Many questions can arise during the homologation of a vehicle, especially considering that the number of documents, procedures and formalities involved are numerous.  

In this article we will answer one of the most common questions: What is the vehicle type approval password?

What is the vehicle type approval M1?

The European type approval password is an alphanumeric code that defines the technical characteristics of a vehicle.  

Since 2001, this code has been standardised in the countries of the European Union to ensure that the vehicle complies with European road traffic regulations in all member states.  

Having this code is, without doubt, essential for the import of vehicles.  

But what does M1 refer to?  

M1 refers to the vehicle type, this being a passenger vehicle.

What is the vehicle type approval N1?

One of the technical details contained in this code is the vehicle type.  

N1 refers to trucks and vans.

Vehicle type approval meaning with an example

To understand what this code means let's assume that a key can be: e2*2016/116*0254*02  

The first piece of information provided (EX) indicates where it was manufactured. In this case 2 refers to France.  

To mention a few others, the codes are:  

Germany - 1  

Italy - 3  

The Netherlands - 4  

Spain - 9  

United Kingdom - 11 

Portugal - 49  

The second part refers to the European directive under which the type-approval has been carried out. It has two parts:  

• The year of entry into force. You can find it written with 4 digits or with two digits. For example, if the year is 1998, you can see it as (1998/XXX) or (98/XXX).  
• The number identifying the document, which can range from 01 to 999. In this case it is 116.  

The next digit, in our case 0254, corresponds to the vehicle model identification number. 

And finally 02 indicates the number of modifications or revisions to the initial type approval. In this case, 2 reportable modifications have been made to the original model

Where you can find it

You can find it in several places:  

• On the original vehicle sales document.  
• On the manufacturer's plate on the dashboard, on the door pillars or on the engine.  
• On the vehicle's technical data sheet.  
• On the vehicle's Certificate of Conformity.  

The European type-approval number is one of the most important requirements for importing a vehicle from abroad.  

If you want to import your vehicle, either because you bought it abroad or because you are moving to another country, the Certificate of Conformity is essential to be able to drive it legally.