What is Vehicle Type Approval?

This page was last updated on 17th January 2024

Type Approval for Motor Vehicles and Trailers (M, N & O Categories)

This guidance provides information for those involved in the manufacture and distribution of motor vehicles and their trailers.

Type approval for motor vehicles and trailers is based up the requirements set out in Regulation 2018/858, either as retained in UK law for the Great Britain market, or as it applies in EU law for the Northern Ireland and EU markets.

The temporary Provisional GB type approval scheme also covers motor vehicles and trailers. Learn more about the Provisional GB type approval scheme here.

Regulation 2018/858 is a type approval “framework” regulation, establishing a mechanism for the approval of vehicles, their systems and components according to the suite of regulations setting requirements for different aspects of the vehicle. Certain elements of whole vehicle type approval may be covered by UN regulations and type approvals rather than UK or EU specific legislation and approvals.

Small Series Type Approval

Regulation 2018/858 provides for a number of “small series” type approval schemes that have lesser technical and administrative requirements in some respects to account for vehicles produced in smaller numbers.

In Great Britain, the GB medium series and GB small series schemes are available. Learn more about small series type approval within the GB type approval scheme here.

In Northern Ireland, the UK(NI) small series and UK(NI) national small series schemes are available. Learn more about small series type approval within the UK(NI) type approval scheme here.

In the EU, the EU small series scheme is available. Individual EU member states may also implement their own national small series schemes, but mutual recognition of approvals to these schemes is not guaranteed in other member states.