How do I know if I need a certificate of conformity?

To be compliant and drive safely and legally, several documents are mandatory for your vehicle, including the Certificate of Conformity (COC). This is necessary for registration as well as other situations. But when will you need this document and how do you obtain it? How much should you expect to pay to submit your application? Find out everything in this article.

What is a COC?

It is a document that certifies that a vehicle meets the various EU vehicle standards. Therefore, you need to obtain your COC before you can proceed with the purchase. Containing all the vehicle’s technical data, it is a necessary document for all registration procedures. This applies whether it’s a French vehicle to be registered, such as the COC for a Peugeot or a foreign vehicle that will be legally registered in France. Generally, it is often important to use it if your vehicle registration document (carte grise) contains an error or is lost.

Furthermore, it should be noted that this document contains certain mandatory information. All of this information is transferred to the vehicle registration document during the registration process. Consequently, this certificate remains useful even after registration, as your vehicle registration document may be incorrect or stolen.

In addition, there are three main types of Certificate of Conformity (COC): the EC Certificate of Conformity, the Cerfa form 13749, and the “Certificate of Conformity to National Approval.”

When is the Certificate of Conformity mandatory?

You will likely need a Certificate of Conformity (COC) for three main vehicle registration procedures. This document is required to register any type of vehicle imported from any European country, whether it’s a used vehicle or a brand new one straight from the factory. It is also mandatory for renewing the registration of modified vehicles. The COC is especially essential when converting a commercial vehicle into a passenger car.

It should also be noted that a Certificate of Conformity is required for almost all vehicle categories, including those in categories L, M, E, and T. The certificate has been available in electronic format since 2019. Several methods exist for obtaining this document. For example, when purchasing a brand new vehicle in France, the manufacturer is obligated to issue and provide you with a COC. This allows you to easily register your vehicle yourself with the ANTS (National Agency for Secure Documents) or through another legal system.

However, when it comes to an imported vehicle, sellers generally do not provide a Certificate of Conformity (COC). Therefore, you will need to contact the manufacturer’s homologation department to obtain it.