COC for a Car from the UK — What It Is and How to Get It Step by Step

What Is a COC and Why Does the Licensing Office Require It

A COC (Certificate of Conformity, in Polish: swiadectwo zgodnosci WE) is a document confirming that a specific vehicle unit conforms to the approved type and meets the requirements of Directive 2007/46/EC (for vehicles up to 2021) or EU Regulation 2018/858. The licensing office needs this document to register the vehicle without requiring a full type-approval technical inspection. Without a COC or an equivalent document, the vehicle must go through an individual approval procedure — which is more expensive and time-consuming.

European COC vs UK-market COC — the difference post-Brexit

Before Brexit, all cars sold in the UK were required to hold a European EC Certificate of Conformity or its equivalent. From 1 January 2021 the UK introduced its own type-approval system: UKTA (UK Type Approval). Cars produced and sold exclusively for the UK market after that date may carry only a UKTA — without a European COC.What this means for you: if you bought a UK car from model year 2021 or later that was not exported to the EU market, you may have no access to a European COC. Polish licensing offices accept a COC issued under Directive 2007/46/EC or Regulation 2018/858 — a UKTA document is not recognised as an equivalent without an additional approval procedure.Check the documents of the car you purchased: look for a form titled "Certificate of Conformity" or "EC Certificate of Conformity" — the form should contain a type-approval number beginning with "e" (lower-case e + country number) or "E" (upper-case E + country number).

How to check the VIN and type-approval before purchase

Before buying a car in the UK, ask the seller for the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and check the type-approval. You give the VIN to the manufacturer when ordering the COC — it must match exactly, character by character. An incorrect VIN means the document will be refused.Polish licensing offices increasingly require the COC to contain the following data: type-approval number, manufacturer code, technical data (mass, engine, emissions), signature of the manufacturer's authorised representative. The Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) issued by DVLA in the UK does not replace the COC — it is the equivalent of the Polish registration document, not a certificate of conformity.Source: gov.uk — Certificate of Conformity for vehicles (https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/certificate-of-conformity).

How to Order a COC from the Manufacturer — Procedure for Popular Brands

Every manufacturer of a vehicle covered by European type approval is obliged to issue a COC on the owner's request — this follows from EU Regulation 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The procedure differs between brands, however: some issue the document online within 48 hours, others direct you through an official dealer or customer service centre. Below you will find the general procedure and tips for cars popular on the UK market.

General COC ordering procedure — step by step

Step 1: Find the contact details for the manufacturer's or importer's customer service centre responsible for the market on which the vehicle was originally sold. For cars sold on the UK market, look for the UK branch of the manufacturer (e.g. Ford UK, Vauxhall Motors, Jaguar Land Rover UK).Step 2: Prepare the vehicle VIN (17 characters), the UK registration number (if you still have it), and proof of ownership (purchase invoice or V5C). Some manufacturers also require identity verification.Step 3: Submit the request — usually via an online form on the manufacturer's website or by email to the Customer Services department. State the purpose: "vehicle registration in an EU country" and specify that you need the EC Certificate of Conformity (not UKTA).Step 4: Pay any administrative fee. Manufacturers typically charge from £50 to £150 for issuing or duplicating a COC — these are indicative ranges for popular UK brands. The exact price depends on the brand and the channel (dealer vs. manufacturer direct). Prices quoted are indicative ranges — exact quote after document review.Step 5: Receive the document — electronically (PDF with manufacturer's signature) or in paper form (courier delivery). Waiting time: from 2 working days to 6 weeks depending on the brand and archive availability.

Ford, Vauxhall, Jaguar Land Rover — where to look for a COC

The most popular brands imported from the UK have their own COC procedures:Ford: Order through a Ford dealer or directly through the Ford Customer Relationship Centre UK. Provide the VIN and state that you need the document for registration in an EU country. Ford issues the COC in PDF format with a QR code — accepted by Polish licensing offices.Vauxhall (Opel): Vauxhall is a GM/Stellantis brand — in Poland you can approach Opel (Stellantis PL), which has access to the same type-approval databases as Vauxhall UK. This is often a faster route than contacting the UK directly.Jaguar Land Rover: JLR has a dedicated owner and partner portal — look via jaguarlandrover.com/COC or through a JLR dealer in Poland. For JLR cars sold globally the COC is usually available; for UKTA-only vehicles there may be a problem.Regardless of brand: if the manufacturer refuses to issue an EC COC citing the absence of EU type approval for that specific unit, proceed to the section "Alternative route via TDT/PIMOT".

When the manufacturer refuses to issue a COC — what next

The manufacturer may refuse when: the vehicle was intended exclusively for the UK market and holds only a UKTA; the VIN does not appear in the European type-approval register; the vehicle was modified after production in a way that violates the type-approval conditions.In this situation you have two options:Option 1 — Individual type approval via TDT or PIMOT: The Transport Technical Supervision (TDT) conducts individual type-approval inspections for vehicles without EU documentation. PIMOT (Automotive Industry Institute) issues individual type-approval certificates. The procedure is more expensive and takes longer (2–8 weeks), but yields a fully valid document for registration. Contact: TDT Warsaw — tdt.gov.pl.Option 2 — EC Certificate of Conformity from the EU importer: If the given model was sold by an importer on the EU market (even in a different version), the EU importer may issue a COC based on the type-approval number. Check whether your brand has an importer on the Polish/EU market — this is a cheaper and faster route than TDT.

