Unbadged electric car on a roller brake tester at a European inspection station, an inspector checking the headlights
Without an EU certificate of conformity, a China-market car goes through an individual approval before registration.Image source: — Published with confirmed permission to use this image.

Clearing customs does not make a car road-legal. A car built for the Chinese market arrives without the paperwork EU registration offices expect, and often with a different charging socket, lights and software. Before you budget a China-market car, check which approval route it needs. This guide covers the rules in force on 1 November 2026 under Regulation (EU) 2018/858, what eCall and the EU charging rules mean in practice, and how Great Britain differs.

The simple route: a certificate of conformity

Under Article 48(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/858, vehicles that need type approval may be registered only with a valid certificate of conformity (CoC). Chinese brands that sell in Europe have EU-approved types, and those cars come with a CoC. If you buy the EU version through a channel that hands over the CoC, registration follows the normal path in your country.

A car built for China is a different vehicle on paper, even when it looks the same. Under Article 36 the manufacturer issues a CoC for each vehicle built in conformity with the approved type, so a China-market car usually has none. Ask the seller in writing whether a CoC comes with the car before you pay anything. The duty you pay at the border does not change this.

Without a CoC: individual approval

Regulation 2018/858 offers two routes for a single vehicle:

  • EU individual vehicle approval (Article 44). The owner, the manufacturer, its representative or the importer can apply. The approval is recognised across the EU.
  • National individual vehicle approval (Article 45). A Member State may exempt the car from some EU requirements if it sets alternative requirements. Under Article 46(1) the approval is valid in the country that grants it; another Member State must accept it unless it has reasonable grounds to doubt equivalence or compliance (Article 46(3)).

    • Either route means an inspection by an approval body or technical service, documentation, and possibly modifications. The cost and time vary by country and by car, so get a written quote before you commit.

    Table comparing an EU version with a certificate of conformity and a China-market version: registration, eCall, charging, lights and software
    The CoC route is the simple one. Without it, plan for an individual approval and a charging adapter or conversion.Image source: — Published with confirmed permission to use this image.

    eCall: required for new types, not for every car

    Regulation (EU) 2015/758 requires the 112-based eCall system in new types of passenger cars and vans approved in the EU from 31 March 2018. Article 2(1)(b) excludes vehicles approved individually. So a missing eCall module does not, under this regulation, block an individual approval. A CoC alone does not prove eCall: types approved in the EU from 31 March 2018 have it, so check the approval date and the car.

    Charging: Type 2 and CCS2 in the EU, GB/T in China

    The EU's alternative fuels infrastructure regulation (AFIR) requires public AC recharging points to offer at least Type 2 connectors and DC points at least Combo 2, also called CCS2. China uses the GB/T standard. The rule binds charging operators, not cars, so a GB/T car can still be registered. In daily use it needs an adapter or a socket conversion to charge at public stations. Ask the approval body whether a conversion affects the approval.

    Other gaps to check

    These are items to raise with the approval body, not a complete legal list:

  • Lights and mirrors: the approval applies UNECE requirements, and China-market lighting can differ.
  • Radio and telematics: radio equipment in the car falls under the EU Radio Equipment Directive 2014/53/EU.
  • Language and software: warnings and menus in Chinese, online services built for China, and updates that may not reach EU cars.
  • Service: ask the brand's EU importer whether it services China-market cars and honours a warranty.

    • Great Britain

    Great Britain did not follow the EU's countervailing duty. A China-built car pays 10% customs duty and 20% VAT. Before registration, a car without UK approval normally goes through individual vehicle approval (IVA), which exists for a single or a very small number of vehicles, with a basic or a normal inspection.

    Before you pay a deposit

  • Ask the seller in writing whether the car comes with an EU certificate of conformity.
  • Without a CoC, get a written quote for individual approval and any modifications in your country.
  • Check the charging socket and plan for an adapter or conversion if it is GB/T.
  • Ask the brand's EU importer about service, software and warranty for a China-market car.
  • Add the approval and modification costs to the calculator next to duty and VAT.