Catalogue description Records of the Vehicle Certification Agency

On 1 April 1990 the Vehicle Certification was set up as part of the Department of Transport's Road and Vehicle Safety Division. In January 1993 it acquired executive agency status.

The agency's main functions are: to test and certify road and agricultural vehicles and vehicle parts to national and international standards; to administer European Community arrangements for whole vehicle type approval; to administer to compulsory national type approval schemes for passenger cars and good vehicles which operate in Great Britain; and to undertake quality system certification in the motor vehicle field.

The agency also undertakes a range of ancillary activities related to vehicle type approval, including checks on the extent to which vehicles and vehicle parts on sale comply with the required standards and preparation of regulations in the vehicle type approval field.