Skip to content Accesskeys Newsroom

Individual Vehicle Approval

Vehicle type approval is now mandatory for all passenger cars and light goods vehicle (M1), and larger passenger carrying vehicles – minibuses, buses and coaches (M2 / M3). The rollout of type approval for other vehicle categories will be completed by 2014.

Special Purpose Vehicles (M1)

From 29 April 2012, Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) will be the only approval route for all M1 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV).

Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) will no longer be available as an approval route in the United Kingdom after the 28 April 2012. To manage the transition from SVA to IVA, no SVA applications will be accepted by DVA after Friday 6 April 2012.

IVA M1 SPV applications can be submitted using the M1/N1 IVA application form at any time.

Note: Special purpose vehicles are those that meet the definition of an Armoured Vehicle, a Hearse, a Motor Ambulance, a Motor Caravan or a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Cars and light goods vehicles (M1/N1)

Cars and completed goods vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of not more than 3500kg are subject to the new EC requirements.

The IVA test includes more inspection items than the SVA test; however, SVA certificates issued prior to 29 October 2011 will continue to be valid for registration until 28 April 2013.

To help vehicle owners prepare their vehicle for IVA, full details are available in the IVA inspection manual which is free to download below.

There are two levels of IVA compliance, ‘Basic’ and ‘Normal’ requirements. Normal requirements will apply to most vehicles presented for inspection. Basic requirements will only apply to specialist vehicles such as amateur built vehicles, personnel imports and left hand drive vehicles.

Minibuses, buses and coaches (M2/M3)

Type approval became mandatory for all new minibuses, buses and coaches (M2 and M3 categories) that were built in a single stage on the 29 October 2010 and for multi stage builds from the 29 October 2011.

From this date all new passenger carrying vehicles having more than 8 passenger seats (approval categories M2 and M3) require a form of approval in order to be registered for use on the road. This includes all vehicles whether for private use or for hire and reward.

If a minibus, bus or coach has not been approved using one of the three approval routes (ECWVTA, NSSTA, IVA), the vehicle will be unable to get registered in any EU member state – No approval, No registration, No sale.

For new approved buses wishing to operate for Hire and Reward there will be no longer a requirement for an Initial Bus Test (IBT), as the vehicle will have been approved to PSV standards, however, before a bus can enter service in Northern Ireland for Hire and Reward a standard PSV test will be required (£90.50 fee – 35 minute test time).

This test can be applied for by using the PSV3 application form and will be performed at all DVA test centers. Checks will be made on all first time bus PSV test applications to ensure that all buses have been awarded a type approval certificate. If it cannot be proven that a bus has a type approval certificate the PSV test application will be returned to the applicant.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

Historically there has been no approval for Heavy Goods Vehicles (approval categories N2/N3) in Northern Ireland. From 29 October 2012 (or 2014 depending on whether the vehicle is single stage or multi stage build) all HGV’s must be manufactured and approved to EC and national approval schemes including IVA on a mandatory basis.

When inspecting pre-April 2009 vehicles under the IVA scheme, DVA will apply the standards in place at the time the vehicle was built. For items such as noise, brakes, emissions, speed limiter and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), documentary evidence of EC compliance must be supplied by the applicant.

Other aspects of the IVA inspection are then confirmed by visual inspection such as those associated with the body fitment, lights, reflectors and chassis components, which are checked to the latest standards detailed in the inspection manual.

Full details of the retrospective standards were published in the May 2011 N2/N3 edition of the IVA inspection manual, which is free to download.

Requirements if the vehicle is changing category

Vehicles submitted for IVA inspections need to demonstrate that they generally comply with the technical provisions of Directive 2007/46/EC. As part of the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process mandatory evidence of Directive compliance is required for specific subject areas. One such subject area is braking.

Current IVA requirements for braking require that “the vehicle as presented must be accompanied by satisfactory evidence of compliance with the required standard for Braking”. The current requirement is that all M2 / M3 vehicles must have brake documentary evidence to M2 / M3 standards. Therefore, if a van (N2 / N3) is being converted to a minibus/bus, the convertor needs to ensure that the base vehicle has brake approval for M2 / M3.

If a van is converted to a minibus or coach and an IVA application is received, the application will be refused if it is accompanied with brake approval for the base vehicle only. This requirement is also mandatory for optional IVA inspections prior to 29 October 2011.

An M2 / M3 vehicle applying for an IVA inspection must have M2 / M3 brake approval.

For details of all mandatory dates download a copy of the implementation timetable.

How to apply

Firstly you will need to obtain the correct type of IVA application form for your vehicle category. If you do not have internet access, you can contact our IVA Section and they can arrange for one to be sent to you by post or fax. You will need to complete all the questions that apply to you on the form then send it to the address below along with any supporting documentation and the correct payment.

Payments can be made via cheque or postal order (made out to DVA). Due to data protection procedures customers who wish to pay by card will be required to go in person with their application and documentation to a DVA test centre. To speed up booking procedures we would recommend that if you wish to pay by card that you go directly to the IVA administration Section based at the address below. Please do not send cash through the post. Cash payments will be accepted at Centres.

Note: You will not receive your appointment when you deliver your application in person. All applicants will be notified of their appointment date by post.

IVA/SVA Admin Section
Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA)
Balmoral Road
Belfast BT12 6QL
Northern Ireland

Tel: 0845 601 4094

Email: dva.ivaqueries@doeni.gov.uk

The application form will also ask you to confirm what DVA Test Centre you wish your vehicle to be inspected at. Currently DVA will be carrying out IVA testing at three centre’s – Newtownards, Belfast and Cookstown;

Click on the name of the test centre below for a map, directions and what IVA inspections are carried out at that centre.

Test Centre Location Type of IVA test conducted
Belfast

66 Balmoral Road
BT12 6QL

(028) 9068 1831

Heavy Vehicles
Newtownards

Jubilee Road
BT23 4XP

(028) 9181 3064

 Light Vehicles
Cookstown

Sandholes Road
BT80 9AR

(028) 8676 4809

Heavy and Light Vehicles

Please Note: Amateur build/Kit cars will only be tested in Newtownards, as this is the only centre with the specialised equipment which enables these cars to be tested to the required standard.

Useful links