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End of series vehicles

What end of series vehicles are and the rules and regulations that apply to them. 

By law, when a vehicle is first manufactured it must meet all of the necessary safety and quality standards before it can be sold throughout Europe i.e. European type approval. However, these standards change over time so a vehicle manufactured a year or two ago may now not meet the latest standard. This vehicle is still new, as it has never been sold, so it is referred to as an ‘end of series’ i.e. last of its type. Manufacturers facing economic or technical difficulties in complying with the new standards can apply for an end of series ‘derogation’. This allows them extra time to sell off any stock of vehicles that were manufactured to previous standards. 

Upcoming Noise and GSR regulations

EU Regulation 540/2014 / UN Regulation 51.03 – Noise regulations

From 1 July 2022, vehicles of categories M, N1 and N3 will be required to meet with phase 2 noise levels of either regulation 540/2014 or UN 51.03 to be registered here in Ireland. 

The RSA is granting end-of-series derogations to vehicles that currently meet with Phase 1 noise level requirements. A sound level approval number will be required when applying for a derogation. See sound level approval numbers document for more information on how to locate this approval number.

General Safety Regulation (EU) 2019/2144  

On 6 July 2022, a number of changes for the first registration or entry into service of vehicles comes into force under regulation 2019/2144. As these changes are administrative, no end-of-series derogations are required. Our GSR briefing note update will provide you with more information on this.

Applying for an end-of-series derogation 

The granting of end of series derogations is at the discretion of each EU member state. In certain circumstances, Article 49 of Regulation (EU) 2018/858 provides a derogation in order to permit the making available on the market, registration, and entry into service of end-of-series vehicles. Subject to important limitations and conditions, Member States may decide whether to apply the Article 49 derogation in any given case.
Some vehicles may be part of a stock that conformed to all the relevant standards at the time they were built, but due to the passage of time and changes to standards and regulations, they might not now meet all of the current requirements to permit them to be registered. Such vehicles are called end-of-series vehicles. In doing so, Member States may register and permit the making available on the market or the entry into service of vehicles that conform to a type of vehicle the EU type-approval of which is no longer valid.

For vehicles in category M, N and O, end-of-series derogations are limited in one of the following ways: 

  1. Vehicles for which a valid certificate of conformity was issued on or after the date of manufacture of the vehicle and remained valid for at least three months after its date of issue. There is no limit on the number of vehicles under this condition.
  2. The maximum number of vehicles of one or more types that can be derogated is calculated as a percentage of those vehicles that entered into service during the previous years. The percentages are 10% (for M1 vehicles) and 30% (for M2, M3, N and O, vehicles),  should the resulting number be less than 100 vehicles, then a maximum of 100 vehicles may be allowed to enter into service. The certificate of conformity may be issued up until the date before the new legislation applies.

In addition to the above limits, a vehicle must meet certain criteria when applying for a derogation:

The vehicle must:

  • be within the EU; and 
  • have been covered by a valid EU type-approval at the time of its production. 

However, before that EU type-approval lost its validity, the vehicle must not have been:

  • registered, or
  • entered into service.

How to apply for an end-of-series derogation and application forms

Applications can only be made by a vehicle distributor or manufacturer. 

To apply for an end of series derogation: 

  1. Download the relevant application form below and the accompanying vehicle list spreadsheet. 
  2. Complete both the application form and vehicle list spreadsheet in full (incomplete applications will not be processed)  
  3. Email both documents to [email protected]

Passenger and goods vehicles 

Motorcycles, mopeds, trikes and quadbikes 

Regulatory changes

From 1st January 2022, two new requirements apply

  • Light duty vehicles of category N1 Class II and N1 Class III are required to be fitted with on-board fuel and/or energy consumption monitors (OBFCM)
  • Heavy duty vehicles are required to comply with the Euro VI Step E emission requirements.

The RSA is granting end-of-series derogations to vehicles that meet the requirements in the table below. For heavy duty vehicles, the RSA will request details of the number of vehicles of that type registered in the previous year.

Emissions categoryStandard (until 31 December 2021)Standard (from 1 January 2022)Applicable end-of-series derogation
Light duty vehicle emissions: N1 Class II

CH: Euro d-TEMP-EVAP-ISC

AN: Euro 6d-ISC

AQ: Euro 6d-ISC-FCMCoC issue date no later than 30 September 2021
Light duty vehicle emissions: N1 Class IIICI: Euro 6d-TEMP-EVAP-ISCAR: Euro 6d-ISC-FCMCoC issue date no later than 30 September 2021
Heavy duty vehicle emissionsEuro VI Step DEuro VI Step E30% of the vehicles of all types concerned registered in the previous year or 100 vehicles, whichever is greater

 

From 1 September 2021, 3 new requirements apply

  • UN Regulation No. 16.07
  • UN Regulation No. 79.03
  • UN Regulation No. 58.03

The RSA will be granting derogations for vehicles subject to conditions outlined in the table below. In addition, vehicles must have a valid certificate of conformity issued on or after the date of manufacture, and that remained valid for at least 3 months before the new requirement applies.

