Manufacturing & Engineering

Vehicle and transport equipment manufacturer: compliance checklist

A verification checklist that pulls the vehicle and transport-equipment package together (SIC divisions 29 and 30). Use it to confirm type-approval and conformity are done and documented, emissions and CO2 met, replacement parts safe, end-of-life producer responsibility set up, UK REACH substances assessed, and export-control licensing checked before you export.

UK-wide Updated 4 Jun 2026

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UK-wide

Use this checklist to verify that your vehicle or transport-equipment business meets its obligations before you place product on the market or export. It spans SIC divisions 29 and 30 and pulls together the type-approval, emissions, product-safety, lifecycle, chemical and export-control duties. Some items apply Great Britain only (type-approval, emissions and UK REACH); the replacement-part safety duty and end-of-life vehicle producer responsibility apply UK-wide. In Northern Ireland, REACH and product-safety duties follow the EU rules under the Windsor Framework, so check the Northern Ireland position separately. Work through each item and confirm you can answer "yes" with evidence.

Type-approval and conformity

Confirm your complete vehicles, trailers, bodywork, components and STUs hold the right GB approvals, with conformity of production and documentation in place.

1

Whole-vehicle or multi-stage type-approval held

Each complete vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer or caravan you place on the GB market has whole-vehicle or multi-stage type-approval, with a certificate of conformity issued per vehicle.
2

Component and STU approvals held and marked

Components and separate technical units carry the required type-approval and the prescribed approval markings before they go on the market.
3

Conformity of production demonstrated

You can show that every unit built matches the approved type, not just the test sample, and the technical file is available for the VCA on request.

Other transport equipment (SIC division 30)

If you make boats or ships, railway vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft or pedal bicycles rather than road vehicles, your core approval runs under a mode-specific regime instead of road type-approval. Confirm you hold the right one.

1

Mode-specific approval or conformity held

For other transport equipment, the correct regime is held and documented — recreational craft (MCA), merchant shipping construction and survey (MCA), railway vehicle authorisation and interoperability (ORR), aircraft design and production approval (CAA), spaceflight or spaceport licensing (CAA), or pedal bicycle supply safety (OPSS). Identify yours using the approval-regime router guide.

Emissions and CO2

Confirm your vehicles meet the emissions and CO2 type-approval requirements.

1

Emissions and CO2 type-approval met

Vehicles satisfy the applicable pollutant emission limits and the CO2 and fuel-economy requirements, with the consumer information provided.

Replacement-part safety (UK-wide)

Confirm any replacement or accessory parts you supply are safe across the whole UK.

Replacement and accessory part safety for vehicles

Product-safety duties for makers of replacement and accessory vehicle parts (SIC 29) placed on the market — parts must be safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, and parts affecting a regulated function must meet the relevant construction and approval standards.

Makers of replacement and accessory parts for vehicles (SIC 29) who place those parts on the market must ensure they are safe under the residual General Product Safety Regulations 2005, enforced by the Office for Product Safety and Standards and local Trading Standards. Where a part affects a regulated function — for example braking, steering, lighting, glazing, tyres or emissions control — it must also meet the relevant construction and, where required, component type-approval standards; the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 set the in-use standards (enforced by the DVSA) that such a part must be capable of satisfying.

Statutory source: General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1803) for placing parts on the market; Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078) for in-use standards; component type-approval where applicable
Regulator: Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) and local Trading Standards for product safety; Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for in-use roadworthiness
Core duties: Ensure parts are safe and fit for purpose under the GPSR; meet the construction and, where relevant, component-approval standards for safety-critical parts; provide fitting information; keep records
Consequence of breach: Supplying unsafe or non-compliant parts is an offence; OPSS/Trading Standards enforcement and recall

1

Replacement and accessory parts safe and documented

Parts you place on the market are safe under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, safety-critical parts meet the construction and approval standards, fitting information is provided, and records are kept.

End-of-life vehicles (UK-wide)

Confirm your producer-responsibility arrangements are set up and running.

End-of-life vehicles — producer responsibility and recyclability

Producer-responsibility and design duties for motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC 29) under the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 — free take-back, heavy-metal restrictions, recyclability targets and dismantling information.

Motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC 29) have end-of-life vehicle duties under two instruments. The End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 set the heavy-metal restrictions (lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium) in new vehicles, recyclability/type-approval requirements, authorised-treatment-facility standards and certificates of destruction. The separate End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 place the producer-responsibility duties on manufacturers and importers — providing for the free take-back of end-of-life vehicles through an authorised treatment facility network, meeting the reuse, recycling and recovery targets, and supplying dismantling and component-coding information.

Statutory source: End-of-Life Vehicles Regulations 2003 (SI 2003/2635) — heavy-metal limits, recyclability, ATF standards; End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/263) — free take-back and recycling/recovery targets
Regulator: Environment Agency (with the devolved regulators)
Core duties: Observe heavy-metal restrictions and recyclability requirements (2003 Regs); provide free take-back via authorised treatment facilities and meet reuse/recycling/recovery targets (2005 Producer Responsibility Regs); provide dismantling and material-coding information
Consequence of breach: Failing producer-responsibility duties is an offence; civil sanctions and prosecution

1

End-of-life vehicle producer responsibility set up

You are registered as a producer, free take-back through an authorised treatment facility network is in place, the heavy-metal and recyclability requirements are met, and you supply dismantling and material-coding information.

