The Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) scheme

MSVA provides a cost effective form of type approval for two, three and some small four wheeled vehicles that do not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). The scheme is run by Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) at one specialist test centre (Mallusk).

Why does MSVA exist?

It’s a requirement, across the European Community, for motorcycles and associated vehicles to be type approved prior to registration. Type approval is a set of harmonised design, construction and environmental standards that allows manufactures to build to one set of requirements for the European market. Prior to the introduction of ECWVTA the government ran a consultation on how type approval would affect the motorcycle market in Northern Ireland (NI). On the basis of this consultation the government decided that the nature of the NI- motorcycle market warranted a single vehicle type approval scheme to run along side ECWVTA.

Vehicles needing an MSVA test

MSVA applies to the following types of vehicles that are unregistered, under 10 years old and don’t have ECWVTA.

two wheeled mopeds
three wheeled mopeds
light quadricycles
solo motorcycles
motorcycle combinations
motor tricycles
heavy quadricycles
MSVA application form and guidance notes (PDF 88.75 KB )
Help with PDF files

MSVA is also a DVA requirement for certain vehicles that have been radically altered or built using a mixture of components from previously registered vehicles eg:

vehicles rebuilt using a second hand frame
vehicles converted to a different wheelplan
Registering a radically altered vehicle
Registering a rebuilt vehicle, kit car and kit conversion

Partial Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (PMSVA)

Vehicles that have ECWVTA are issued with a Certificate of Conformity (CoC). This is a declaration by the manufacturer that the vehicle, identified by its vehicle identification number (VIN), is the same in all respects as the type that gained approval. This document is usually sufficient evidence that the vehicle can be licensed and registered by DVA for use on the road in NI. The CoC will contain a statement indicating which rule of the road and which speedometer units the vehicle is approved for. Some type approved vehicles may not be equipped for use in NI. If this is the case DVA can conduct a Partial MSVA check to confirm that any modifications required have been carried out correctly. The items checked are:

headlamp dipped beam pattern (this checks that the headlamp is suitable for driving on the left)
speedometer (checked to ensure the speed is shown in miles per hour or that the speedometer has dual mph and km/h markings)
mirror location, this only applies to mopeds fitted with a single mirror (the check ensures a single mirror is fitted to offside (right) of the vehicle)