Certificate of conformity by make BMW
BMW centralises its type-approval data and answers consistently, which makes the files predictable. The difficulty lies elsewhere: the brand splits every model into a very large number of power, drivetrain and trim variants.
Between a 3 Series sold in Austria and the same 3 Series sold in Belgium the commercial name is identical, but the type code may differ, and with it the values on the certificate. M models and M Performance packs add another layer: brakes, wheels and exhaust all change the approved figures. Rely on field D.2 of the foreign registration document and on the VIN, never on the model name alone.
The common case is a 3 Series or X3 bought in Germany or Austria, where the buyer sends us the model name but not the registration document. On a range this finely split, the name alone does not identify an approval file. We therefore always ask for the type code (field D.2) or, failing that, the full VIN. On M versions and cars fitted with M Performance packs we also check the tyre sizes and weights, often different from the base version bearing the same commercial name. One last point: a few BMWs on European roads were sold new in the United States. The VIN flags it, and we check before committing to anything.
A BMW certificate is usually issued by the manufacturer’s type-approval department, centrally for the whole of Europe.
Where to find the chassis number (VIN) on a BMW
A certificate covers one vehicle only, identified by its chassis number (VIN). The safest place to read it is field E of the foreign registration document. On a BMW, it also appears:
- at the base of the windscreen, driver’s side, readable from outside
- on the manufacturer’s plate on the driver’s door pillar
- on the suspension turret, in the engine bay
A VIN never contains the letters I, O or Q: mistaking one for a 1 or a 0 is enough to send the search astray.
Most frequently imported BMW models
The BMW vehicles we handle most often come from Germany, from Austria and from Belgium.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- BMW Série 1
- BMW Série 3
- BMW Série 5
- BMW X1
- BMW X3
- BMW X5
- BMW i3
- BMW i4
The rest of the EU-approved BMW range is handled the same way.
BMW and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, BMW has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used BMW is not affected: you need the ordinary COC, issued exactly as before. Paper and printouts of the eCOC remain accepted until 29 November 2026 at the latest. Understand the eCOC.
Watch-outs for an imported BMW
Equipment specific to the country of sale
A BMW sold from Germany and from Austria does not always carry the same equipment or the same tyre sizes as elsewhere. The certificate reflects the vehicle’s actual configuration, not your local brochure.
Vehicle modified after leaving the factory
The certificate describes the BMW as it left the production line. Non-approved wheels, lowered suspension, tow bar, aftermarket exhaust: none of it appears on the document. The certificate stays valid, but it does not cover the modification — a common point on Série 1 and Série 3.
US-specification vehicle
A BMW sold new in the United States differs from the European version — lighting, indicators, emissions, instrumentation. It has no European certificate: the route is individual vehicle approval, not a COC.
BMW models
These models come up most often in our files. The certificate is obtained the same way for the rest of the EU type-approved range.
Frequently asked questions
Other makes in the BMW Group group
BMW belongs to the BMW Group group. These makes follow similar type-approval procedures, often with comparable lead times.