Vehicle approval

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1. Overview

You must apply for vehicle approval if you have:

  • built a vehicle
  • rebuilt a vehicle
  • radically altered a vehicle
  • reconstructed a classic vehicle
  • imported a vehicle
  • modified a goods vehicle

How to get vehicle approval

You can get a single vehicle or small number of vehicles approved through:

You can no longer apply for a Pre-Registration Inspection (PRI). You must get your vehicle approved instead.

Some vehicles do not need approval. Check the list of exemptions from vehicle approval.

Get approval for a type of vehicle

Vehicle manufacturers or their authorised representative can also get vehicle type approval. This is approval for a type of vehicle, rather than each individual vehicle.

There are several different vehicle type approval schemes. Manufacturers or their representatives must apply for provisional GB type approval to sell or register vehicles in England, Scotland and Wales.

Get help

Contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if you need help with IVA or MSVA.

DVSA 
enquiries@dvsa.gov.uk

Contact the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) if you need help or information about:

  • vehicle type approval for passenger vehicles
  • the provisional GB type approval scheme
  • European Community whole vehicle type approval (ECWVTA)
  • European Community small series type approval (ECSSTA)
  • personal imports from the EU
  • guidance about importing a vehicle from the EU

VCA 
enquiries@vca.gov.uk 
Telephone: 0300 330 5797 
Find out about call charges

2. Exemptions from vehicle approval

You do not need vehicle approval for:

  • heavy goods vehicles (more than 3,500kg maximum weight) over 25 years old
  • light goods vehicles (3,500kg maximum weight or less) over 10 years old
  • cars and minibuses with 8 passenger seats or less (not including the driver) over 10 years old
  • buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) built by a single manufacturer before 29 July 2010
  • buses, coaches and minibuses with more than 8 passenger seats (not including the driver) with different body and chassis manufacturers, made before 29 July 2011
  • tracked vehicles, for example a vehicle that runs on tracks rather than wheels
  • vehicles designed and constructed for use on construction sites, quarries, ports and airports
  • vehicles designed and constructed for and used by the armed services, fire and rescue forces, or used in maintaining public order

If your vehicle needs approval, you must send proof of this in when you apply to register it. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will not register your vehicle if you do not.

If you’re importing a vehicle

You will need vehicle approval to tax your vehicle if it was first registered on or after 1 March 2001 with EU type approval and it’s either:

  • a light goods vehicle (3,500kg maximum weight or less)
  • a car or minibus with 8 passenger seats or less (not including the driver) and with a CO2 emissions figure in g/km

If you do not already have vehicle approval, send a letter with your application to DVLA explaining why you do not have it.

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BE

3. Individual vehicle approval

You can use the individual vehicle approval (IVA) scheme if you’re making or importing a single, or a very small number of:

  • passenger cars
  • goods vehicles
  • buses and coaches
  • trailers
  • special purpose vehicles, such as vehicles specially designed to hold a wheelchair

You cannot use the individual vehicle approval (IVA) scheme if your vehicle has been registered in the UK before. You need to use voluntary IVA instead.

If your vehicle is damaged

If your vehicle is classed as ‘seriously damaged’ you cannot register or tax it with DVLA. You will not be refunded any money you spent on vehicle approval.

Serious damage means the vehicle cannot be repaired. For UK vehicles this means it’s a category A or B insurance write-off.

For imported vehicles, it might say something like ‘statutory write-off’, ‘scrapped’ or ‘non-repairable’ on the registration certificate.

Check with the registration authority for the country the vehicle is from to find out if the vehicle is ‘seriously damaged’.

If it is not ‘seriously damaged’, ask them to provide evidence of this.

Basic and normal IVA

There are 2 levels of IVA inspection: basic and normal.

Basic IVA

Basic IVA involves a visual inspection and other tests to make sure the vehicle meets the necessary standards. You will not normally need to provide any documentary evidence.

You can apply if you have a passenger car or light goods vehicle in one of these categories:

  • left-hand drive vehicles
  • personal imports
  • amateur built vehicles (kit cars)
  • rebuilt vehicles
  • very low volume production vehicles
  • ambulances
  • motor caravans
  • hearses
  • armoured passenger vehicles
  • a vehicle manufactured using parts of a registered vehicle

Read the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) guide on the IVA scheme for more on these categories.

If you do not have one of these vehicles you will have to apply for normal IVA.

Normal IVA

Normal IVA involves a more detailed inspection. Vehicles have to meet extra standards and you’ll have to provide documentary evidence.

How to show your vehicle meets IVA standards

To find out the standards your vehicle must meet, read:

Modified goods vehicles

You can use the IVA scheme to get approval for goods vehicles that have been modified.

Read the DVSA guide on IVA for modified goods vehicles to find out how changes are approved.

