Homologation Dictionary #1 – Basic Definitions

You can review our list of general basic definitions included in our Automotive Homologation Dictionary. These definitions are determined according to Regulation (EU) 2018/858, and they have been slightly clarified in the regulation. By following us, you can access topic-specific definitions from the glossary.

Basic Definitions for Automotive Homologation Dictionary

What is Type-approval?

Type-approval is the formal process by which an approval authority certifies that a vehicle, system, component, or separate technical unit meets the necessary administrative and technical standards set by the relevant regulations.

What is EU Type-approval?

EU Type-approval is the process through which an approval authority verifies that a vehicle, system, component, or separate technical unit complies with the administrative and technical requirements outlined in EU regulations.

What is National Type-approval?

National Type-approval refers to the certification process where an approval authority ensures that a vehicle, system, component, or separate technical unit complies with the specific technical and administrative standards of a Member State. This approval is only valid within the territory of that particular Member State.

What is a Type-approval Certificate?

A Type-approval Certificate is an official document issued by an approval authority that certifies a vehicle, system, component, or separate technical unit has successfully passed the type-approval process and adheres to the required standards.

What is a Certificate of Conformity?

A Certificate of Conformity is a document issued by the manufacturer to confirm that a vehicle has been produced according to the approved type and complies with all regulatory requirements at the time of its manufacture.

What is Individual Vehicle Approval?

Individual Vehicle Approval is a procedure through which an approval authority certifies that a specific vehicle, whether unique or not, satisfies the relevant administrative and technical requirements, either for EU or national approval.

What is Whole-Vehicle Type-approval?

Whole-Vehicle Type-approval is the process in which an approval authority certifies that a complete, incomplete, or finished type of vehicle meets all the necessary administrative and technical requirements.

What is Multi-stage Type-approval?

Multi-stage Type-approval is the process whereby one or more approval authorities certify that an incomplete or finished type of vehicle, depending on its stage of completion, meets the relevant administrative and technical standards.

What is Step-by-step Type-approval?

Step-by-step Type-approval is a process where a set of type-approval certificates for systems, components, and technical units are collected over stages, eventually leading to the whole-vehicle type-approval in its final stage.

What is Single-step Type-approval?

Single-step Type-approval refers to the procedure where an approval authority certifies in one operation that a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit as a whole complies with the required administrative and technical provisions.

What is Mixed Type-approval?

Mixed Type-approval is a step-by-step type-approval process in which some system approvals are obtained during the final stage of whole-vehicle type-approval, without issuing separate type-approval certificates for those systems.

What is System Type-approval?

System Type-approval is the procedure by which an approval authority certifies that a particular system in a vehicle meets the relevant technical and administrative requirements.

What is Separate Technical Unit Type-approval?

Separate Technical Unit Type-approval refers to the process through which an approval authority certifies that a specific technical unit, designed to be part of a vehicle, satisfies the relevant requirements in relation to one or more specified types of vehicles.

What is Component Type-approval?

Component Type-approval is the procedure where an approval authority certifies that a specific vehicle component, independent of the vehicle itself, meets the necessary technical and administrative standards.

What is a Vehicle?

A vehicle is defined as any motor vehicle or trailer designed for transportation on the road.

What is a Motor Vehicle?

A motor vehicle is any power-driven vehicle designed to move independently, equipped with at least four wheels, and capable of exceeding a maximum design speed of 25 km/h.

What is a Trailer?

A trailer is a non-motorized vehicle designed to be towed by a motor vehicle, capable of rotating around certain axes to provide stability during movement.

What is a System?

A system refers to a group of devices that work together to perform specific functions in a vehicle, subject to the technical requirements of relevant regulations.

What is a Component?

A component is a device intended to be part of a vehicle that can be approved separately from the vehicle and must meet specific technical and administrative standards outlined in regulations.

What is a Separate Technical Unit?

A separate technical unit is a device that is designed to be part of a vehicle and can be approved independently, but only in relation to one or more specified vehicle types.

What are Parts?

Parts refer to goods used in the assembly, repair, and maintenance of a vehicle, including spare parts.

What is Equipment?

Equipment refers to any additional goods, other than parts, that can be added or installed on a vehicle to enhance its function or performance.

What are Spare Parts?

Spare parts are replacement goods that are installed on a vehicle to replace the original parts, necessary for the vehicle’s operation, except for fuel.

What is a Base Vehicle?

A base vehicle is any vehicle that is used as the foundation during the initial stage of multi-stage type-approval.

What is an Incomplete Vehicle?

An incomplete vehicle is one that must go through additional stages of completion before it can meet all the necessary regulatory requirements.

What is a Completed Vehicle?

A completed vehicle is one that has gone through all the necessary stages of multi-stage type-approval and fully complies with all technical and administrative standards.

What is a Complete Vehicle?

A complete vehicle is one that is fully constructed and requires no further work to meet the relevant technical and administrative requirements.

What is an End-of-series Vehicle?

An end-of-series vehicle is part of a stock that can no longer be placed on the market, registered, or entered into service due to new technical requirements that it does not meet.

What is an Alternative-fuel Vehicle?

An alternative-fuel vehicle is designed to operate on at least one type of fuel that is either gaseous under normal conditions or derived from non-mineral oil sources.

