Answer

When do I need a Certificate of Conformity (COC)?

You need a Certificate of Conformity (COC) whenever you register a car in Germany for the first time — including imports from another EU country and new cars. The COC is issued by the manufacturer and confirms the car complies with EU type approval. Without a COC, the alternative is a § 21 StVZO Vollabnahme by TÜV or DEKRA.

How do I request a COC?

Contact the manufacturer's national office (BMW, Mercedes, VW etc.) with the VIN and proof of ownership. Most makers deliver within 2–4 weeks. Third-party brokers exist but often just resell the maker's document.

What is actually written in the COC?

The EU type-approval number, VIN, make and model variant, engine and emissions data (including CO₂ and the emission class that drives your KFZ-Steuer), weights, axle loads, dimensions, noise levels and tyre sizes. The Zulassungsstelle copies these values straight into the German Zulassungsbescheinigung, which is why an inaccurate COC creates paperwork problems later.

When a COC is not enough

If the car was modified after leaving the factory — different wheels, suspension, exhaust, tuning — the COC no longer describes it, and the changes need their own Teilegutachten or ABE entered by TÜV or DEKRA. A US or Japanese car built outside EU type approval has no valid COC at all and goes through the § 21 StVZO route.

COC vs Datenbestätigung vs § 21 Vollabnahme

COC: the manufacturer's EU-wide conformity document, the normal path. Datenbestätigung: a maker's data sheet used when the model was type-approved in Germany but the COC is unavailable. § 21 Vollabnahme: a physical individual inspection at €400–900 that produces a German approval where neither of the first two exists.

How long does it take and what should I budget?

Order the COC as early as possible — €50–250 and 2–4 weeks from the maker is normal, and some brands are slower for older models. If you are importing on a deadline, ask the seller whether the COC is already in the car's document folder before you agree the price; a missing one can add three weeks to the timeline.

FAQ

Do second-hand EU cars also need a COC?

For re-registration within Germany, no — the existing Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil II is enough. A COC is only needed when the car has never been registered in Germany.

Can I register the car with a copy of the COC?

Offices normally require the original. Order a duplicate from the manufacturer rather than relying on a scan.

My car is a classic from before EU type approval — what then?

There is no COC for it. It goes through a § 21 StVZO individual approval, and a vehicle over 30 years old may additionally qualify for H-Kennzeichen classic plates with their flat-rate vehicle tax.

Does the COC have to be in German?

No. The COC is a standardised EU document and is accepted in any EU language.

Last updated: July 2026