Model reports

One way of proving your vehicle is compliant is by showing it’s the same specification as another vehicle (a ‘master vehicle’) that’s been proved compliant. You do this using a model report.

If a model report has already been produced for your exact model of vehicle, you may be able to use it for a fee. Look for it on the DVSA list of model reports and their owners.

Otherwise, you’ll need to pay for your own tests to be carried out. These must be done by an authorised provider of ‘designated technical services’.

For more information on model reports, see part 11 of the DVSA guide on the IVA scheme.

How to apply for individual vehicle approval

  1. If your vehicle does not have one, find out how to get a vehicle identification number (VIN) in the vehicle registration guidance.

  2. Choose a test centre.

  3. Download and fill in the application form for your type of vehicle.

  4. Download and fill in a seat belt anchorage compliance form.

  5. If your vehicle is amateur built (for example a kit car), download and fill in an amateur built declaration form.

  6. Submit the forms using the apply for individual vehicle approval service.

DVSA will usually offer you an inspection within 20 working days, at the test location you’ve chosen (wherever possible). They will issue an individual approval certificate (IAC) if your vehicle passes. You’ll need this certificate when you register your vehicle.

You have to pay a fee for DVSA to inspect your vehicle.

Appeal against a refusal

You can appeal if your vehicle does not pass its inspection and you’re not satisfied with the decision. The vehicle will be re-examined by an independent inspector.

You must make your appeal within 14 days of the decision and you’ll have to pay a fee. This will be refunded, either partially or fully, if your appeal is successful.

You must not modify the vehicle before the appeal inspection.

You can appeal by downloading and filling in the IVA notice of appeal.

Read part 8 of the DVSA guide on the IVA scheme for more information about appeals.

4. Individual vehicle approval manuals

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) published a series of manuals listing all the technical requirements for individual vehicle approval (IVA).

There are different manuals for different types of vehicle:

5. Individual vehicle approval application forms

You need an individual vehicle approval (IVA) application form to apply for an inspection.

Find out how to:

All passenger vehicles

Download the form for seat belt anchorage compliance.

Amateur built vehicles

If your vehicle is amateur built (for example a kit car), you must send an amateur built declaration along with your IVA application.

6. Voluntary approval

Voluntary individual vehicle approval (IVA) is similar to Statutory IVA but:

  • you can use it if your vehicle has already been registered in the UK
  • you will not have the same rights as with Statutory IVA

You’ll need to choose whether to use the basic or normal level of Voluntary IVA.

If you drive a taxi, your licensing authority will tell you what level you need to apply for.

Use Statutory IVA instead if your vehicle:

  • has not been registered in the UK before
  • has been registered in the UK, but has been modified significantly since then

Cost of the schemes

You have to pay a fee for Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to inspect your vehicle.

How to apply

Download and fill in the IVA application form for your type of vehicle.

Follow the instructions on the form to submit it to DVSA.

What happens next

DVSA will carry out an inspection of the vehicle. If it passes, you’ll get a ‘Confirmation of Compliance’ notification (not an approval certificate).

Find out more

Read the DVSA guide on the IVA scheme.

7. Motorcycle single vehicle approval

Your motorcycle, 3-wheeled or light 4-wheeled vehicle must have a provisional GB type approval in England, Scotland and Wales.

If your vehicle does not have a provisional GB type approval you must use the motorcycle single vehicle approval (MSVA) scheme to approve your vehicle.

You must also use the MSVA scheme if your vehicle has been radically altered or built using a mixture of parts from previously registered vehicles. For example:

  • amateur built vehicles
  • rebuilt vehicles
  • vehicles converted to a different wheelplan

Eligibility for MSVA

You can use the MSVA scheme for vehicles that:

  • are under 10 years old
  • have not been registered before in the UK
  • do not have ECWVTA or provisional UK vehicle type approval

The following types of vehicle are eligible:

  • 2-wheeled mopeds
  • 3-wheeled mopeds
  • light quadricycles
  • solo motorcycles
  • motorcycle combinations
  • motor tricycles
  • heavy quadricycles

These vehicle types are defined in the foreword of the MSVA inspection manual.

If your vehicle is damaged

If your vehicle is classed as ‘seriously damaged’ you cannot register or tax it with DVLA. You will not be refunded any money you spent on vehicle approval.

Serious damage means the vehicle cannot be repaired. For UK vehicles this means it’s a category A or B insurance write-off.

For imported vehicles, it might say something like ‘statutory write-off’, ‘scrapped’ or ‘non-repairable’ on the registration certificate.

Check with the registration authority for the country the vehicle is from to find out if the vehicle is ‘seriously damaged’.

If it is not ‘seriously damaged’, ask them to provide evidence of this.

Partial MSVA

If you have a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), it will say which side of the road and which speedometer units your vehicle is equipped for.

