The IVA Test is a statutory test for any vehicle imported into the UK from outside of the EU that is less than ten years old. The tests are carried out by DVSA staff on the IVA test lane.
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We have many years of experience converting and testing vehicles under the IVA Scheme.
The booking process for an IVA test can take quite a long time so do make sure you have us apply for a test booking well in advance. For any vehicle we ship to the UK, we ensure to begin the IVA booking process before the vehicle has even set sail or taken to the air.
The two main classes of IVA test that we are concerned with are ‘Left Hand Drive’ and ‘Personal Import’ – kit cars are a different booking class.
Left Hand Drive
Any LHD vehicle will be booked under this category, so anything from the USA, Dubai, etc., that is under ten years old and not from the EU (they go through a different process known as Mutual Recognition instead).
Personal Import
If the vehicle you are importing is Right Hand Drive, e.g., from Australia or South Africa, you must be careful as these come under ‘Personal Import’, presumably to protect our automotive market from cheaper imported RHD vehicles. The criteria to import an RHD vehicle are much stricter and unless you have owned the vehicle in the country you are importing from and lived there, you will need to provide a lot of proof from the manufacturer (a Statement of Compliance) to prove the vehicle meets many different EU Directives, which can be impossible to obtain.
If you have owned and used the Right Hand Drive car for at least 6 months and lived in the country of registration longer than 12 months you do not need to provide all the above; it is much easier and much more like testing a Left Hand Drive vehicle.
What do they test?
Really that should read, ‘what do they not test?’ as that would be much easier. If you want to see all the items tested we suggest you take a read through the IVA Test handbook, but let’s focus on the main items that are usually an issue.
Please note this list is not exhaustive and if you are taking the car to a test yourself you will need to check everything from the Official IVA Manual.
Lighting
- The headlights must be of UK specification so either Halogen, or HID with all the appropriate markings and washers.
- There must be clear sidelight bulbs.
- The rear lights must have amber indicators completely separate from the brake lights; the indicators must not interfere with the brake lights in any way.
- There must be a UK specification rear fog light to the right-hand side or centre of the vehicle.
- There must be amber side repeater indicators which can be seen from the required angles of visibility.
Tyres
Appropriate speed markings must be visible and correct for the top speed of the vehicle.
Exhaust
Cannot be too loud and the emissions cannot be out of our UK tolerances.
Window Tints
NONE on the passenger and driver windows or the front window (as many cars in gulf spec have added). Do not worry; it is usually just film and takes around 1-2 hours to remove.
We hope this short guide helps you to see that the IVA process is best handled by experienced professionals. Poor IVA conversions can badly damage your vehicle’s ECU; re-testing the car costs money each time, so you really want to get it right first time.