What if my Certificate of Conformity is missing?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Do not leave the approval problem unresolved. Try to get a CoC from the manufacturer, or use the correct IVA, GB conversion IVA, MSVA or exemption route.
Official position
GOV.UK says EU-registered vehicles use a European Certificate of Conformity to show approval, and non-EU vehicles use IVA or MSVA. GOV.UK also says if you do not already have vehicle approval, you should send a letter with your application to DVLA explaining why you do not have it.
What to do
Ask the manufacturer or authorised representative for a replacement CoC.
Check whether the vehicle is eligible for IVA, GB conversion IVA, MSVA or exemption instead.
Do not copy type approval numbers from online listings or similar vehicles.
Include a factual explanation with the V55/5 if relying on an exemption or missing-approval explanation.
Common mistakes
- Submitting V55/5 with box 11 blank and no explanation.
- Assuming a foreign registration certificate is always a CoC.
- Using another vehicle’s CoC values for emissions, type approval or list price.
Related help
Official sources
Ready to complete the V55/5?
Once the blocker above is resolved, use the guided V55/5 tool to validate the boxes, prepare the PDF and build the posting checklist.
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