What is a Vehicle Produced in Small Series?

A vehicle produced in small series refers to a type of vehicle that is manufactured in limited quantities, not exceeding the annual limits set by the regulations.

What is a Special Purpose Vehicle?

A special purpose vehicle is a vehicle with specific technical features that allow it to perform specialized functions requiring unique arrangements or equipment.

What is a Type of Vehicle?

A type of vehicle refers to a group of vehicles that share certain technical features as defined by the regulations, including different versions and variants within that group.

What is a Semi-trailer?

A semi-trailer is a type of trailer where the axle or axles are positioned behind the vehicle’s center of gravity when uniformly loaded. It is designed to be attached to a towing vehicle in a way that allows it to transmit both horizontal and vertical forces.

What is Market Surveillance?

Market surveillance refers to the activities and measures taken by authorities to ensure that vehicles, systems, components, and technical units available on the market comply with the regulatory requirements and do not pose risks to health, safety, or the environment.

What is a Market Surveillance Authority?

A market surveillance authority is the national body responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulatory standards for vehicles, systems, components, and technical units within its jurisdiction.

What is an Approval Authority?

An approval authority is a government body designated by a Member State to oversee the type-approval process for vehicles, systems, components, and technical units, and to issue, refuse, or withdraw approval certificates.

What is a National Authority?

A national authority is any governmental body, including approval and market surveillance authorities, involved in overseeing the compliance, registration, or import/export of vehicles, systems, and components within a Member State.

What is a Technical Service?

A technical service is an organization designated by an approval authority to perform tests and assessments on vehicles, systems, components, or technical units to ensure they meet the necessary regulatory standards.

What is a National Accreditation Body?

A national accreditation body is an organization responsible for accrediting technical services or conformity assessment bodies, ensuring they are qualified to perform regulatory testing and certification.

What is a Manufacturer?

A manufacturer is a natural or legal person responsible for ensuring that a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit complies with all relevant type-approval requirements and standards throughout the production process, including conformity of production.

What is a Manufacturer’s Representative?

A manufacturer’s representative is a legal or natural person established in the EU, appointed by the manufacturer to act on their behalf in interactions with approval or market surveillance authorities regarding regulatory matters.

What is an Importer?

An importer is a natural or legal person established in the EU who is responsible for bringing a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit, manufactured in a third country, into the EU market.

What is a Distributor?

A distributor is any natural or legal person, other than the manufacturer or importer, who is part of the supply chain and makes vehicles, systems, components, or technical units available for sale on the market.

What is an Economic Operator?

An economic operator refers to any entity involved in the production, distribution, or importation of vehicles, systems, components, or technical units, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, and their representatives.

What is an Independent Operator?

An independent operator is a person or organization involved in the repair and maintenance of vehicles, including those offering repair services, spare parts, tools, or technical information outside the manufacturer’s authorized network.

What is an Authorized Repairer?

An authorized repairer is a person or business officially recognized by a vehicle manufacturer to provide repair and maintenance services within the manufacturer’s distribution system.

What is an Independent Repairer?

An independent repairer is a repair service provider that operates outside the manufacturer’s authorized network, offering repair and maintenance services for vehicles.

What is Vehicle Repair and Maintenance Information?

Vehicle repair and maintenance information includes all the technical data necessary for diagnosing, servicing, and repairing a vehicle, which is provided by the manufacturer to authorized partners and may also be made available to independent operators.

What is Vehicle On-board Diagnostic (OBD) Information?

Vehicle OBD information refers to the data generated by a system within the vehicle capable of detecting and reporting malfunctions, identifying potential areas of failure, and transmitting this information off-board for diagnosis.

What is Placing on the Market?

Placing on the market refers to the first time a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit is made available for sale within the EU.

What is Making Available on the Market?

Making available on the market refers to the act of supplying a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit for distribution or use within the EU market, whether for payment or free of charge.

What is Entry into Service?

Entry into service is the point at which a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit is first used for its intended purpose within the EU.

What is Registration?

Registration is the administrative process by which a vehicle is authorized to be used on public roads, involving its identification and the issuance of a registration number.

What is a Virtual Testing Method?

A virtual testing method involves the use of computer simulations and calculations to demonstrate that a vehicle, system, component, or technical unit meets regulatory requirements without the need for physical testing.

What are Alternative Requirements?

Alternative requirements are technical and administrative provisions that aim to achieve the same level of safety, environmental protection, and functionality as the regulatory acts, but through different means or standards.

What is an On-site Assessment?

An on-site assessment is a verification process carried out at the premises of a technical service or its subcontractors to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

What is a Surveillance On-site Assessment?

A surveillance on-site assessment is a routine periodic assessment carried out at the premises of a technical service or subcontractor, which is neither part of the initial designation nor renewal process.

What is the Date of Manufacture of a Vehicle?

The date of manufacture of a vehicle is the day when the production of the vehicle is completed according to the specifications approved during the type-approval process.

What is an E-trailer?

An E-trailer is a type of trailer equipped with its own electric powertrain, capable of contributing to the propulsion of the vehicle combination, but unable to operate on public roads without being towed by a motor vehicle.

Access to original version of the EU 2018/858.