Electronic COC in the EU from July 2026 – a step toward the digitalization of the automotive industry

Electronic COC in the EU from July 2026 – A Step Toward the Digitalization of the Automotive Industry

As of July 5, 2026, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/858, vehicle manufacturers in the European Union will be required to issue the Certificate of Conformity (COC) in electronic form, through the EUCARIS system. While the regulation still allows for the issuance of paper duplicates, experience suggests that most manufacturers will gradually transition to the digital format.

Since the COC document is presented to the competent authorities in Serbia during the vehicle import process (currently in paper form), it is important to begin technical and institutional preparations in a timely manner, so that the import and registration processes can continue smoothly after July 2026 in the new digital environment. Beyond vehicle importers in the Republic of Serbia, this matter is also of great importance to domestic manufacturers of vehicle conversions and non-motorized vehicles, as they will be required to issue the COC document in electronic form when exporting to EU/EFTA countries.

Excerpt from Article 37 of EU Regulation 2018/858:

“Without prejudice to Article 36(1), from 5 July 2026, the manufacturer shall, free of charge and without undue delay after the date of manufacture of the vehicle, make the certificate of conformity available to the approval authority that has granted the whole-vehicle type-approval as structured data in electronic format in accordance with the implementing acts referred to in paragraph 8 of this Article.”

The Serbian Association of Vehicle and Parts Importers has addressed the competent institutions regarding this matter, proposing that technical and institutional preparations begin in due time, to ensure that the process of vehicle import and registration continues seamlessly after July 2026 in the new digital environment.

Source: EU Commission, EU Parliament