Certificate of Conformity or COC, what is the difference?
, by O. V., 2 min reading time
What is the difference between the COC certificate and the former certificate of conformity? What are they both for?
What is homologation?
'Homologation' means the same as approval. An approval is a statement of agreement or certification by an approval authority that one vehicle or a vehicle type complies with all relevant technical and administrative provisions. The document issued by the approval authority describing the approved vehicle (type) is called the approval certificate.
Certificate of Conformity (COC)
In most cases, the manufacturer or his representative applies for type approval for a vehicle type that he or she wants to place on the Belgian (or European) market. After obtaining this type approval, he delivers each vehicle with a Belgian certificate of conformity or a European certificate of conformity (Certificate of Conformity or COC for short). A European certificate of conformity is issued by the manufacturer if the vehicle complies with all European regulations.
Certificate of Conformity (PVG)
A Belgian certificate of conformity is issued by the manufacturer if the vehicle complies with Belgian regulations . Only European and Belgian approvals are accepted in Belgium (so, for example, no German or Dutch approval).
The Belgian certificate of conformity is nothing more than a declaration by the manufacturer or his representative that the vehicle in question has been built in accordance with the existing type approval . That is why this certificate contains the chassis number of the vehicle and the approval number (PVG number). The European Certificate of Conformity (COC), on the other hand, contains much more information about one vehicle that is built in accordance with the existing European type-approval.
Do I have a COC or PVG?
If you have an older trailer - often built before 2012 - then with a braked trailer you usually have a certificate of conformity (PVG) , with an unbraked trailer you often only have an identification plate and not even a certificate .
For trailers built after 2012, the COC certificate is normally supplied upon delivery - check this if you buy a second-hand trailer - with a greater degree of technical data such as external dimensions, axle loads, coupling device, wheel size, etc.
On the certificate of conformity (i.e. the older model) you often only have a statement of the Maximum Allowable Mass (MTM), chassis number, model and type approval.
In some countries the PVG is therefore insufficient to register your trailer (registration for a license plate) and you must also have an individual technical inspection carried out in the country of destination.
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