VCA eCoC Portal Launches March 2026: What UK Manufacturers Need to Know
The VCA eCoC service is going live
The Vehicle Certification Agency has set a target date of 31 March 2026 for Phase 1 of its eCoC digital service. This will mark the first time UK vehicle manufacturers can submit electronic Certificates of Conformity directly to the VCA. The service will include a web portal for manual submissions and an API for automated, system-to-system integration. The VCA has indicated there may be a slight delay to the API becoming available — manufacturers should monitor the VCA eCoC page for the latest status updates.
While there is no obligation to submit eCoC data for vehicles manufactured before 5 July 2026, the early launch gives manufacturers a critical window to test their systems, validate XML files, and resolve any issues before the mandate takes effect.
Two-phase delivery
The VCA is delivering the eCoC service in two phases:
Phase 1 — March 2026
eCoC database, web portal for manual upload, and API for automated submission. Manufacturers can begin submitting and testing immediately.
Phase 2 — July 2026
Public-facing VIN lookup webpage. Anyone can search for a vehicle's eCoC data using the Vehicle Identification Number.
Two submission routes
- VCA eCoC Portal — manual file upload via a web interface, suitable for small and medium series manufacturers
- API (system-to-system) — automated transmission for high-volume production lines, enabling direct integration with existing ERP and production systems
What manufacturers should do now
The window between the portal launch and the mandatory deadline is narrow. Manufacturers should use this period to:
- Register for access to the VCA eCoC Portal and familiarise themselves with the submission interface
- Generate test IVI XML files and validate them against the UK IVI schema
- Test digital signature integration to ensure XAdES-signed files are accepted
- For API users, integrate with the VCA API endpoints and run end-to-end submission tests
Paper CoC transition
Vehicles manufactured before 5 July 2026 must still be provided with a paper CoC. From that date, vehicles should be covered by an eCoC submission and no paper CoC is required. However, the VCA may request a paper duplicate in exceptional cases, so manufacturers should retain the ability to generate one.
Non-compliance consequences
The provision of a CoC (and from July 2026, an eCoC) is written into the type approval framework. The VCA has confirmed that if an eCoC is not provided, the type approval authority could withdraw your type approval if the issue is not resolved. Vehicles without a valid eCoC may face barriers to registration and could be prohibited from use on public roads.
COCDesk is ready for VCA submission
COCDesk supports both VCA submission routes from day one:
Ready to meet the UK eCoC deadline?
Book a free demo and see how COCDesk can have your eCoC process production-ready before the VCA mandate takes effect.