Electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC): EU 2026 requirements, XML format & eIDAS signatures
Learn what the electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is, why XML and XAdES signatures are mandatory from July 2026, and how TrustPro QTSP supports eIDAS-compliant eCoC workflows across the EU.
The electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is transforming how authorities, manufacturers, and registration systems manage vehicle compliance data across Europe. Under upcoming EU regulations, vehicle manufacturers must transition from paper-based Certificates of Conformity to digitally signed XML-based eCoCs by 5 July 2026.
This change introduces a standardized, secure, and fully digital framework for vehicle approval and registration across EU member states.
For organizations searching for “what is eCoC” or “eCoC XML requirements,” the answer is simple: the eCoC is the digital version of the traditional Certificate of Conformity, designed for automated exchange, validation, and compliance within European vehicle registration systems.
In this article, we explain:
- What the electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is
- The EU legal framework behind eCoC adoption
- Why the EU requires XML and XAdES signatures
- The role of EUCARIS in cross-border vehicle data exchange
- How TrustPro QTSP supports compliant eCoC implementation
What is a Certificate of Conformity (CoC)?
A vehicle manufacturer issues a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) to confirm that a vehicle complies with EU type-approval regulations.
The CoC certifies that the vehicle meets:
- EU safety standards
- Environmental and emissions regulations
- Roadworthiness requirements
As a result, the CoC document allows authorities to legally register and operate vehicles throughout the European Union and EFTA countries, including Switzerland.
Manufacturers issue CoCs in paper format and exchange them manually with authorities and registration bodies.
What is an electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC)?
The electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is the digital equivalent of the traditional CoC.
Instead of using paper documentation (CoC), manufacturers now deliver eCoCs as structured electronic data, so compliance and registration systems can process it automatically.
In practice, eCoCs are:
- Generated in structured XML format
- Digitally signed for authenticity and integrity
- Exchanged electronically between manufacturers and authorities
Within cross-border environments, eCoCs are commonly exchanged as Initial Vehicle Information (IVI) messages.
Why eCoC matters for the European automotive industry
The transition to electronic Certificates of Conformity supports the EU’s broader objective of creating interoperable digital compliance systems across member states.
Digital eCoC workflows help:
- Accelerate vehicle registration procedures
- Reduce administrative overhead
- Improve regulatory accuracy
- Eliminate paper-based processing delays
- Support cross-border vehicle verification
As vehicle supply chains and registration activities increasingly operate internationally, reliable digital conformity data becomes essential.
EU legal framework for eCoC
Multiple EU regulations govern the implementation of eCoC and define the legal and technical requirements for electronic vehicle conformity data.
Key Regulations
Introduced the modern framework for EU vehicle type approval and replaced Directive 2007/46/EC.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/133
Defines the electronic format requirements for Certificates of Conformity.
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1061
Further updates and expands digital compliance obligations.
Mandatory eCoC requirements from 5 July 2026
Under Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2018/858:
- Manufacturers must provide CoCs exclusively in electronic format from 5 July 2026
- Manufacturers must provide certificates to approval authorities without undue delay.
- The EU already permits manufacturers to adopt eCoC before the deadline.
This marks the official transition from paper-based CoCs to fully digital eCoC systems across the EU.
Extension of the deadline
Following the 168th meeting of the European Commission’s Working Group “Motor Vehicles” (MVWG), held on 6 May 2026, EU Member States agreed on a transitional arrangement aimed at mitigating the impact of the eCoC obligation scheduled to enter into force on 5 July 2026, particularly for jurisdictions whose national infrastructure will not be operational in time.
As a result, manufacturers within the EU may continue to use paper Certificates of Conformity, or print-outs of the eCoC, until 29 November 2026 at the latest. This transitional measure is intended to provide additional time for the implementation and testing of the required infrastructure and processes.
The purpose of this transitional measure is to provide national access points (NAPs) and manufacturers with sufficient time to test and implement the new electronic registration process without jeopardising vehicle registration procedures.
AOB – transitional arrangement for eCoC implementation
168th meeting of the Working Group “Motor Vehicles”, 6 May 2026
To the attention of MVWG Members
Considering the difficulties faced by Member States in implementing the eCoC provisions by the legal deadline, and in order to conclude the discussion on transitional measures, it is therefore proposed to include the following statement in the minutes of the 168th meeting of the MVWG. This statement outlines the modalities of a commonly agreed transitional arrangement:
EC stressed the legal obligation of the Member States to establish the organisation and the structure of their data network to enable data reception of the certificate of conformity as structured data in electronic format (eCoC) from 5 July 2026. Based on the information provided upon the EC request, regardless of the efforts, at least a couple of the Member States will not have their national access point, data retrieval and processing in place by the deadline, putting at risk the whole vehicle registration process.
Due to the late availability of key technical elements — including final system design decisions, the Eucaris National Access Point (NAP), the full set of IVI services, and the final eCoC format and requirements — Member States agreed to introduce a limited transitional period under Article 37(10). Until 29 November 2026, countries whose national infrastructure is not ready, or became operational less than four months before 5 July 2026, may continue using paper CoCs and existing national procedures, including current eCoC processes. This temporary measure allows manufacturers sufficient time to test mass data uploads and ensure stable operations. During this period, manufacturers may use either paper CoCs or printed versions of the eCoC.
