How much does a Subaru certificate of conformity cost?

The indicative price is €199 for a Subaru, confirmed after checking the VIN.

How long does it take for a Subaru?

The average turnaround is 13 working days for a Subaru.

Where is the chassis number on a Subaru?

On a Subaru, 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 Subaru models do you handle?

The whole EU-approved Subaru range. Most requests concern Forester, Outback, XV, Impreza and Levorg; discontinued models are handled too, subject to the 10-year rule.

My Subaru 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.

Certificate of conformity by make Subaru

Subaru sells small volumes in Europe through a limited network, which has a direct consequence: an unusually high proportion of the older Impreza, Forester and Legacy models on the continent are Japanese-market versions imported outside the network.

Those vehicles have no European approval and no certificate of conformity can be issued for them, however closely they resemble the model sold in Europe. The VIN says so immediately. The brand also attracts owners who readily modify their vehicles — suspension, exhaust, wheels, intake. The certificate describes the car as it left the factory: modifications will not appear on it and may be picked up at the roadworthiness test.

The file that raises the most questions is an older Impreza or Forester bought from a private seller, often modified, whose owner does not know the import history. The price is attractive, which ought to give pause. On a Subaru our first check is therefore origin, from the VIN: an unusually high proportion of the older European fleet came from Japan outside the network and has no European approval. We answer you without opening a file or invoicing. On European vehicles our second check concerns modifications: suspension, exhaust, intake, wheels. The certificate describes the original car and does not cover them, which can be picked up at the roadworthiness test.

For a Subaru, 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 Subaru

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 Subaru, 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 Subaru models

The Subaru vehicles we handle most often come from Germany, from Belgium and from Switzerland.

The requests we receive mostly concern:

Subaru Forester
Subaru Outback
Subaru XV
Subaru Impreza
Subaru Levorg

The rest of the EU-approved Subaru range is handled the same way.

Subaru and the eCOC: what changes in 2026

Since 5 July 2026, Subaru has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used Subaru 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 Subaru

Japanese-market versions not approved in Europe

Some Subaru vehicles on European roads are Japanese domestic-market versions imported outside the official network. They have no European type approval and no certificate can be issued. The VIN settles it immediately.

Vehicle modified after leaving the factory

The certificate describes the Subaru 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 Forester and Outback.

Vehicle originally sold outside the EU

A Subaru 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.