Key dates instead of the inaccurate phrase “from 2027”
| Date | What is scheduled | Operational implication |
|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2026 | Regulation enters into force | Use the final act rather than the former Commission proposal for planning |
| 1 September 2028 | General application date | Review processes, roles, evidence and data exchanges against the final duties |
| from 2029 | Phased producer-responsibility measures under the transition rules | Monitor contracts and data flows with producers and take-back systems |
| from 1 September 2029 | Labelling of offered used parts under Article 31 | Keep product status and required notices consistent across ERP, shop and records |
| from August 2031 | Stricter export rules for non-roadworthy used vehicles | Maintain reliable vehicle status and inspection evidence in export workflows |
| 1 September 2032 | Digital Circularity Vehicle Passport for vehicles placed on the market | Plan for interoperable, structured vehicle and parts identifiers |
| 2032 / 2036 | Phased minimum recycled-plastic shares of 15 and 25 per cent in new vehicles | Material provenance and closed loops gain commercial importance |
Not every component automatically gets its own product passport
Article 13 introduces a Digital Circularity Vehicle Passport. From 1 September 2032 it is to contain circularity information, information on certain substances and recycled content, and the official spare-parts catalogue for each vehicle placed on the market. This is not the same as a complete individual passport for every used component. Batteries also have separate passport rules under the EU Battery Regulation.
Practical impact on vehicle traders and dismantlers
- Vehicle status: business sales and exports will require stronger evidence separating used from end-of-life vehicles.
- Reuse: removal, testing and sale of suitable original, exchange and used parts become more visible in the circular economy.
- Traceability: provenance, vehicle link, part identity, condition, recipient and destination need to fit together.
- Manufacturer information: dismantling and spare-parts information should become more accessible and digitally usable.
- Material loops: recycled-content targets and closed plastic loops increase the value of well-documented material flows.
Compliance becomes a commercial data product
The Regulation does not make documentation profitable by itself. It can reduce duplicate work and support the sale of assessed parts when vehicle reference, treatment step, part identity, assessment decision and offer status come from the same record. Evidence then serves more than authorities: purchasing, dismantling, warehouse, sales and buyers use the same provenance and status information.
- Less re-entry when treatment data is captured during the task
- Faster responses to audits or enquiries through searchable electronic records
- Clear sales blocks for unassessed, hazardous or unreleased parts
- Better marketability of reusable parts through traceable identity and status
- Defensible metrics for reuse, material flows and exceptions instead of retrospective estimates
Operating case: from vehicle intake to reusable part
In 2028 a dismantler accepts a crashed vehicle. The employee captures the VIN once, receives structured vehicle context and links every removed part to the donor vehicle, OE context, condition check and destination. Sales, remanufacturing and material recycling use the same record.
| Building block | Response or task | Process value |
|---|---|---|
| GET /vin/{vin}/vehicle | Technical vehicle record and stable tapiId where the source supplies them | One identity for intake, valuation, dismantling and sale |
| GET /vin/{vin}/parts | Available vehicle-to-part assignments | Preparation of dismantling and inventory links |
| GET /parts/oe/{oeNumber} | Normalised OE and reference information where available | Cleaner master data for original, exchange, new and used parts |
| ERP / operating log | Actual condition, removal, testing, quantities, recipients and evidence | Legal and audit trail from real operations |
Preparation KPIs: vehicles with an unambiguous digital identity, parts linked to provenance and condition, unresolved OE assignments, evidenced reuse routes, unassigned material quantities and time needed to produce a complete evidence chain.
Sources and legal references
- Verordnung (EU) 2026/1738, deutscher Volltext
- Europäische Kommission: Status und Anwendungsdaten der ELV-Verordnung
- Rat der EU: formelle Annahme und Zeitplan
- Deutsche Altfahrzeug-Verordnung
- tapinomahub API: Fahrzeug anhand der VIN
- tapinomahub API: Teilezuordnung anhand der VIN
- tapinomahub API: OE-Teil abgleichen
Frequently asked
Is the new EU regulation already in force?
It has been in force since 13 August 2026 but generally applies from 1 September 2028. Other duties have their own later dates.
Does the digital passport start in 2027?
No. Article 13 provides for the Digital Circularity Vehicle Passport for vehicles placed on the market from 1 September 2032.
Does every removed part need its own passport?
The regulation introduces a vehicle passport, not a blanket standalone passport for every removed part. Parts and battery information may nevertheless matter across interoperable passports and catalogues.
What should a business do now?
Capture vehicle identity, part provenance, condition, quantities and recipients in structured form, assign responsibilities and monitor implementing rules due by 2030.
This article is general professional guidance and does not replace legal advice. The applicable statute and the conditions imposed by your competent authority prevail.