Regulator profile
VCA
Vehicle Certification Agency
Enforcement Regulator3 areas of regulation · 22 laws enforced · 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.
Additional information
Executive agency of DfT. Key for vehicle manufacturers and importers.
Contact VCA
Types of regulation
Type Approval
Vehicle Emissions
Vehicle Safety
Legal framework
Legislation that VCA directly enforces.
Primary legislation
- Road Traffic Act 1988 Act 1988
- Road Traffic Act 1991 Act 1991
- Road Traffic (Vehicle Testing) Act 1999 Act 1999
Secondary legislation
- Motor Vehicles (Type Approval for Goods Vehicles) (Great Britain) Regulations 1982 UK Statutory Instrument 1982
- Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1984 UK Statutory Instrument 1984
- Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 UK Statutory Instrument 1986
- Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 UK Statutory Instrument 1989
- The Motor Vehicles (Type Approval of Reduced Pollution Adaptations) Regulations 1998 UK Statutory Instrument 1998
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009 UK Statutory Instrument 2009
- Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment (Amendment) Regulations 2011 UK Statutory Instrument 2011
- The Agricultural and Forestry Vehicles (Type-Approval) Regulations 2018 UK Statutory Instrument 2018
- Road Vehicles and Non-Road Mobile Machinery (Type-Approval) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 UK Statutory Instrument 2019
- The European Parliamentary Elections (Appointed Day of Poll) Order 2019 UK Statutory Instrument 2019
- ... and 9 more statutory instruments
Related legislation
Legislation connected to VCA's remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.
Establishing / enabling
-
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
UK Act of Parliament 2018 -
FA 2025
UK Act of Parliament 2025 -
Product Regulation and Metrology Act 2025
UK Act of Parliament 2025
Referenced in enforcement
Sectors regulated
Manufacturing
Coverage area
UK-wide