What Homologation Means in EU Vehicle Type Approval

Learn what car homologation means, why EU type approval is required, and how safety and emissions tests work before a new model reaches the market.

Homologation is a word rarely heard outside engineering and regulatory circles, yet it ultimately determines whether a new car ever reaches the market. It is a mandatory process without which production simply cannot begin. The final step is the issuance of a Vehicle Type Approval certificate — formal confirmation that the vehicle complies with all applicable legislative requirements.

Within the European Union, this framework is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/858, applicable since 1 September 2020 and replacing Directive 2007/46/EC. Under this regulation, the system of Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) allows a vehicle approved in one EU Member State to be marketed across the entire Union.

The journey to that certificate, however, starts much earlier. The process follows a pyramid structure. Individual components — such as glazing, seat belts, headlamps and tyres — must first receive approval from their respective suppliers. Only then can the vehicle manufacturer proceed to system-level verification. Testing is conducted in cooperation with designated technical services authorised by national type approval authorities. In Germany, for example, the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) oversees such designations, with organisations including TÜV SÜD acting as technical services.

The regulatory landscape is extensive. For combustion engine vehicles, Regulation (EC) No 715/2007 (Euro 5/6) and Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 define emission limits and testing procedures, including WLTP elements. In 2024, the EU adopted Regulation (EU) 2024/1257, commonly referred to as Euro 7, introducing updated emission standards and battery durability requirements.

Safety requirements are addressed separately under Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, known as the General Safety Regulation. This framework sets mandatory standards for active and passive safety systems and includes provisions covering technologies such as the Event Data Recorder.

Crash testing is carried out in accordance with UNECE regulations. Frontal impact requirements are set out in UN Regulation No. 94, lateral impact in Regulation No. 95, and pedestrian protection in Regulation No. 127. These legal texts define test procedures and performance criteria in detail.

Electric vehicles are subject to additional rules. UNECE Regulation No. 100 (Rev.3) establishes safety requirements for electric powertrains and Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage Systems (REESS), addressing battery robustness and protection against electrical hazards.

Once approval is granted, each individual vehicle is accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (COC). This document contains key technical data, including the VIN, emission values, tyre specifications and other information required for first registration.

The work does not end with the start of production. European legislation provides mechanisms for extending or updating type approval when technical changes are introduced. If modifications affect compliance-relevant parameters, the relevant documentation and testing must be updated accordingly.

It is also worth noting that the European model differs from other markets. In the United States, manufacturers operate under a self-certification system with respect to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, while authorities conduct oversight and enforcement. Australia applies its own Australian Design Rules (ADR), defining national safety and emission requirements.

Homologation, therefore, is far more than administrative paperwork. It is a multi-layered system combining engineering validation, legal compliance and independent technical assessment — a framework that continues to evolve as environmental and safety expectations grow stricter.