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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.

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 Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) requirements.

The IVA test includes more inspection items than the old Single Vehicle Approval (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.

Special Purpose Vehicles (M1)

IVA is the only approval route for all M1 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV).

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.

Minibuses, buses and coaches (M2/M3)

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 (European communuity whole vehicle type approval, National small series type approval, 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 centres. 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 available for 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 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.

How to apply

You will need to obtain the correct type of IVA application form for your vehicle category. If you can't download the form, contact the IVA Section and they will send one to you by post or fax. You will need to complete all the questions that apply to you and send it to the address below along with any supporting documentation and the correct payment.

Postal payments can be made via cheque or postal order (made out to DVA). Anyone wishiing to pay by card will have to attend the test centre with their application and documents. To speed up booking procedures it is recommended that if you wish to pay by card that you go directly to the IVA administration section 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.

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

Tel: 0845 601 4094

Email: dva.ivaqueries@doeni.gov.uk

The application form will ask what DVA Test Centre you wish your vehicle to be inspected at, Newtownards, Belfast or 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
Malone Lower
BT12 6QL
(028) 9068 1831 		Heavy Vehicles
Newtownards Jubilee Road
Scrabo
BT23 4XP
(028) 9181 3064		 Light Vehicles
Cookstown Sandholes Road
Coolkeeghan
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.

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