The COC document
What a certificate of conformity is, who issues it, how it differs from the eCoC, its language and the value of the digital copy.
5 questions
Questions in this theme
What is a certificate of conformity (COC)?
The European certificate of conformity is the document by which the manufacturer certifies that your vehicle conforms to the type approved in the European Union. It carries all the technical data needed for the registration certificate and allows an imported vehicle to be registered without an individual approval.
What is the difference between COC and eCoC? Can I order an eCoC?
The eCoC is the electronic version of the certificate that the manufacturer transmits to the approval authorities for new vehicles produced from 5 July 2026. A private owner neither orders nor receives it. For an imported used vehicle, the document to obtain remains the COC, delivered as a digital copy and then on paper.
Who issues the certificate of conformity? What is Homologa’s role?
The certificate is always issued by the manufacturer or its official representative in Europe, from its type-approval data. Homologa is an intermediary: we check the VIN, file the request with the right department, follow the file and forward the document to you. We do not produce any certificate.
Which language is the COC written in? Do I need a translation?
The certificate is written in the language chosen by the manufacturer, often that of its home country or English. Because its fields are numbered identically across the Union, most European registration offices read it without translation. A certificate translation (sworn translation on quotation) is only useful if your office demands one.
Is the digital copy (PDF) of the COC accepted by the authorities?
In France, yes in the vast majority of cases: the registration application is made online through ANTS, which expects scanned documents, so the PDF of the manufacturer’s certificate is uploaded as is. Some offices abroad and some registration professionals still require the paper original.