Regulation numberTitleEnd of Series derogation
UN Regulation no. 16.07Safety-belts and restraint systemsSee note for UN Regulation 16.07
UN Regulation no. 79.03Steering equipmentSee note for UN Regulation 79.03
UN Regulation no. 58.03Rear underrun protection devicesThe RSA will grant an end-of-series derogation for vehicles that don’t comply with UN Regulation No. 58.03, but that comply with UN Regulation No. 58.02.

Since 1 January 2021, vehicle manufacturers of passenger cars and some light-duty goods vehicles are required to meet stricter emission standards. In addition, manufacturers are required to fit on-board fuel and/or energy consumption monitoring (OBFCM) devices to these vehicles.

The RSA will be granting derogations for vehicles with emission characters DG and AM that had a valid certificate of conformity issued on or after the date of manufacture, and that remained valid for at least 3 months before the new requirement applies.

Since 1 January 2021, vehicle manufacturers of L category vehicles (two-wheel, three-wheel vehicles and quads) are required to meet stricter emission standards. The RSA has prepared a note that explains these changes. This note is available here. The RSA is granting a derogation for vehicles that don’t comply with Euro 5 emission standards.

Refer to the End of Series application form for the full list of derogations that the RSA will be granting. 

Future proposals

These are the upcoming UN and European directives and regulations impacting entry into service for vehicles. Table of Upcoming Directives Regulations September 2022 pdf | 244 KB

Legislation on end-of-series vehicles 

The legislation for motor vehicles, trailers and for L category vehicles allows member states to grant end-of-series derogations, provided these vehicles meet the criteria set out in the following tables. 

Passenger & goods vehicles (category M, N, O)

Van and light truck
EU legislation EU reference National legislation 
Framework regulation 2018/858 S.I. No. 556/2020 
 Single stage (completed) Multi-stage (completed) 

Restriction type 

We will decide which restriction applies We will decide which restriction applies 
COC issue date Must be issued by the manufacturer at least three months before the new legislation applies Must be issued by the manufacturer at least three months before the new legislation applies 
Maximum number of M1 vehicles

The maximum number of vehicles of one or more types may not exceed 10% of the vehicles of all types concerned entered into service during the previous year 

or 

100 vehicles  

The COC must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies 

The maximum number of vehicles of one or more types may not exceed 10% of the vehicles of all types concerned entered into service during the previous year 

or 

100 vehicles  

The COC must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies 

The maximum number of M2, M3, N category vehicles and O category trailers 

The maximum number of vehicles of one or more types may not exceed 30% of the vehicles of all types concerned entered into service during the previous year 

or 

100 vehicles  

The COC must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies

The maximum number of vehicles of one or more types may not exceed 30% of the vehicles of all types concerned entered into service during the previous year 

or 

100 vehicles  

The COC must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies

Length of derogation 12 months 18 months 

 

Motorcycles, mopeds, trikes, quads (category L) 

EU legislation EU referenceNational legislation 
Framework regulation 168/2013S.I. No. 614/2015 

 

 Single stage (completed) Multi-stage (completed) 
COC Must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies Must be issued by the manufacturer up until the day before the new legislation applies 
Length of derogation 24 months 30 months 
Additional requirements 

Must not exceed 10% of the number of vehicles registered in the two preceding years or 100 vehicles, whichever is higher 

Must not exceed 10% of the number of vehicles registered in the two preceding years or 100 vehicles, whichever is higher 


Frequently asked questions

This content is for general information only. It does not, and is not intended to, provide legal or technical advice or to represent a legal interpretation of the matters it addresses.

End of series derogations come with a cut-off date e.g., 12 months from when the vehicle lost its type-approval validity.

You should allow a maximum of 10 working days. This is provided that both the application form and spreadsheet have been completed correctly, otherwise processing will not commence. 

TypeDescription

Complete vehicles.

Built in a single stage by the manufacturer and requires no further work.

Completed or multi-stage vehicles.

Built in multi stages involving more than one manufacturer.

Incomplete vehicles.

Any vehicle which has yet to undergo one or more stages.