Does the eCOC replace the COC?

Not for you. It replaces the handover of the paper document from the manufacturer to the buyer of a new vehicle, from 5 July 2026. For everything else — used, duplicates, imports — the COC remains the reference document.

Is a printout of the eCOC accepted?

During the transition period, yes: paper formats and printouts of the eCOC remain accepted until 29 November 2026 at the latest.

Does my paper COC stay valid after 2026?

Yes. The text is not retroactive: a properly issued certificate keeps its value.

Is the price different depending on the format?

No. With us the price is the same whether you receive a digital copy by e-mail or the paper original by post.

Is a certificate of conformity always required to register an imported vehicle?

Not always. When the foreign registration document is complete — fields D.2 (type, variant, version) and K (EU type-approval number) filled in — the French ANTS can register the vehicle without a COC. Otherwise, or whenever the authority asks for it, the European certificate of conformity is the expected document. Step-by-step registration guide.

eCOC or COC: the comparison

eCOC and COC compared: who issues them, to whom, for which vehicles, in what format and with what value. The table that clears up the most common confusion. The same subject — a vehicle’s conformity — but two different recipients.

Updated on 3 September 20262 min readBy L’équipe Homologa

The table

	COC	eCOC
Who issues it	The manufacturer	The manufacturer
To whom	To the vehicle owner	To the approval authorities
For which vehicles	All vehicles approved in the EU	New vehicles produced from 5 July 2026, categories M, N, O
Medium	Paper, or a digital copy of the document	XML file in IVI format, eIDAS-sealed
Can it be ordered?	Yes, from the manufacturer — that is our business	No, it is not a document issued to the public
Duplicate	Provided by Article 36, on paper, for 10 years after manufacture	Not applicable
Retroactivity	Not applicable	None for the existing fleet

Three situations, three answers

You are importing a used car. You need a COC. The eCOC does not exist for that vehicle. Our used-vehicle guide.
You have lost your certificate. You need a duplicate of the COC, on paper, subject to the ten-year rule. Our duplicate guide.
You are buying a new vehicle in the Union. The manufacturer sends the data to the authority. There is nothing for you to order.

Why the confusion is so widespread

Three factors combine. First the closeness of the names: one letter separates COC from eCOC, while the two notions do not overlap. Then the media narrative: the 5 July 2026 deadline was widely reported as “the COC goes digital”, a phrase that suggests a change of medium for everyone. Finally the commercial interest some websites have in keeping things vague: selling an “eCOC” to a used-car owner means selling a service whose object does not exist.

The simple rule to remember: if you already own the vehicle, what you will be asked for is a COC.

← Back to the eCOC 2026 guide

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/133 — electronic certificate of conformity — 3 September 2026
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1061 — 3 September 2026
Regulation (EU) 2018/858 — approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles (EUR-Lex) — 3 September 2026

We cite the texts at their source and show the date of the version consulted. Spotted an error? Write to us: we correct it and date the correction.