Certificate of conformity by make Toyota
Toyota assembles part of its range in Europe — the Yaris in northern France, the Corolla in the United Kingdom — and centralises its type-approval data at European level. The files are consistent and well documented.
Two cases stand apart. The Hilux first: it is a pick-up approved as a commercial vehicle, with a category, a tax treatment and sometimes a licence requirement different from those of a passenger car. Then the Proace, derived from a Stellantis base, which exists in panel van and crew versions that do not share the same category. Finally, a few older Toyotas on European roads are Japanese-market versions imported outside the network, without European approval.
The most common file is a hybrid Yaris or Corolla bought in Germany or Belgium, with a clean file and a quick answer from the manufacturer. These are the simplest requests we handle. The difficulties come from the two ends of the range. On a Hilux we check the category and gross weight: it is a commercial vehicle, with everything that implies for licensing, taxation and roadworthiness testing. On older Toyotas our check concerns origin: a few examples on European roads are Japanese-market versions imported outside the network, without European approval. The VIN settles it, and we check before opening the file.
Toyota requests are usually handled by the brand’s European organisation, which centralises type-approval data.
Where to find the chassis number (VIN) on a Toyota
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 Toyota, 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 Toyota models
The Toyota vehicles we handle most often come from Germany, from Belgium and from Poland.
The requests we receive mostly concern:
- Toyota Yaris
- Toyota Corolla
- Toyota RAV4
- Toyota C-HR
- Toyota Aygo
- Toyota Hilux
- Toyota Proace
The rest of the EU-approved Toyota range is handled the same way.
Toyota and the eCOC: what changes in 2026
Since 5 July 2026, Toyota has been sending conformity data for its new vehicles to the approval authorities in eCOC format. Your used Toyota 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 Toyota
Gross weight and driving licence category
Depending on the version, a Toyota can exceed 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight and move into category N2: licence required, speed limits and roadworthiness regime all change. The weight is in field F.2 of the registration document.
“Company” derivative or car-derived van
Some Toyota 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.
Vehicle originally sold outside the EU
A Toyota 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.
Toyota 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 Toyota Motor Corporation group
Toyota belongs to the Toyota Motor Corporation group. These makes follow similar type-approval procedures, often with comparable lead times.