If you are bringing a newer car over from Europe, someone will soon ask whether you have its Certificate of Conformity. Most people have never heard of it, and many cannot find one in the glovebox. It is a single document, and if yours is missing, we can source it.
- What it is
- Proof of EU type approval
- Who issues it
- The manufacturer
- Usually needed
- EU cars under 10 years old
- Registration
- 7 to 14 working days after the V55
What a Certificate of Conformity is
A Certificate of Conformity, or CoC, is a document from the manufacturer confirming that a car was built to its EU type-approved specification.
For an imported car, it is proof of approval. GOV.UK tells importers to get a European Certificate of Conformity from the manufacturer to show they have approval for an EU-registered vehicle. With one, a newer EU car can skip the full IVA test.
When an EU car needs one
Every imported car needs some form of approval or test before the DVLA will register it. Which one depends mainly on age and where the car was made.
| Feature | Route to registration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| EU-built, under 10 years old | Certificate of Conformity | The usual route. We can source a CoC if you do not have one. |
| Under 10, no CoC available | IVA test | Done on our own lane, with any changes the car needs first. |
| Under 10, not built in the EU | IVA test | A CoC will not cover a car that was not made in the EU. |
| 10 to 40 years old | MOT | GOV.UK notes cars over 10 years old might not need approval. |
| Over 40 years old | No MOT needed | Dating evidence often matters more than approval. |
GOV.UK says approval applies to cars first registered on or after 1 March 2001 that have EU type approval, including passenger cars with up to eight passenger seats. For a left-hand drive car approved and registered in the EU, GOV.UK also lists a GB conversion IVA certificate, applied for through the Vehicle Certification Agency. We will tell you which applies to your car.
A CoC is not the whole job
A CoC confirms how the car was built for Europe. It does not make a left-hand drive car ready for British roads. Most EU cars still need a few changes before registration:
- Headlights with the beam pattern set for driving on the left
- A speedometer that reads in mph, required on cars under 10 years old
- A rear fog light on the right-hand side, which many EU cars lack
Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains how we do them, and the MOT is carried out on our own site.
If yours is missing
Plenty of cars never came with a CoC in the paperwork, or it went missing along the way. That is not a dead end. A replacement can be ordered from the manufacturer and other sources, and sourcing one is part of our registration service. You send us the car's details; we track it down.
If a CoC genuinely cannot be found for a car under 10 years old, the fallback is an IVA test. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so that route does not mean waiting for a government test slot.
Ask the seller first. If you are still buying, ask whether the CoC is with the car's papers. It costs nothing to ask, and it can save time later.
How long it takes
On the CoC route, once all the documentation and the MOT are complete, it is typically 7 to 14 working days from when we submit your V55 to you receiving a V5C. The usual delays are missing or incorrect paperwork, or a CoC that cannot be located and has to be ordered first.
For the full picture across every route, see how long it takes to register an imported car.
What we need from you
For an EU car on the CoC route
0 of 5 done
Getting the car here is the easy part from most of Europe. We bring cars over on our own transporters, and customs for EU cars can usually be cleared the same day. Expect 20% VAT on the price plus transport, with no duty on EU or UK-built cars. Our import tax calculator works it out, and the paperwork guide lists everything else.
Questions people ask
What is a Certificate of Conformity?
A document from the manufacturer confirming a car was built to its EU type-approved specification. It is used as proof of approval when registering a newer EU car in the UK.
Does my EU car need a CoC?
Usually, if it is under 10 years old and was built in the EU. Cars over 10 years old normally take an MOT instead, and cars not made in the EU take an IVA test.
What if I have lost the Certificate of Conformity?
A replacement can be ordered from the manufacturer and other sources. Sourcing one is part of our registration service.
What happens if a CoC cannot be found?
A car under 10 years old would take an IVA test instead. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain.
How long does registration take with a CoC?
Typically 7 to 14 working days from when we submit the V55 to you receiving a V5C, once the paperwork and MOT are complete.
More detail is on My Car Import's pages on importing from the EU and registration, and GOV.UK covers vehicle approval for imports. Ready to go? Get a quote.
