Why do you need a certificate of conformity for your Kia?
If you bought your Kia in another European Union country, the Kia certificate of conformity is required to register it. It proves the vehicle conforms to the type approved by Kia at European level.
We obtain it from Kia and deliver it as a digital copy by e-mail, with the paper original by post on request.
Kia COC price and turnaround
| Price incl. VAT | 265 € |
|---|---|
| Average turnaround | 3 working days |
| Formats | Digital copy (PDF) by email & paper original by post |
| Vehicles | EU type-approved Kia cars and vans |
Indicative price confirmed after checking the chassis number (VIN).
Kia builds in Žilina, Slovakia, for the European market. The seven-year manufacturer warranty has created an unusually well-stocked used market: many vehicles change hands before cover expires, and the original certificate stays with the first owner.
The particularity of the brand lies in its naming. The cee’d, apostrophe and all, became the Ceed part-way through its life; several other designations vary from one market to another. On a foreign registration document the spelling may therefore differ from the one you know, without anything being wrong. As always, it is the VIN that identifies the approval file, never the commercial name.
The usual file is a Sportage or Ceed from Germany, resold shortly before the warranty expires. The buyer gets a sound vehicle, a complete service book… and no certificate. Our first move concerns the spelling of the model on the foreign document: between cee’d and Ceed, and between the designations specific to each market, a search by name leads straight into a wall. We work from the chassis number. Our second check is the year the vehicle left the factory, to be distinguished from the year it entered service: on the oldest model years in the range, it decides what the manufacturer is still required to supply. We put the question to the type-approval department before drawing up the quote, never after.
For a Kia, the request usually goes through the national importer of the country of first registration: one more link in the chain, so a longer turnaround.
Where to find the chassis number (VIN) on a Kia
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 Kia, 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
- stamped under the bonnet, on the front crossmember
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 Kia models
The Kia vehicles we handle most often come from Slovakia, from Germany and from Belgium.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- Kia Picanto
- Kia Rio
- Kia Ceed
- Kia Sportage
- Kia Niro
- Kia EV6
- Kia Stonic
The rest of the EU-approved Kia range is handled the same way.
What to watch out for on an imported Kia
Vehicle more than 10 years old
Article 36 of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 only requires the manufacturer to supply a duplicate for 10 years after the date of manufacture. Beyond that it is at their discretion. We check availability before invoicing anything, particularly on older Kia Picanto and Rio.
Different name depending on the country
Your foreign registration document may name the Kia 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.
Equipment specific to the country of sale
A Kia sold from Slovakia and from Germany 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.
Kia and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, Kia has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used Kia 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 Kia certificate of conformity cost?
The indicative price is 265 € for a Kia, confirmed after checking the VIN.
How long does it take for a Kia?
The average turnaround is 3 working days for a Kia.
Where is the chassis number on a Kia?
On a Kia, 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 stamped under the bonnet, on the front crossmember. It is 17 characters long and never contains the letters I, O or Q.
Which Kia models do you handle?
The whole EU-approved Kia range. Most requests concern Picanto, Rio, Ceed, Sportage and Niro; discontinued models are handled too, subject to the 10-year rule.
My Kia comes from Slovakia — 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
Kia belongs to Hyundai Motor Group, 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.