COC and Registering a UK Car at the Licensing Office — What Else You Need

The COC is one of the documents required to register a car imported from the UK, but not the only one. The licensing office will ask for a complete set of documents — the absence of any one of them will result in a refusal and the need for another visit. Below you will find the full list of documents and tips on how to avoid the common mistakes that delay registration.

Full document checklist for registering a UK car in Poland

Documents required by the licensing office when registering a vehicle imported from the UK:<ul><li>COC (EC Certificate of Conformity) — original or copy confirmed by the manufacturer</li><li>V5C (UK registration document) — original with a VIN matching the COC</li><li>Purchase invoice — with VIN, date of sale, price, and seller's details</li><li>Proof of customs duty and import VAT payment — customs document (e.g. SAD/MRN with customs endorsement) or certificate from the customs office</li><li>Certificate of technical inspection — MOT-equivalent carried out at a vehicle inspection station (SKP) after bringing the car to Poland</li><li>Identity document or passport of the vehicle owner</li><li>Stamp duty and recycling fee</li></ul>Detailed requirements are available at gov.pl: https://www.gov.pl/web/gov/zarejestruj-pojazd-sprowadzony-z-zagranicy

Customs duty and VAT when importing a car from the UK — without these you cannot register

Before collecting documents for registration, make sure the car has been properly cleared through customs on the Polish side. Importing a car from the UK (as a third country) involves: customs duty (the standard rate for passenger cars from the UK is 6.5% of the customs value — verify via TARIC), import VAT (23% of the VAT calculation base), excise duty (depends on engine displacement and CO2 emissions).Customs duties are paid through a customs broker at the import clearance in Poland or in another EU country (if the car entered via a different port). The document confirming customs clearance (MRN number, SAD document) is mandatory for registration — the licensing office will not register the vehicle without proof of customs duty and VAT payment.Easy Clearance handles customs clearances for cars from the UK. Cost of import clearance for a car: from £45 to £150. Prices quoted are indicative ranges — exact quote after document review.

What the current rules say

A COC (Certificate of Conformity) is the key document when registering a car imported from the UK — without it the licensing office will direct you towards an expensive individual approval procedure via TDT or PIMOT. You order it directly from the manufacturer (provide the VIN, state that you need an EC COC for EU registration) — the manufacturer is obliged to issue it under Regulation 2018/858. If the manufacturer refuses (because the car carries only a UKTA), the alternatives are approval via TDT or a certificate from the EU importer of that brand. This article reflects the legal position as at 2026-04-18. Contact a customs broker before taking action.

FAQ — frequently asked questions

What is a COC and how does it differ from a V5C (UK registration document)?

A COC (Certificate of Conformity) is a conformity certificate issued by the vehicle manufacturer, confirming that the unit meets the type-approval conditions. A V5C is the British registration document issued by the DVLA — the equivalent of the Polish registration document. Both are needed for registration in Poland, but they serve different purposes. The COC confirms technical conformity; the V5C confirms registration history.

How much does it cost to obtain a COC from the manufacturer for a car from the UK?

Manufacturers typically charge from £50 to £150 for issuing or duplicating a COC — the amount depends on the brand and channel (dealer vs. manufacturer direct). Prices quoted are indicative — exact quote after contacting the manufacturer. Waiting time: from 2 days to 6 weeks.

What should I do if the manufacturer refuses to issue a COC for a car from the UK?

If the manufacturer refuses (e.g. because the car carries only a UKTA, not an EC COC), you have two options: (1) individual type approval via TDT or PIMOT — more expensive but yields a fully valid document; (2) certificate of conformity from the EU importer of that brand — a faster and cheaper route if the model was sold on the EU market. Consult the licensing office before choosing a route.

Is a COC mandatory for registering a UK car in Poland?

Yes — or its equivalent (individual type-approval certificate). Without a COC the licensing office cannot register the vehicle through the standard procedure and will direct you to individual type approval. Detailed requirements are at gov.pl/web/gov/zarejestruj-pojazd-sprowadzony-z-zagranicy.

How do I check whether my UK car has a European COC or only a British UKTA?

Check the type-approval number: a European COC contains a number beginning with lower-case 'e' + country number (e.g. e11 for pre-Brexit UK) or includes a reference to Directive 2007/46/EC or Regulation 2018/858. A UKTA contains a number beginning with 'GB'. You can also ask the manufacturer by providing the VIN.

Official sources

Certificate of Conformity for vehicles — gov.uk — GOV.UK
Vehicle registration — imported vehicle (gov.pl) — GOV.PL
EU Regulation 2018/858 on type approval — EUR-Lex
Vehicle registration new and used vehicles — GOV.UK

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