Cartest is an accredited testing laboratory (PCA accreditation certificate: AB 1607). As a technical service authorised by the Director of the Transport Technical Supervision we carry out type-approval and EU type-approval tests of category M, N and O vehicles, and of their parts and equipment, needed for TDT to issue a type-approval certificate.
Do you want type-approval tests of a passenger car, truck or trailer? Contact us. Our goal is to help clients ensure the safety and high quality of products placed on the market. We have modern, specialist test equipment and a qualified team, which guarantees a smooth process and reliable results.
Want to commission type-approval tests?
What is vehicle type-approval?
Type-approval is official confirmation that a given type of vehicle, system, component or separate technical unit meets the technical requirements and rules needed to admit it to road traffic. It may apply at national level or across the European Union.
The EU system of type-approval of motor vehicles and trailers is based on Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, which applied from 1 September 2020, replacing Directive 2007/46/EC. EU type-approval obtained in one Member State is recognised throughout the Union without the need for repeated type-approval. In a national type-approval procedure the vehicle type may be exempted from some of the regulation’s requirements. National type-approval is limited to that country’s territory.
In Poland the type-approval certificate is issued by the Director of the Transport Technical Supervision, on the basis of positive type-approval test results carried out by an authorised body. Only after type-approval can the vehicle be registered and legally used on public roads.
What does EU type-approval cover?
Under Regulation (EU) 2018/858 it is the applicable type-approval procedure for new category M, N and O vehicles.
| Category | Which vehicles? | Subdivided into |
|---|---|---|
| M | Motor vehicles designed for the carriage of persons (e.g. passenger cars and buses) | M1 — vehicles with a maximum of 8 seating positions besides the driver’s seat; M2 — more than 8 seating positions besides the driver’s seat, maximum mass ≤ 5 t; M3 — more than 8 seating positions besides the driver’s seat, maximum mass > 5 t |
| N | Motor vehicles designed for the carriage of goods (e.g. vans and trucks) | N1 — maximum mass ≤ 3.5 t; N2 — maximum mass 3.5–12 t; N3 — maximum mass > 12 t |
| O | Trailers and semi-trailers | O1 — maximum mass ≤ 0.75 t; O2 — maximum mass 0.75–3.5 t; O3 — maximum mass 3.5–10 t; O4 — maximum mass > 10 t |
European type-approval does not apply only to the complete vehicle (European Whole Vehicle Type Approval – EU-WVTA). Confirmation of conformity with applicable legal acts and technical requirements can also be obtained for its assemblies and individual equipment items.
The type-approval procedure may therefore cover:
- a complete vehicle
- an incomplete vehicle (e.g. a chassis for conversion)
- a completed vehicle
- a system (e.g. a braking system)
- a component (e.g. glazing)
- a separate technical unit (e.g. a coupling device)
Types of vehicle type-approval (EU, KS, NKS)
Regulation (EU) 2018/858 provides for three basic kinds of vehicle type-approval: EU with no production limit, EU for small series (KS) and national for small series (NKS). They differ in legal basis, territorial scope and the limit on the number of vehicles.
| Kind of vehicle type-approval | Legal basis | Territorial scope | Vehicle number limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU vehicle type-approval | Regulation (EU) 2018/858 Arts 35-40 | Whole EU | No limit |
| EU small-series type-approval (KS) | Regulation (EU) 2018/858 Art. 41 | Whole EU | Category M1, N1 — 1,500 units per year |
| National small-series type-approval (NKS) | Regulation (EU) 2018/858 Art. 42 and national rules — in Poland: the Act of 14 April 2023 on vehicle type-approval systems and their equipment | Territory of the country that issued the vehicle type-approval certificate* | Category M, N — 250 units per year |
EU type-approval (no production limit)
It confirms that the vehicle complies with the technical requirements and applicable legal standards in the European Union. A European type-approval certificate issued by the national authority of one Member State is recognised in every EU country.
A vehicle, system, unit or equipment type with European type-approval may be produced in series without quantitative limits. The manufacturer must issue a certificate of conformity (CoC/eCoC) confirming that the given vehicle was produced in accordance with the approved type.