As agreed previously in the FORUM, the print-out of the structured data, signed and stamped, is sufficient to be accepted as a valid duplicate, without the measures specified in Annex VIII to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/683.
Why the EU requires XML for eCoC
The EU mandates the use of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) because it provides a structured, machine-readable format for exchanging vehicle conformity data.
Benefits of XML-Based eCoC
- Automated extraction of vehicle information
- Reduced manual processing errors
- Faster integration with national registration systems
- Improved long-term storage and validation
- Consistent interoperability across jurisdictions
However, creating an XML file alone is not sufficient for compliance. Every eCoC must also include a trusted digital signature.
What Is EUCARIS?
European authorities use EUCARIS (European Car and Driving Licence Information System) as a secure cross-border network to exchange vehicle and driving licence information.
EUCARIS enables authorities to:
- Exchange vehicle approval and registration data
- Verify conformity information across borders
- Maintain local control of national registries
- Support regulatory cooperation between member states
Within the eCoC ecosystem, EUCARIS facilitates the transmission of IVI (Initial Vehicle Information) messages.
Why EUCARIS Matters
The European automotive market operates across multiple countries and regulatory systems. A vehicle may be:
- manufactured in one country
- approved in another country
- or registered in a third country
Without coordinated digital systems, cross-border vehicle registration would become slower, more complex, and more error-prone.
EUCARIS supports:
- Reliable cross-border verification
- Consistent data exchange standards
- Faster regulatory processing
- Improved operational efficiency
eCoC digital signature requirements under eIDAS
To guarantee authenticity and legal validity, eCoCs must comply with the eIDAS Regulation.
This requires the use of:
- Advanced Electronic Signatures (AdES)
- Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES)
- Qualified Electronic Seals
These digital signatures must:
- Link each signature to a verified legal identity.
- Use trusted digital certificates
- Be cryptographically secure and tamper-evident
- Be valid across all EU member states
Simple scanned signatures or unsigned XML files are not compliant with EU regulations.
XAdES: the required signature standard for XML eCoC
For XML-based electronic Certificates of Conformity, the EU requires the XAdES (XML Advanced Electronic Signatures) format.
Why XAdES Is Important
XAdES ensures that:
- The system embeds the signature directly within the XML structure.
- The document supports long-term validation (LTV)
- The signature remains legally valid across the EU
This makes XAdES the essential standard for compliant eCoC implementation.
How TrustPro QTSP supports eCoC compliance
TrustPro QTSP provides secure, scalable, and fully eIDAS-compliant solutions for electronic Certificate of Conformity workflows.
Our eCoC Capabilities Include:
- Advanced and Qualified electronic signatures and electronic seals
- Full XAdES support for XML document signing
- Secure infrastructure for high-volume certificate issuance
- Cross-border validation support
- Compliance-ready integration for automotive platforms and workflows
With TrustPro QTSP, manufacturers, OEMs, and technology providers can implement compliant eCoC processes with confidence.
Scope of TrustPro QTSP services
While TrustPro QTSP provides the qualified trust services and signing infrastructure required for compliant electronic signatures and seals, we do not provide consulting or implementation services related to:
- eCOC configuration
- IVI workflow design
- EUCARIS integration
- TESTA secure network services implementation
- National vehicle registration system integration
These aspects remain under the responsibility of the relevant automotive, regulatory, or systems integration stakeholders.
Key takeaways
- The electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is the digital version of the traditional CoC
- eCoC becomes mandatory across the EU from 5 July 2026
- Manufacturers must issue eCoCs in XML format.
- They must sign XML documents using eIDAS-compliant XAdES signatures.
- EUCARIS enables secure cross-border exchange of vehicle conformity data
- TrustPro QTSP delivers complete eCoC compliance solutions
An electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is the digital version of the traditional vehicle Certificate of Conformity used within the EU vehicle type-approval system. It contains vehicle compliance information in structured XML format.
Under Regulation (EU) 2018/858, eCoCs become mandatory from 5 July 2026 for vehicle manufacturers operating within the EU.
UPDATE
Following the 168th meeting of the European Commission’s Working Group “Motor Vehicles” (MVWG), held on 6 May 2026, EU Member States agreed on a transitional arrangement aimed at mitigating the impact of the eCoC obligation scheduled to enter into force on 5 July 2026 for jurisdictions whose national infrastructure will not be operational in time.
Under this arrangement, manufacturers within the EU may continue to use paper Certificates of Conformity, or print-outs of the eCoC, until 29 November 2026 at the latest.
The purpose of this transitional measure is to provide national access points (NAPs) and manufacturers with sufficient time to test and implement the new electronic registration process without jeopardising vehicle registration procedures.
XML enables structured, machine-readable vehicle data exchange, while XAdES ensures the authenticity, integrity, and long-term legal validity of electronically signed XML documents.
TrustPro QTSP provides eIDAS-compliant electronic signatures, qualified seals, XAdES support, and secure infrastructure for implementing compliant eCoC workflows across the EU.
Organizations that begin preparing now will reduce operational risk, streamline compliance processes, and ensure readiness for the EU’s digital vehicle registration future.
For expert guidance on implementing compliant electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) solutions, TrustPro QTSP is ready to support your transition to secure digital compliance.
