Certificate of conformity by make Opel
Opel changed owner twice within a few years: General Motors until 2017, then PSA, then Stellantis. The type-approval data followed those moves, and recent Opel models now share their technical base with Peugeot and Citroën.
It is also one of the most requested brands on the German and Dutch side. The point to watch concerns naming: depending on the market the same vehicle may have been badged Opel or Vauxhall, and some mid-generation Corsa or Astra models carry a type designation that matches no familiar commercial name. The Vivaro, meanwhile, exists in panel van and crew versions that do not fall under the same approval category.
The typical file is a Corsa or Astra bought in Germany or the Netherlands, often a first car for a young driver or a household second vehicle. The purchase price is modest, and the buyer discovers the cost of the certificate afterwards. We therefore quote the price before taking any step. On an Opel we first check the designation and type code: the changes of ownership at the manufacturer have left inconsistent designations across model years, and the commercial name is not enough. On the Vivaro and Combo our second check concerns the category: panel van and crew versions are not registered in the same way, and field J of the foreign document is what counts.
A Opel certificate is usually issued by the group type-approval department, shared across sister brands.
Where to find the chassis number (VIN) on a Opel
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 Opel, 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 Opel models
The Opel vehicles we handle most often come from Germany, from Belgium and from the Netherlands.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- Opel Corsa
- Opel Astra
- Opel Mokka
- Opel Crossland
- Opel Grandland
- Opel Insignia
- Opel Vivaro
The rest of the EU-approved Opel range is handled the same way.
Opel and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, Opel has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used Opel 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 Opel
Different name depending on the country
Your foreign registration document may name the Opel 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.
“Company” derivative or car-derived van
Some Opel vehicles were sold as stripped-out commercial versions for local tax reasons, notably from Germany and from Belgium. The certificate then shows category N1 and a reduced number of seats, which cannot be freely converted back.
Passenger car (M1) or light commercial (N1)?
The same Opel can exist as M1 (passenger car) and as N1 (van, with the rear bench and side windows removed). Different certificate, different taxation. Field J of the registration document settles it — check it in particular on Insignia and Vivaro.
Opel 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 Stellantis group
Opel belongs to the Stellantis group. These makes follow similar type-approval procedures, often with comparable lead times.