You must modify your vehicle if it is not equipped for use in Great Britain. It will then need a Partial MSVA to check the following items:

  • headlamp dipped beam pattern - this checks the headlamp is suitable for driving on the left
  • speedometer - the speed must be shown in miles per hour (mph) or dual mph and kilometres per hour
  • mirror location - on mopeds fitted with a single mirror, the mirror must be fitted to offside (right) of the vehicle

Find out more about how Partial MSVA works.

Vehicle identification number

Your vehicle needs a vehicle identification number before having an MSVA inspection. Write to the following address if it does not have one.

VC15A/MASET
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

Cost of the scheme

You have to pay a fee for DVSA to inspect your vehicle.

Choose a test station

DVSA will inspect your vehicle. You’ll need to choose an approved test station for the inspection.

How to apply

Download and fill in the:

Follow the instructions on the form to submit it to DVSA.

What happens next

DVSA will inspect your vehicle at the test station you’ve chosen and issue a Minister’s Approval Certificate (MAC) if it passes. You’ll need this certificate when you register your vehicle.

Appeals

You can appeal for a re-test if your vehicle fails MSVA. You must appeal within 14 days of the original decision by completing form MSVA17 and returning it to the station used for the original test.

You’ll have to pay the test fee again, which will be refunded if the appeal is successful. Contact DVSA to find out how to do this.

More information

Read the MSVA inspection manual.

8. Certificate of initial fitness

Who can use the scheme

If you use a vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats to transport people for profit, also known as a Public Service Vehicle (PSV), it must have been approved or have a Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF) to register it.

What vehicles need a COIF

You’ll need a COIF for your vehicle if it has more than 8 passenger seats, will be used for profit and either:

  • is not registered in the UK and was built before the type approval scheme was introduced
  • is registered in the UK but does not have a type approval as a passenger vehicle with more than 8 passenger seats

The start dates for this scheme vary depending on the type of vehicle. See page 10 of the individual vehicle approval scheme guide for details.

How to apply for a COIF

Download and fill in the COIF application form.

Follow the instructions on the form to submit it to DVSA.

Cost of the scheme

You have to pay a fee for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to inspect your vehicle.

What happens next

Once you’ve submitted your application, DVSA will contact you to arrange for your PSV’s COIF examination to be carried out at a DVSA-approved test station.

Notifiable Alterations

You must send details to DVSA of any alterations or modifications you make to your PSV.

Send your completed application to the address on the form along with any relevant documents.

You do not need to notify DVSA of like-for-like replacement parts.

9. Accessibility certificate test

Some buses and coaches must have accessibility features for wheelchair users, like boarding lifts and ramps, wheelchair spaces and wheelchair restraints.

This affects buses and coaches, which:

  • are authorised to carry more than 22 passengers
  • carry passengers at separate fares on local or scheduled services

Manufacturers of buses and coaches usually apply for these Accessibility Certificates at the same time as the Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF) when the vehicles are first built.

How to apply for an Accessibility Certificate

If you already have a COIF you can apply for an Accessibility Certificate separately.

You can also apply for an Accessibility Certificate yourself if you convert a vehicle to be used as a bus or coach.

Accessibility Certificates last the lifetime of the vehicle as long as you do not make any further alterations to it. Once you have an Accessibility Certificate, accessibility is then checked as part of the vehicle’s annual test.

Fill in the PSV accessibility certificate application form.

Follow the instructions on the form to submit it to DVSA.

Fees for the Accessibility Certificate test

You’ll need to check both wheelchair accessibility and general accessibility. Each of these sets of regulations is called a schedule.

Test type Fee
1 schedule £51
Retest for 1 schedule £17
2 schedules £104
Retest for 2 schedules £36
Duplicate certificate £13

Type approval

Alternatively, vehicle manufacturers can apply for type approval, which means an Accessibility Certificate is not needed.

Print off and fill in form PSVA6 to apply for type approval.

When an operator gets a vehicle that’s been type approved they’ll get a Declaration of Conformity from the manufacturer.

Operators then need to send this to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to get a Certification of Conformity.

Approvals Section
DVSA
Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN

Fees for type approval are included on the IVA inspection fees document.

10. Inspection fees

You have to pay a fee for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to inspect your vehicle.

The cost depends on:

  • whether you’re using the standard or voluntary version of the scheme
  • the type of inspection (basic or normal)
  • the category of vehicle
  • the class of vehicle

To find out which category and class your vehicle is in, see annexes 1 and 2 of the DVSA guide to the IVA scheme.

Where to find inspection fees

The DVSA list of inspection fees includes the fees for:

  • individual vehicle approval (IVA)
  • motorcycle single vehicle approval (MSVA)
  • Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF)

11. Replacement approval certificate

You can apply for a replacement approval certificate. Submit your application using the apply for an individual vehicle approval (IVA) service.