Registration and paperwork · Volkswagen
How do you get a Volkswagen Certificate of Conformity for a UK import?
For a Volkswagen registered in the EU, Volkswagen UK says it cannot supply a duplicate Certificate of Conformity. We obtain it for you as part of the import. A VW over 10 years old needs no CoC: it needs proof of its age, such as a dating letter, and a UK MOT if the car needs one.
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1. When a VW needs a CoC
A car under 10 years old needs proof of approval before the DVLA will register it; for a car registered in the EU, that proof is the CoC (GOV.UK). Over 10 years old it needs no approval (GOV.UK exemptions list).
2. A VW registered in the EU
Volkswagen UK is clear that it cannot supply a duplicate for a car originally registered outside the UK but within the EU, and that it has no data for vehicles with non-UK build specifications. So for a Golf bought in Germany, VW UK is not the answer. We handle the CoC for you.
The simplest step is to ask the seller for the original CoC before you pay. If it is missing, we obtain a duplicate for you as part of the import: all we need is the VIN and the country where the car is registered. A CoC usually costs from £120 to around £385, depending on the make, model and year.
Free VAT and duties calculator. Enter where your VW was built, its age, the price and the shipping, and see the duty and VAT in pounds.
Work out my import tax3. VWs over 10 years old
A VW over 10 years old needs no CoC. The DVLA needs the date of manufacture, which it normally takes from the original foreign registration document; if that is missing, it may accept other proof, such as a dating letter (GOV.UK). The car also needs a UK MOT if it needs one: vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago with no substantial changes are exempt (a V112 declaration instead). We obtain the dating letter for you; it usually costs from about £60 to £90 through an owners' club, or from about £120 to around £300 directly from the manufacturer.
A classic data sheet listing a car's original equipment, engine, paint and trim is useful history, but it does not replace a CoC. For a classic VW bus, see our campervan guide.
Importing a Volkswagen? Send us the VIN and where it is registered, and see how we can help you handle the paperwork. Over 1,500 vehicles cleared since Brexit, from £95.
Get a price for my Volkswagen CoCCommon questions
Can Volkswagen UK supply a CoC for a VW from Germany?
No. Volkswagen UK says it cannot supply a duplicate for a car registered in the EU. We obtain the CoC for you as part of the import.
Who gets the CoC for my VW?
We obtain it for you as part of the import. We need the VIN and the country where the car is registered.
How do I register a VW over 10 years old?
It needs no CoC. The DVLA needs proof of its age, such as a dating letter, which we obtain for you, and a UK MOT if the car needs one. Vehicles built or first registered more than 40 years ago with no substantial changes are exempt from the MOT.
Does a Volkswagen classic certificate replace a CoC?
No. A classic data sheet does not replace a Certificate of Conformity. A VW over 10 years old needs no CoC, only proof of age.