What is White Diesel/DERV?

Date Published: 18/11/2024

White diesel is commonly used by to fuel our road vehicles and keep businesses moving across the UK. In fact, white diesel has been the country’s most in demand fuel since 2005 and it’s the most widely used fuel across the world. Despite this, few of us know what this type of diesel actually is or how white diesel compares to other diesel fuels. In this guide, we look at the composition of white diesel/DERV, discuss the other names this fuel is known by and answer some of your diesel-related FAQs.

What is ‘white diesel fuel’? What is ‘DERV’?

White diesel, often referred to as DERV, is a petroleum fuel that is created by distilling crude oil. It’s the fuel that we most commonly refer to as diesel. Additionally, it’s comprised of hydrocarbons molecules and it’s one of more than 60 types of oil that can be manufactured by refining crude oil. White Diesel or DERV regulations must be followed for it's storage and use, which you can find out more about on our advice hub. 

What does DERV stand for? Why it is called DERV?

DERV stands for ‘Diesel Engine Road Vehicle’. White diesel, or DERV, is used to power our cars, motorbikes, vans and more. The name DERV is commonly used by the fuel industry, as it’s an easy way to differentiate between white diesel and red diesel or gas oil, which is restricted to off-road use by a limited number of industries. Find information about the red diesel or gas oil duty change and find out more about who can use red diesel in our article.

Does DERV/white diesel have any other names?

Just like other types of fuel, DERV has come to be known by a variety of other names. These include: white diesel, road diesel, normal diesel, diesel, forecourt diesel, ultra-low sulphur diesel (USLD) and taxed diesel. These are all different from red diesel, which is a rebated fuel and can only be used in certain applications.

What is DERV/white diesel used for?

As you can tell from ‘Diesel Engine Road Vehicle,’ DERV or white diesel is a fuel that’s typically used to power road vehicles. It’s currently the UK’s most sought-after fuel and it’s the type of diesel you find at petrol stations and forecourts. White diesel can also be used to commercial power generators, engines and domestic central heating systems.

Over 25 billion litres of diesel were sold in 2020 in the UK, which is approximately twice the amount of petrol used in the same year. However, with the sale of new diesel and petrol cars to be banned by 2030 as well as the government’s 2050 net zero targets, many of us are turning towards future fuels.

Here at Your NRG, we’re proud to help our customers tackle their carbon footprints and transition to the next generation of fuels. As a supplier of HVO and GTL, we specialise in offering hassle-free, direct drop-in fuels. These greener fuels or future fuels can power existing diesel fleets and reduce current carbon emissions by up to 90%.

Is ‘white diesel’ white?

Although it’s called white diesel, it is not white in colour. In fact, this type of diesel is actually a clear green or amber colour. The only fuel in the UK with a colour that matches its name is red diesel. This is because a red marker-dye is added in order to monitor legal and illegal usage.

Buying white diesel/DERV in the UK

White diesel is the fuel we rely on to keep moving and here at Your NRG, we supply DERV at low and affordable prices to customers across the UK. You can find your nearest depot with our eleven different location pages. Whether you need to keep your fleet moving or your home warm, you can rely on us to deliver your fuel when you need it, all with no hidden fees. For a quick, no-hassle quote, use our quick online tool. Alternatively, you can contact our team for more information or to discuss our bulk fuel prices.