Restricted substances under UK REACH (Great Britain)

Confirm the substances in your materials and components are assessed and compliant.

UK REACH — restriction of chemical substances in vehicle manufacture

Chemical-substance duties for motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC 29) under UK REACH — registration, restriction and authorisation obligations for substances used in materials, coatings and components, alongside the heavy-metal limits for vehicles.

Motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC 29) must comply with UK REACH for the chemical substances used in materials, coatings, adhesives and components. Depending on volume and role, duties include registration of substances, observing restrictions on hazardous substances, meeting authorisation requirements for substances of very high concern, and communicating safety information down the supply chain. Vehicles are also subject to heavy-metal limits (lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium) under the end-of-life vehicles regime.

Statutory source: UK REACH Regulation (assimilated Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006)
Regulator: Health and Safety Executive (the UK REACH Agency) with the Environment Agency
Core duties: Register substances as required; observe restrictions and authorisation requirements; communicate safety information (safety data sheets) along the supply chain; observe vehicle heavy-metal limits
Consequence of breach: Non-compliance with UK REACH is an offence; enforcement by HSE and the environment regulators

1

UK REACH substances assessed

Substances you place on the market are registered as required, restrictions and authorisation requirements are observed, heavy-metal limits are met, and safety information passes down the supply chain.

Export control (before you export)

If you make military or dual-use goods — including military vehicles and related equipment and technology — check export-control licensing before you ship anything abroad.

Strategic and military goods export control licensing

Export-control duties for makers of military and dual-use goods (SIC 30, e.g. military vehicles and equipment) under the Export Control Act 2002 and the Export Control Order 2008 — licensing of controlled goods, technology and brokering.

Makers of military and dual-use goods — including military vehicles, fighting vehicles and related equipment and technology (SIC 30) — must comply with strategic export controls. The Export Control Act 2002 and the Export Control Order 2008 require an export licence to export controlled goods, software and technology (and, in some cases, to broker or trade them), against the UK control lists. Licences are issued by the Export Control Joint Unit, and the goods must be assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

Statutory source: Export Control Act 2002 (c. 28); Export Control Order 2008 (SI 2008/3231)
Regulator: Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), in the Department for Business and Trade
Core duties: Determine whether goods, software or technology are controlled; obtain the appropriate export (or trade/brokering) licence; observe licence conditions and record-keeping; screen end-users and destinations
Consequence of breach: Exporting controlled goods without a licence is a serious criminal offence; ECJU/HMRC enforcement and prosecution

1

Strategic and military export controls checked

You have determined whether your goods, software or technology are controlled, obtained the appropriate export or trade licence, and screened end-users and destinations before exporting.

If you answered "no" to any item

Any "no" is a gap to close before you place product on the market or export. For type-approval, emissions, components and replacement parts, follow the task guide on type-approving and placing motor vehicles on the GB market. For end-of-life vehicles and UK REACH, follow the ongoing material duties guide. For export control, contact the Export Control Joint Unit before you ship — exporting controlled goods without a licence is a serious criminal offence.

Official sources

Regulators and statutory sources for vehicle and transport-equipment compliance

Legal basis

This guidance is based on the following UK legislation.

Ongoing material duties for vehicle manufacturers: end-of-life recycling and restricted substances
A task guide for motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC division 29) on the two ongoing material duties …
Type-approve and place motor vehicles, trailers and components on the GB market
A task guide for makers of motor vehicles, trailers, bodywork and components (SIC division 29) …
Export Control (Dual-Use Technology)
Export of goods, software, and technology with both civil and military applications requires licensing. Particularly …
UK Export Controls for Defence Products
Navigate UK Strategic Export Control requirements for military and dual-use goods.
ITAR Compliance for UK Companies
Comply with US ITAR regulations when handling US defence articles.

Ongoing material duties for vehicle manufacturers: end-of-life recycling and restricted substances

A task guide for motor-vehicle manufacturers (SIC division 29) on the two ongoing material duties that continue beyond placing a vehicle on the market — end-of-life vehicle producer responsibility, and the restriction of chemical substances under UK REACH. Both are recurring duties to set up, not one-off checks.

Type-approve and place motor vehicles, trailers and components on the GB market

A task guide for makers of motor vehicles, trailers, bodywork and components (SIC division 29) placing product on the GB market. It covers whole-vehicle and multi-stage type-approval, component and separate-technical-unit (STU) approval, emissions and CO2 type-approval, and replacement-part safety, with the placing-on-market sequence in order.

Type-approval and conformity

Whole-vehicle or multi-stage type-approval held

Component and STU approvals held and marked

Conformity of production demonstrated

Other transport equipment (SIC division 30)

Mode-specific approval or conformity held

Emissions and CO2

Emissions and CO2 type-approval met

Replacement-part safety (UK-wide)

Replacement and accessory parts safe and documented

End-of-life vehicles (UK-wide)

End-of-life vehicle producer responsibility set up

Restricted substances under UK REACH (Great Britain)

UK REACH substances assessed

Export control (before you export)

Strategic and military export controls checked

If you answered "no" to any item

Official sources

Related guides in General Compliance