IMPORT A CAR FROM EUROPE TO THE UK

The European Mutual Recognition Scheme

A Certificate of Mutual Recognition shows that your vehicle is suitable to be driven on UK roads. Mutual Recognition legislation only applies to those who are importing a car to the UK that was originally manufactured and registered for use in the EU. The certificate is issued by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA).

Vehicles registrations made by Specialised Shipping Services have included models from the following manufacturers, Citroen, Peugeot, Renault, Alpine, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Opel, Porsche, Volkswagen, Alta, Attica, Bravia, Seat, Saab, Scania trucks, Volvo, Sigma.

The list of successful UK vehicle registrations we have undertaken is too numerous to mention here. If you are considering importing a car to the UK from anywhere in Europe, please phone 0118 933 2334 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Application for a Certificate of Mutual Recognition

Specialised Shipping Services (UK) Ltd can manage the certification process on your behalf including getting associated documentation together that the VCA will require to be produced along with the application.

The documents required by the VCA are as follows:-

Original European Certificate of Conformity (CoC)

The Original European Certificate of Conformity (CoC) is vehicle specific; issued by the vehicle manufacturer; there will be a colour logo and / or a watermark with 51 or 52 numbered items. As well as giving details of the vehicle it will also include a European Type-Approval number and be signed by a specified individual.

Garage Evidence

Garage Evidence is a statement which must be provided by either an MOT test station / a VAT registered garage or a garage registered with Companies House. The statement must be on full garage headed paper, giving full contact details including a VAT number and registered address or Companies House number and registered address.

The VCA will not accept any of the following documents: MOT certificates - Photographs of the vehicle features - Vehicle handbook extracts - Parts receipts. If the required documentation is not available then the only option left will be proof of UK compliance through the Individual Vehicle Approval Scheme.

IVA or European Mutual Recognition

In some cases it may actually be cheaper to legalise your vehicle through the IVA scheme, in particular, vehicles with high CO₂ emissions. We can provide an estimate for both methods of legalisation if the road fund license is more costly than homologating through the IVA scheme.

If you think you need a Certificate of Mutual Recognition for your car import, please phone 0118 933 2334 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Further Information on Certificate of Mutual Recognition

EXCEPTIONS:

Countries from which applications are acceptable are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Channel Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

With the following list of countries applications are only acceptable if the registration document shows that the vehicle was first registered on or after 1st May 2004: the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia andSlovenia.

With regards to Bulgaria and Romania applications for A Certificate of Mutual Recognition will only be accepted if the registration document shows that the vehicle was first registered there on or after 1st January 2007

First registered outside of Europe? In this case the vehicle is unable to be legalised through the scheme and the only option available is through the IVA scheme (formerly known as SVA)

European Mutual Recognition Scheme – https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/mutual-recognition