How to apply for Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) Test?

SVA Procedure

Before registering any imported, amateur built cars and light goods vehicles in the UK, they need to go through a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) Test. SVA is required in order for these vehicles to comply with British and European safety and environmental standards.

Below are the classifications of vehicles that require SVA:

N = Left Hand Drive.

P = Personal Import. A vehicle imported by a person who has lived in the country of export for 12 months and has owned and used the vehicle for six months.

T = Armored Vehicle. A vehicle which meets the armor plating anti bullet requirements.

M = Hearse, motor ambulance or motor caravan.

A = Amateur Built. A vehicle built by an individual, or which has been built by someone on behalf of that individual who is not in the business of building motor vehicles, and which is for personal use.

C = Vehicle built by a person in the business of building vehicles using parts of a vehicle registered in Great Britain. The engine and at least one other major part must come from the same donor vehicle.

S = Rebuilt Vehicle. A vehicle which a) the local DVLA office has given a vehicle chassis or identification number to, b) does not meet class “A” or “C”, and has been rebuilt using a replacement chassis or combined chassis-body of the same design as the original. The chassis or combined chassis-body is new or from a vehicle that has already been registered in the United Kingdom (UK).

L = Vehicle manufactured in very low numbers. A type of vehicle of which a manufacturer can build (worldwide) up to 200 vehicles of that “family of types” (or up to 20 of that “type variant”) within any 12-month period within the 36 months before the month the vehicle was made. Note: Refer to the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2001 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/uksi_20010025_en.pdf) for a definition of “family of type” or “type variant”,

D = Disabled person’s vehicle. A vehicle which is adapted or built so that a disabled person can travel in it, whether as the driver or as a passenger, in safety and reasonable comfort. For more information, see the SVA booklet or the technical standards in the SVA inspection manual.

R(ESVA) = A vehicle that is not in any of the classes shown above. Vehicles in this class must meet the enhanced SVA (ESVA) test standards. For more information, see the SVA booklet or the technical standards in the SVA inspection manual.

Complete definitions of the above can be found in the Motor Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2001 as point of reference: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2001/uksi_20010025_en.pdf

· The first thing you need to do is fill out the SVA test form and get the SVA booklet and SVA inspection manual from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) near your area.

The SVA test form is available here: http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/forms/vehicletestforms/vehicletestforms.htm. To obtain the list of VOSA test stations, click on the same link above.

· You may also get SVA testing at these independent authorized test facilities:

AutoTerminal.com UK – Unit 2 North Road , Marchwood Industrial Estate, Southampton – 023 8066 7619

Dunton Emission Laboratory – Dunton Technical Centre, Laindon, Basildon, Essex, SS15 6EE – 01268 403271

Landrover – Block 105, Lode Lane, Solihull, West Midlands, B92 8NW – 0121 700 3184

LTC Ltd – Aston Way, Leyland, Preston, PR5 3TZ – 01772 422911

Millbrook Proving Ground Ltd – Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2JQ – 01525 408253/408362

Status – Manchester Metropolitan University, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD – 0161 247 6240

The Motor Industry Research Association(MIRA) – Watling Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 0TU – 024 7635 5029

Torotrak Plc – 1 Ashton Way, Leyland, Preston, PR26 7UX – 01772 900900

· Make sure to accurately list the vehicle information when filling the test form. After submitting the form, it will take just about 2 weeks for SVA testing to be done on your vehicle.