The short answer
Check the vehicle’s approval history before ordering a CoC. Its age, specification, category and previous registrations affect the evidence needed.
Start with existing approval evidence
A European Certificate of Conformity, often shortened to CoC, is manufacturer-issued approval evidence. GOV.UK directs applicants with EU-registered vehicles towards this document. Start by checking what came with the car and whether a certificate relates to its VIN. A document for a similar model is not a vehicle-specific answer.
Before buying a replacement, ask whether the manufacturer can supply one for this particular vehicle and whether it is the document your route needs. Explain any modifications and previous UK registration. Keep the foreign registration record available alongside the technical paperwork.
Read exemptions with the tax requirements
Some older cars qualify for an approval exemption, but “over ten years old” is not a universal rule that all paperwork disappears. GOV.UK separately flags approval evidence for taxing certain EU-type-approved imports first registered on or after 1 March 2001. Check the detailed conditions against the actual vehicle category and emissions evidence.
Use the relevant registration or manufacture dates and the applicable exemption guidance. A fixed calendar cutoff copied from an old article can become misleading. If the evidence is unavailable, ask how to explain the position to DVLA rather than assuming an age calculation settles it.
A CoC may be only part of the route
Where the EU approval route applies, a left-hand-drive vehicle may also need GB conversion IVA evidence. VCA’s passenger-car guidance explains the scheme’s age and specification conditions. Other categories and non-EU approval histories can lead to different routes. Establish the route before commissioning alterations or an approval appointment.
If arranging a CoC through us, ask what the quote includes. Certificate prices can cover arranging and supplying the document, rather than passing on a manufacturer’s charge at cost. Availability and requirements must still be checked for the vehicle. Keep approval advice, the issued certificate and any conversion evidence together so the eventual registration application has a clear, consistent technical record.
Check the official guidance
Requirements can change. These sources apply to the points discussed above; your vehicle may need a different route.
- GOV.UK: imported vehicle approval
- GOV.UK: approval exemptions and import tax evidence
- VCA: GB conversion IVA for passenger cars
This guide explains the process. It does not confirm eligibility, tax relief or approval for an individual vehicle.