COC for imported cars: EU and non-EU
Updated 2026-07-20 · 6 min read
When you import a car, a Certificate of Conformity (COC) is the document that lets you register it in your country without a full individual inspection, provided the vehicle was EU type-approved. For cars imported from outside the EU, a COC may not exist, and a different approval route is usually required.
Importing within the EU
Moving a car from one EU country to another is the most common case. Because the vehicle is already EU type-approved, its COC is recognised everywhere in the Union. You present it to your national authority, which registers the car and issues local plates.
This is why buyers of cars from Germany, France or the Netherlands so often need a COC: the seller may not have kept it, but the destination authority still requires it.
Importing from outside the EU
Cars first sold outside the EU (for example in the United States, Japan or the UK after Brexit) were usually not built to EU type approval. In that case an EU COC may not exist for the vehicle.
Here you generally need an individual vehicle approval in the destination country, which checks the specific car against EU standards. Some manufacturers can still issue a COC for models that were also type-approved in Europe, so it is worth checking your VIN before assuming you need the individual route.
How to get a COC for an imported car
If your imported car was EU type-approved, the process is the same as for any other vehicle.
- Locate the VIN on the car or its foreign registration papers.
- Confirm availability for the make and model.
- Order the COC and receive the digital PDF, then the original by UPS.
- Present the COC to your registration authority with the other required documents.
Common import pitfalls
A few issues catch importers out.
- Assuming a non-EU car has a COC. Check the VIN first.
- Buying without the original COC and discovering the seller cannot provide one.
- Confusing the COC with the foreign registration document, which the destination country will not accept on its own.
- Leaving the COC request to the last minute, when registration deadlines are close.
Key takeaways
- For EU-type-approved cars, a COC lets you register an import without an individual inspection.
- Cars first sold outside the EU often have no COC and need individual vehicle approval instead.
- Always check the VIN before assuming a COC does or does not exist.
- Coceu can source a COC for any EU-type-approved make, delivered digital and original.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a COC to import a car within the EU?
In almost all cases, yes. The destination authority uses the COC to register an EU-type-approved car without further tests.
Can I get a COC for a car imported from the US?
Only if that exact model was also EU type-approved. Otherwise a US car needs individual vehicle approval rather than a COC.
Is a UK COC still valid in the EU after Brexit?
A COC for an EU-type-approved car remains readable, but availability depends on the manufacturer. Check your VIN to confirm what can be issued.
What documents do I need to register an imported car?
Typically the COC, the foreign registration document, proof of ownership, and proof that any import taxes have been paid. Requirements vary by country.