GB Type Approval Is Mandatory from 2026 — Are You Ready?

Post-Brexit GB type approval diverges further from EU frameworks with each update. Indian manufacturers with UK market exposure need a clear view of where they stand and what to do before the deadline.

The United Kingdom no longer recognises EU type approval as sufficient for vehicles sold in the UK market. Since Brexit, the UK has operated its own separate type approval regime — GB type approval — administered by the Vehicle Certification Agency. From 2026, GB type approval is mandatory for all vehicles sold in the UK. Indian manufacturers with UK market exposure need to understand what this requires and act accordingly.

The practical implication is that a manufacturer who previously held EU type approval and sold into the UK under the mutual recognition provisions of the single market now needs a separate, distinct GB approval. The EU framework and the GB framework are diverging with each regulatory update. Relying on the two remaining aligned is not a strategy.

GB type approval is administered by the Vehicle Certification Agency — the same authority through which KaM's perpetual authorised contract operates. KaM has been processing GB approvals since the scheme launched. The UK office in Leamington Spa provides on-the-ground support: direct VCA liaison, local engineering presence, and the ability to manage GB programmes in parallel with EU or UNECE approvals.

For manufacturers managing both EU and GB programmes simultaneously, the parallel track is worth considering. Where the underlying technical requirements align, a single test programme can be used to satisfy both approval routes. Where they diverge, KaM's team manages both tracks from the same point of accountability.

The time to address GB type approval is before the 2026 deadline, not at it. The approval process requires testing, dossier preparation, and submission — and VCA's processing window starts only after a complete dossier is in their hands. KaM prepares dossiers to that standard before anything is submitted — so the clock starts only when it should. Building the lead time into your programme now is the only way to guarantee the certificate is in place when you need it.