Do you know why you should have a Certificate of Conformity for your car?

O Car Certificate of Conformity (COC) It is an important document for the homologation of vehicles and their circulation. In other words, when we buy a vehicle it is necessary to have a document that proves that it meets all the conditions, according to the model approved by the manufacturer. In theory, all vehicles leave the factory with an original COC🇧🇷 Each manufacturer has its own way of dealing with this process, so there is no single way of doing things. Ie, the main rule is that there must be one COC per vehicle.Then find out what this document consists of and how you can obtain it.

Car Conformity Certificate: what is it and what is it for?

theCertificate of conformity🇧🇷 (COC)It is a document issued by car manufacturers. That is, whenever you buy a car, the brand has to issue this certificate. With this declaration, the owner guarantee that the vehicle conforms to the model approved and provided by the manufacturer🇧🇷. 🇧🇷

What should be included in this document?

The certificate of conformity must include the following elements: data about the vehicle; identification of the car manufacturer; model approval number; technical characteristics; finally, other relevant data.​​​In addition, this declaration certifies that the vehicle complies with all the technical characteristics that meet the environmental and safety requirements, also imposed in the European Union.Even so, some vehicles do not have the COC🇧🇷 They are: those manufactured for the North American or Japanese market, which do not have a CE specification; and even older vehicles that have not obtained model approval from the CE. The car’s certificate of conformity it has only become mandatory and is only available for cars whose manufacturing date is 1996 or later. That is, cars prior to this year normally do not have and do not need COC. In short, the main objective of this document is to guarantee the free movement of goods in the European Union​in particular for goods subject to homologation and registration.Read more: Are you going to buy a car? Know what certificates are used

Do modified cars also need a certificate of conformity?

True, a vehicle that has been modified also needs a certificate of conformity. That is, it is subject to a individual approval in accordance with European legislation in the EU country where registration was applied for.This happens, therefore, this process is not the same in all countries of the European Union🇧🇷 Therefore, you should find out about registration in each country. With regard to Portugal, you can obtain the information you need at the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado. In this sense, when you import a modified car into Portugal, the authorities that regulate this sectorbefore registering the same, require the submission of: proof of the realization of technical inspections specific; or certain certificates.Thus, the COC is essential for anyone who needs to legalize a car in Portugal🇧🇷 This is because this document describes all the characteristics of the vehicle; accompanies the vehicle; and includes the European homologation number. If you do not have the Certificate of Conformity for the Car, its legalization becomes more difficult. Single Internal Market Community Directive and Type Approval EC-92.​ Therefore, all car brands must make the COC available to their customers. 🇧🇷The COC is different depending on the VIN of the vehicle (VIN = Vehicle Identification Number – a kind of serial number). In other words, there is no universal COC🇧🇷 That is, there are several COCs for the same model and sometimes even for the same version of a given vehicle.

Car certificate of conformity: what types are there?

A COC issued in an EU country valid in any EU country, regardless of the language in which it is issued (some brands tend to issue the COC in their “native” language). This means that you can request the COC in any EU country and it is always valid in Portugal. In truth, There are two types of certificates:

European Certificate (CE)

If the car has a valid CE certificate, the Portuguese authorities cannot require any additional technical documents.

National Certificate​

This type of certificate, only valid in the issuing country🇧🇷. As a general rule, it is issued for:buses;trucks;vans;trailers;and customized vehicles built before May 2009​.Finally, this certificate must also accompany the old cars.🇧🇷

How much can a car certificate of conformity cost?

this cost is not fixed, depends on where you request it. If you ask the manufacturer, the price is more affordable and can go up to 400 euros.Also, please note that in some situations the vehicle may need to stay on the mark to be checked properly🇧🇷 Thus, in these cases, approval not only takes longer, but also costs more.

Where can I order this document?

As a rule, you can ask for this declaration on the mark. However, please make sure you make this request by contacting brand or manufacturer, either through the national importer or through a reseller. It should be noted that this service has costs and therefore it may take some time to complete. In this case, the importer or dealer simply serves as an intermediary in the transaction.Although not very common, some manufacturers allow order the corresponding COC online🇧🇷 They are: Ford, Renault; Audi/VW; Mercedes; Among others. Do not forget that, if you purchase the vehicle from a professional dealer, they can also provide you with the COC. On the other hand, as they are used to providing this service, they already facilitate the process. If it is not possible, or if you do not want to try, know that there are companies that can handle the car’s certificate of conformity for you. In this way, it saves time and it is possible to obtain more competitive prices than those offered by the importer.Also read: Car without insurance: know what can happen to you?