Regulator profile

VCA

Vehicle Certification Agency

Enforcement Regulator UK-wide

What VCA does

Type approval authority for new vehicles, components, and systems. Certifies that vehicles meet safety and environmental standards. Issues UK type approvals replacing EU approvals post-Brexit.

Executive agency of DfT. Key for vehicle manufacturers and importers.

Type ApprovalVehicle EmissionsVehicle Safety

Contact VCA

Official guidance from VCA

Curated guidance documents to help you understand your obligations.

Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Administrative Guidance for Applicants - Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Air Quality | Causes of Pollution | Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Annex | Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Approval Fees - Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Approval Fees - Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Approved UK Derogations - Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

Average Emissions Monitoring - Vehicle Certification Agency (opens in a new tab)

Detailed Guidance

View all 67 guidance documents (opens in a new tab)

Legislation that VCA directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Road Traffic Act 1988 Road Traffic Act 1991 Road Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999

Secondary legislation

Motor Vehicles (Type Approval for Goods Vehicles) (Great Britain) Regulations 1982 Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval of Reduced Pollution Adaptations) Regulations 1998 Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2011 The Agricultural and Forestry Vehicles (Type-Approval) Regulations 2018 Road Vehicles and Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 The Road Vehicle Carbon Dioxide Emission Performance Standards (Cars and Vans) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

… and 7 more statutory instruments.

Legislation connected to VCA’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Establishing / enabling

Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025 UK Act of Parliament

Sectors regulated

Manufacturing

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