A COC is an official confirmation issued by a vehicle manufacturer (or their authorised agent) that your vehicle adheres to all applicable EU safety, environmental, and technical standards at the time of manufacture. It ensures that your vehicle’s specifications align with the Europe-approved type — making registration across EU borders much smoother.

In most cases, yes. A COC is the most straightforward way to demonstrate EU compliance and avoid extra inspections in your destination country. That said, if your vehicle’s existing documentation already includes certain technical details or type approval information, local authorities in some EU countries might accept those. It’s best to double-check with your local registration office.

A COC typically includes:

• VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
• Engine specifications (e.g. power, fuel type)
• CO₂ emissions and environmental category
• Vehicle dimensions, weight, and seating configuration
• EU type approval number
• Technical data such as axle load, noise emissions, and tyre sizes. It acts as a standardized compliance reference recognized across Europe.

The first COC, provided with a brand-new vehicle, often comes at no extra cost. However, for used or imported vehicles, duplicating an official COC involves retrieving data from the manufacturer and issuing a new certified document — a process that justifies a fee. Be cautious: free documents found online are usually unofficial and may not be accepted by authorities.

A COC contains comprehensive technical specifications about the vehicle, including:

• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
• Engine specifications (capacity, power, fuel type)
• Emission standards and environmental compliance
• Dimensions, weight, and number of seats
• Approval number and regulatory information

If a vehicle was originally registered outside the EU (e.g., in the U.S., Japan, or Australia), it’s very unlikely to hold EU type approval, thus a standard COC isn’t possible. However, we offer tailored homologation support to help bring your vehicle into compliance with EU road standards. Contact us to know more.

Delivery timelines depend on the vehicle make and model, but typically range from 5 to 30 business days for processing. After that, shipping may take an additional 1 to 7 days, depending on the chosen method.

Only the vehicle manufacturer or an officially authorized agent has the legal authority to issue an authentic COC. At COC EXPRESS, we partner directly with licensed manufacturers and official representatives to guarantee the legitimacy of every certificate issued.

To process your request, you’ll typically need:

• Vehicle registration document or previous compliance paperwork

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
In certain instances, especially when documentation is missing, additional items like proof of purchase, a photo of the homologation label, or ID may be requested.

If your vehicle’s make isn’t available, it means we currently lack a supplier for that brand, contacting the manufacturer directly is the next best step. If you’ve lost documents, send us any available vehicle data (e.g., homologation label photo, VIN, make/model/year) and we’ll investigate availability for you.

Need help specific to your country’s registration rules or have questions about eligibility? Our team is ready to support you every step of the way, just reach out via our contact form or support channels.