Great Britain: UK vehicle type approval scheme

 

Manufacturers of road vehicles and non-road mobile machinery are obliged to undergo a transition to a GB type approval system that mirrors the existing EU system.

The new GB type approval system replaces the provisional regulation and establishes a distinct GB whole vehicle type approval, commencing on 1 February 2024.

From 31 December 2022 onwards, a new enduring scheme has been enacted, introducing a framework for type approval for road vehicles and machinery in Great Britain. This Regulation constitutes part of the initiative to convert temporary EU-exit regulations into permanent ones. It entails several modifications, with key points outlined below.

Vehicles subject to the new Permanent GB Type Approval Scheme must seek GB type approval through the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), with staggered application deadlines. Fresh vehicles falling under categories M and N need GB type approval after 1 February 2024, whereas aftermarket components can still adhere to the provisional EU-exit scheme until 31 January 2025. Multi-stage vehicles have a grace period until 31 July 2026.

As the official approval authority in the UK, the VCA will be the sole technical service provider for type approval testing. Non-VCA technical service providers will be accepted until 31 December 2026, beyond which manufacturers must designate a representative based in GB for the type approval process and conduct testing with the VCA. The GB type approval process will be facilitated by a self-service digital portal offered by the VCA, currently in the testing phase.

EU certificates of conformity will continue to be recognized until July 2026. Nonetheless, technical prerequisites within the GB scheme closely align with those enforced in the EU on the day of Brexit. In the event of the EU introducing more stringent regulations (as anticipated with the Euro 7 standards), vehicles meeting these criteria will still be eligible for GB approval. UNECE Regulations accepted in both the EU and provisional GB schemes will continue to be acknowledged in the permanent scheme.

The full legislative text can be accessed HERE. Additional details on the Permanent GB Type Approval scheme are available HERE.