The COC number: what it is and where to find it
Updated 2026-07-23 · 5 min read
The COC number is the identifying reference printed on a Certificate of Conformity that ties your specific vehicle to its EU type approval. People often use the term loosely to mean either the document's own reference or the type-approval number it carries; both connect your car, through its VIN, to an approval granted under EU Regulation (EC) 2018/858.
What is the COC number?
A Certificate of Conformity carries a type-approval number, usually in the format e1*2018/858*... where the letter and digit identify the country and authority that granted the approval. This is the number most people mean when they ask for the 'COC number'.
It is not a random code: it encodes which EU regulation the vehicle was approved under and by which authority. Registration offices read it to confirm your car belongs to an approved type.
Where do you find the COC number?
The type-approval number appears on the Certificate of Conformity itself, typically near the top in field 0 alongside the make and vehicle category. On the car, the same number is usually stamped on the manufacturer's type plate in the engine bay or on the door frame.
Do not confuse the COC number with the VIN. The VIN identifies your individual vehicle; the type-approval number identifies the approved model your vehicle was built to.
What if you do not have the COC?
If you never received a COC, or lost it, you cannot simply generate the number yourself: only the manufacturer's official document is valid at registration. You need the original COC to obtain a trustworthy type-approval number.
Coceu sources the original COC from the manufacturer's official channel using your VIN, and delivers the digital PDF and paper original. The correct type-approval number is printed on it.
Key takeaways
- The COC number usually means the type-approval number, in the format e1*2018/858*...
- It encodes the approving country, authority and EU regulation, and links your car to its approved type.
- Find it on the COC (field 0) and on the manufacturer's type plate; it is not the VIN.
- Only the manufacturer's original COC carries a valid number; Coceu can source it by VIN.
Frequently asked questions
Is the COC number the same as the VIN?
No. The VIN identifies your individual vehicle; the COC (type-approval) number identifies the approved model it was built to.
What does a COC number look like?
Typically e followed by a country digit and the regulation, for example e1*2018/858*0001. Older documents may reference earlier directives.
Can I get the COC number without the document?
Not reliably. Only the manufacturer's original COC gives you the correct, accepted number. Order a replacement by VIN if you do not have it.
Where is the number on the car itself?
Usually on the manufacturer's type plate in the engine compartment or on the door frame, matching the number on the COC.