Why do you need a certificate of conformity for your Smart?
If you bought your Smart in another European Union country, the Smart certificate of conformity is required to register it. It proves the vehicle conforms to the type approved by Smart at European level.
We obtain it from Smart and deliver it as a digital copy by e-mail, with the paper original by post on request.
Smart COC price and turnaround
| Price incl. VAT | 269 € |
|---|---|
| Average turnaround | 7 working days |
| Formats | Digital copy (PDF) by email & paper original by post |
| Vehicles | EU type-approved Smart cars and vans |
Indicative price confirmed after checking the chassis number (VIN).
The European Smart range went fully electric in the early 2020s, after a long run of petrol Fortwo models. That switch draws a clear line through our files.
The most common petrol Fortwo models are now approaching or past the ten years after manufacture mark, beyond which Article 36 of the European regulation no longer obliges the manufacturer to supply a duplicate. Issuing one often remains possible, but it is no longer guaranteed and the turnaround becomes unpredictable. On the electric versions the file is recent and complete, but some authorities ask for battery data that does not systematically appear on the certificate.
The typical case is a Fortwo bought in Italy or Germany as a cheap second city car, whose owner then discovers the certificate is missing for registration. The vehicle is often ten years old or more. On a Smart our first reflex is therefore to check the date of manufacture, not the date of first registration. Past ten years the manufacturer no longer has an obligation to issue and archive retention is no longer guaranteed: we query the type-approval department before invoicing you, and we answer plainly if availability is uncertain. On the more recent electric versions the file is complete, but we ask whether your authority requires battery data.
A Smart 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 Smart
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 Smart, it also appears:
- at the base of the windscreen, driver’s side, readable from outside
- under a floor flap on the front passenger side
- 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 Smart models
The Smart vehicles we handle most often come from Germany, from Italy and from France.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- Smart Fortwo
- Smart Forfour
- Smart EQ Fortwo
- Smart #1
The rest of the EU-approved Smart range is handled the same way.
What to watch out for on an imported Smart
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 Smart Fortwo and Forfour.
Electric version: battery and range
On an electric or plug-in hybrid Smart, the declared power is that of the motor, not of the charger, and battery capacity does not appear on every certificate. If your registration file requires it, tell us when you order.
Range reduced or withdrawn from Europe
Smart has scaled back its European presence. Type-approval data remains accessible but goes through a smaller organisation: longer turnaround and a less predictable answer on older models.
Smart and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, Smart has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used Smart 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 Smart certificate of conformity cost?
The indicative price is 269 € for a Smart, confirmed after checking the VIN.
How long does it take for a Smart?
The average turnaround is 7 working days for a Smart.
Where is the chassis number on a Smart?
On a Smart, the VIN is usually readable at the base of the windscreen, driver’s side, readable from outside, under a floor flap on the front passenger side and copied into the service book. It is 17 characters long and never contains the letters I, O or Q.
Which Smart models do you handle?
The whole EU-approved Smart range. Most requests concern Fortwo, Forfour, EQ Fortwo and #1; discontinued models are handled too, subject to the 10-year rule.
My Smart comes from Germany — 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
Smart belongs to Mercedes-Benz 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.