EU type-approval of vehicles produced in small series (KS)
Type-approval intended for manufacturers producing small series of vehicles — up to 1,500 units per year of one vehicle type (categories M, N). It has a simplified procedure compared with type-approval of vehicles with no production limits — including lower technical requirements set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/858 — but the number of vehicles is limited by the annual cap in Annex V to that Regulation (Part A, point 1). The certificate is valid throughout the European Union and allows placing on the market and registration in all EU countries.
National type-approval of vehicles produced in small series (NKS)
A kind of type-approval intended for manufacturers of small series of vehicles aimed at the national market. The certificate is issued by the authority of a Member State and in principle allows registration of the vehicle only on its territory — other EU countries may accept it at the manufacturer’s request, but they are not obliged to do so.
How does the vehicle type-approval process work?
Obtaining type-approval can be divided into several stages — from building a prototype and preparing documentation by the manufacturer, through tests carried out by an authorised body, to issue of the type-approval certificate by the Director of the Transport Technical Supervision. Importantly, before this process starts the manufacturer must be checked for procedures that guarantee production consistency and conformity with type-approval.
- Preparation of type-approval documentation. The manufacturer compiles an information folder, which should include:
- the information document (in line with the template in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/683),
- technical data, drawings, photographs,
- an indication of the type-approval procedure (multi-stage, single-stage, mixed) — this applies only to vehicle type-approval,
- other information needed to carry out the type-approval procedure.
- Type-approval tests. Technical services carry out type-approval tests — trials and measurements confirming that the requirements are met and that the vehicle complies with UNECE regulations and EU regulations.
- Type-approval test report. After the tests the technical service presents the results in a report issued to the manufacturer.
- Application for a type-approval certificate. With the type-approval test results and complete documentation, the manufacturer applies to TDT for a type-approval certificate. The application must include:
- the type-approval test report,
- a list of persons authorised to sign certificates of conformity,
- if a representative applies on the manufacturer’s behalf: a power of attorney for administrative matters and proof of payment of the power-of-attorney fee,
- a copy of the base vehicle type-approval certificate (if applicable),
- a specimen certificate of conformity (CoC).
- Decision and issue of the certificate. After checking the application and confirming that the requirements are met, the type-approval authority (the Director of TDT) issues the vehicle type-approval certificate. The data go into a database available to authorities throughout the EU.
Scope of type-approval tests at Cartest
As an accredited testing laboratory and a technical service authorised by the Director of TDT we support clients among other things with:
- type-approval and EU type-approval tests of category M, N, O vehicles (passenger cars, trucks and trailers),
- tests of vehicle equipment and parts under UNECE regulations for category M and N vehicles, including:
- UNECE Regulation No. 14 (safety-belt anchorages and ISOFIX top tether, ISOFIX anchorage systems),
- UNECE Regulation No. 17 (seats, seat anchorages and head restraints), excluding Annex 7,
- UNECE Regulation No. 73 (lateral protection of goods vehicles),
- tests for national and EU individual vehicle approval,
- conformity of production (CoP) checks for categories M, N, O.
We also carry out checks to confirm compliance with the Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 31 December 2002 on the technical conditions of vehicles and the scope of their necessary equipment, as well as tests outside the scope of accreditation (e.g. strength tests with a force of up to 50 000 N).
Our approach means the process runs smoothly, and safety and product quality are confirmed by reliable tests. If you are planning vehicle design changes or placing a new vehicle type on the market, we will help you choose the right scope of tests.
How much does vehicle type-approval cost?
The cost of vehicle type-approval has two parts: the price of the type-approval tests and the official fee for issuing the type-approval certificate.
The cost of type-approval tests is set individually by the body carrying out the tests, depending among other things on the vehicle category and the scope of trials. Clients interested in type-approval tests at Cartest are invited to contact us to discuss the details and obtain a quote for a specific project.
The fee for issuing the certificate paid to TDT is an official rate:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Issue of a vehicle type-approval or EU vehicle type-approval certificate | up to PLN 1,600 |
| Amendment of a vehicle type-approval or EU vehicle type-approval certificate | up to PLN 400 |
| Stamp duty for a power of attorney | PLN 17 |
Need type-approval? Contact Cartest
If you have a question about type-approval of vehicles, parts or equipment, contact us — we will help you choose the scope of tests and complete the formalities.
Write to cartest@cartest.pl or call +48 605 335 804.
Together we will make sure your product is safe, compliant and ready for registration in Poland and in other European Union countries.