Electronic Certificates of Conformity (eCoC)
eCoC XML signing for EU vehicle registration
eIDAS-compliant XML signatures and seals required from July 2026
As of 5 July 2026, EU regulations require vehicle manufacturers to provide Certificates of Conformity to approval authorities in a structured electronic format.
Electronic Certificates of Conformity (eCoCs) must be issued in XML format and securely authenticated to ensure integrity, authenticity, and cross-border acceptance.
eID Easy provides the identity-based digital signing infrastructure needed to generate, sign, and validate eCoCs securely, at scale, and in line with EU and eIDAS requirements
THE CHALLENGE
Fast-approaching compliance deadline
- A fixed EU requirement: From 5 July 2026, manufacturers must make CoC data available electronically as structured data, accessible to approval authorities
- Structured data, not documents: eCoCs are based on XML schema principles, designed for automated processing and cross-border exchange (not PDFs)
- Secure and verifiable exchange: Electronic CoCs must be protected against tampering and remain verifiable across EU authorities and over time
Building and maintaining this in-house is complex, slow, and risky, especially when multiple regulations, standards, and national authorities are involved.
The EID Easy solution
A ready-to-use digital trust layer for eCoC compliance
- Compliant XML signing out of the box: Sign structured eCoC XML data using an XML-signature standard designed specifically for this purpose
- eIDAS-aligned trust levels: Support Advanced and Qualified electronic signatures and seals, backed by trusted certificates and Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs)
- Long-term, cross-border validity: Enable signatures that support long-term validation and are suitable for EU-wide regulatory use
No need to build or maintain complex XML signing, identity, or trust infrastructure; eID Easy handles the digital trust layer so you can focus on delivery and compliance.
Designed for EU automotive regulation
Regulation (EU) 2018/858
Establishes the framework for vehicle type approval and requires manufacturers to make CoC data available electronically from July 2026.
Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/133 & 2024/1061
Define the structure, format, and secure exchange of electronic CoC and IVI data between authorities.
eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014
Provides the legal framework for electronic signatures and seals, including Advanced and Qualified levels recognised across the EU.
How it works
01.
eCoC data is generated
Your system generates the Certificate of Conformity as structured XML data, based on vehicle and type-approval information.
02.
The appropriate trust level is applied
eID Easy applies an Advanced or Qualified electronic signature or seal, depending on your regulatory and authority requirements.
03.
The XML is signed using XAdES
The XML is signed using XAdES, the ETSI standard for XML-based electronic signatures designed to support eIDAS trust levels and long-term validation.
04.
The signed eCoC is exchanged and validated
The signed eCoC can be securely exchanged with authorities and validated across EU systems, now and in the future.
Why teams choose eID Easy
for eCoC
Purpose-built for eCoC & XML workflows
Designed specifically for structured XML data and eCoC use cases, not generic document signing.
eIDAS-aligned trust by default
Support Advanced and Qualified electronic signatures and seals via trusted Qualified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs).
Faster time to compliance
Avoid building and maintaining complex XML signing, trust, and validation infrastructure in-house.
Electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) - FAQ
What is an electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC)?
An electronic Certificate of Conformity (eCoC) is the digital version of a vehicle’s Certificate of Conformity, made available as structured electronic data. It contains the same regulatory and technical information as a traditional CoC but is designed for automated processing, validation, and secure exchange between authorities across the EU.
When does the eCoC requirement apply in the EU?
From 5 July 2026, Regulation (EU) 2018/858 requires vehicle manufacturers to make Certificate of Conformity data available to approval authorities in electronic format as structured data. This change supports digital, cross-border vehicle registration and reduces reliance on manual, paper-based processes.
Why does an eCoC need to be issued in XML and not as a PDF?
eCoCs are treated as structured regulatory data, not simple documents. XML enables authorities and registration systems to automatically extract, validate, and store vehicle data without manual intervention. PDF formats are document-centric and not suitable for automated validation, interoperability, or system-to-system exchange.
→ Read more about creating XAdES Signatures: A Developer Guide to XML-Based eSignatures