Beware the frost: European countries, including Luxembourg, are fining drivers for idling cars to defrost in a push for eco-friendlier methods.

During winter, those with cars parked outside often face the chilly chore of de-icing windshields, leading to the temptation to keep the engine running for warmth while scraping away frost. However, there are compelling reasons to avoid this practice, including potential legal consequences.

In the greater region, leaving the engine running without a valid reason is more or less prohibited by law.

  • IN LUXEMBOURG, the police confirm that it is "forbidden to leave the engine running without technical necessity when the vehicle is stationary". The only tolerated exception is during car repair work. However, leaving the engine running for windscreen defrosting is not considered a technical necessity and is thus not permitted. Violating this law in Luxembourg carries a fine of €49.
  • IN FRANCE, leaving the engine running when stationary is prohibited, resulting in a fixed fine of €135. This fine may be reduced to €90 or increased to €375 or even €750 depending on the circumstances. However, as several media outlets report, the law exhibits more flexibility in "cases of necessity", such as de-icing, exempting fines in these specific instances.
  • IN BELGIUM, this act is considered an environmental offence. The fines are substantial, with penalties of €130 in Wallonia and €68 in Flanders.
  • IN GERMANY, this practice is also forbidden, with a fine of €80. However, this rule is relaxed when the vehicle requires it for technical reasons, showing a certain level of tolerance in such cases.

Why leaving your engine running when stationary is not a good idea

The enduring practice of leaving the engine running when parked harks back to the days of our parents and grandparents when engines struggled to adapt to colder temperatures. Preheating the vehicle was once advisable to enrich the air-fuel mixture, ensuring complete atomisation of the fuel.

However, modern advancements render this practice not only unnecessary, but also potentially harmful to your vehicle. Contemporary engines are perfectly capable of adapting to winter conditions, eliminating the need for preheating. In fact, allowing modern engines to idle in the cold poses a risk of damage. In a cold engine running in neutral, fuel evaporation is less efficient, prompting the engine to compensate by adding more fuel to the mixture. Over time, this surplus can be detrimental to critical components like piston seals and cylinder housings, impacting lubrication and overall lifespan.

Beyond the potential harm to your vehicle, idling is also detrimental to your budget and the environment. An idling engine consumes significantly more fuel than when initially started. According to the French news site Le Progrès, leaving the car running for five to ten minutes daily could equate to the consumption of a full tank of petrol over a winter. Additionally, the engine emits more smoke, with more CO2 emitted in just ten seconds of idling than during a cold start.

Other offences to be aware of in winter in Luxembourg

It should be noted that other winter-related offences are also punished in Luxembourg:

  • Faulty legibility of a number plate (due to frost, for example): €49
  • Use of a self-propelled road vehicle that does not provide the driver with a sufficiently clear view to the front or both sides (in other words, poorly defrosted windows): €74