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.
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