Why do you need a certificate of conformity for your DS Automobiles?
If you bought your DS Automobiles in another European Union country, the DS Automobiles certificate of conformity is required to register it. It proves the vehicle conforms to the type approved by DS Automobiles at European level.
We obtain it from DS Automobiles and deliver it as a digital copy by e-mail, with the paper original by post on request.
DS Automobiles COC price and turnaround
| Price incl. VAT | 289 € |
|---|---|
| Average turnaround | 2 working days |
| Formats | Digital copy (PDF) by email & paper original by post |
| Vehicles | EU type-approved DS Automobiles cars and vans |
Indicative price confirmed after checking the chassis number (VIN).
DS has only been a brand distinct from Citroën since 2014. On early DS 3 models the foreign registration document sometimes still reads “Citroën DS3” as a single designation, which makes searching by commercial name impossible.
This is the textbook case where the VIN is the only reliable entry point. We always start from it, never from the model name. Second point: DS models were sold with sharply differentiated trim levels depending on the market, including outside Europe where the brand had a life of its own. A vehicle whose VIN does not match a European manufacturer identifier does not fall under the European certificate of conformity. We check that before opening the file.
The most frequent case is an early DS 3 bought in Belgium or Germany whose registration document carries a designation mixing Citroën and DS. The seller cannot explain the difference and the buyer fears an irregularity. There is none. On a DS we therefore always start from the VIN, the only stable identifier, and ignore the commercial name. Our second check concerns the actual origin of the vehicle: the brand had a commercial existence outside Europe, with models bearing the same names but approved elsewhere. A VIN that does not match a European manufacturer means there is no European certificate to obtain, and we say so before invoicing anything.
A DS Automobiles certificate is usually issued by the group type-approval department, shared across sister brands.
Where to find the chassis number (VIN) on a DS Automobiles
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 DS Automobiles, 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
- copied into the service book
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 DS Automobiles models
The DS Automobiles vehicles we handle most often come from France, from Belgium and from Germany.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- DS Automobiles DS 3
- DS Automobiles DS 4
- DS Automobiles DS 7
- DS Automobiles DS 9
The rest of the EU-approved DS Automobiles range is handled the same way.
What to watch out for on an imported DS Automobiles
Different name depending on the country
Your foreign registration document may name the DS Automobiles under a commercial name you do not recognise, or under a type designation. Rely on the VIN and the type code (field D.2), never on the marketing name.
Grey-market version
Some DS Automobiles vehicles were built for a non-EU market and later re-imported. Their approval is not European, the VIN reveals it, and the manufacturer will refuse to issue a certificate. We check this systematically before quoting.
Vehicle originally sold outside the EU
A DS Automobiles sold new outside the EU has no European certificate, even where the model exists here: the manufacturer has nothing to issue and the case falls under individual vehicle approval. Send us the VIN before paying anything — the check is free.
DS Automobiles and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, DS Automobiles has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used DS Automobiles 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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DS Automobiles certificate of conformity cost?
The indicative price is 289 € for a DS Automobiles, confirmed after checking the VIN.
How long does it take for a DS Automobiles?
The average turnaround is 2 working days for a DS Automobiles.
Where is the chassis number on a DS Automobiles?
On a DS Automobiles, the VIN is usually readable at the base of the windscreen, driver’s side, readable from outside, on the manufacturer’s plate on the driver’s door pillar and copied into the service book. It is 17 characters long and never contains the letters I, O or Q.
Which DS Automobiles models do you handle?
The whole EU-approved DS Automobiles range. Most requests concern DS 3, DS 4, DS 7 and DS 9; discontinued models are handled too, subject to the 10-year rule.
My DS Automobiles comes from France — does that change anything?
No. The certificate of conformity is a European document, valid in every Member State, and the procedure is the same whatever the country of origin.
Other brands in the group
DS Automobiles belongs to Stellantis, whose brands often share the same approval channel:
How to order?
- 1
You fill in the request
Brand, model and chassis number (VIN). A few minutes is enough, all online.
- 2
We check and quote
We confirm the required format (paper or eCOC), the exact price and the turnaround. You approve.
- 3
We obtain the certificate
We retrieve the COC from the manufacturer and check every detail.
- 4
You receive your COC
Delivery of the certificate, ready for your registration. A contact remains reachable.