still cheap to the buyer.
A red dye is added which is easily detected by the customs and excise.They often park up outside the docks, stopping diesel engined vehicles and checking them out.
it has a lower tax applied.for marine/agricultural/plant use.not for transport using public roads.it is causing problems for pleasure boat users when they fail to declare they have red diesel in their vessels tanks when entering some EEC countries where this type of vessel is not given the right to buy and use red diesel.can lead to fines etc.best to keep receipts of purchase,always state you have red diesel in main tanks.any in cans subject to duty!e.o.e.
cheap illegall fuel and its banned , dont know that much about it,, but do know its a bad offence and they can confiscate, your vehicle if caught,, as well as other stuff,, points and fines in court..maz.
i think its what farmers and hgv drivers use
it is for off road use only IE ag equipment construction equipment thy will sometime check at the weight stations to see if big trucks have it in there tanks it is know as tax evasion and can carry a big fine
red has a chemical dye in it(red)
Its sold as fuel oil for off road and for heating oil
Theres no difference in the way it burns,but you are cheating the government out of their extorcionate fuel duty
For real cheapskates theres a product called "orange"that the fairground lads run old lorries on.Its red cut with parrafin