11 replies to this topic

[bamby]

Whilst reading this months Practical Classics mag i've read the article about the SVA test being scrapped and replaced with the IVA test..

so heres a VOSA leaflet giving you some information .. its set to change over on the 31st March so may be worth looking at for anyone whos building a kit car etc.

http://www.ampar.com...IVA leaflet.pdf

and this too
http://www.transport...tionmanuals.htm

bamby

[Bungle]

there are a few topics on volks zone as well if you want more info

[Ouster]

Wait...you have to have a reverse gear now?

[austinmini25]

Has anyone read about the points sytem that decides whether your car needs this test? It's something like you can get 14 points maximum but need at least 9 or so to avoid the test. You get the points by keeping original parts of the car, so if you change the engine, radically alter the suspension, brakes etc ( E.G fitting coil-overs to a mini) you lose the points and if you lose too many your car has to be put throught this test which is very hard to pass.
In this month's Practical Performance Car magazine they said that if you fitted a chevrolet LS1 engine to an old car such as a mk1 mini and didn't alter the brakes , suspension etc then the car wouldn't need the test but if you fitted coil-overs, chevrolet brakes etc to make it safer then the car would need to be put through this test. It would probably never pass though because it was designed so long before the original SVA test was brought in.

[Tupers]

So if I decided to fit a v-tec engine and coil-overs to my mini would I legally have to take it through a IVA test? It seems like an awful lot of hoops to jump through for what is essentially an MOT.

I can see why kits car have to go through it to get registered but what's to stop us just moding and driving?

[Jammy]

Has anyone read about the points sytem that decides whether your car needs this test? It's something like you can get 14 points maximum but need at least 9 or so to avoid the test. You get the points by keeping original parts of the car, so if you change the engine, radically alter the suspension, brakes etc ( E.G fitting coil-overs to a mini) you lose the points and if you lose too many your car has to be put throught this test which is very hard to pass.

The points system has long been changed, just the government websites have yet to be updated (on the ball as ever). Essentially what has replaced it is the same system only without the points. You have to keep something like 2 or 3 of the major components (bodyshell, chassis, engine, steering, suspension, etc), with one of them having to be the bodyshell.

[dave21478]

I believe as the points system changes go - you need the original unmodified shell plus two other major components. Front and rear suspension counting as one component, steering, engine, axles etc all counting as one. My van project would appear to be ok, as I have original suspension and steering.

As for the IVA/SVA differences, the changes arent massive. The main thing thats getting the bike-engine car owners in a knot is a mandatory reverse gear, although this can be overcome using an electric reverse with a starter motor turning the prop/diff in reverse at the touch of a button.

My main gripe is that for no apparent reason, the test fee has almost tripled, and from what I read, is now a completely unreasonable £500.

Edited by dave21478, 03 February 2009 - 10:40 AM.

[CharlieBrown]

I have heard about a figure of £500, but as of yet I have been unable to find any evidence of this.

I can't see it mentioned on any of the gov sites or have I missed it?

You can also download the Draft copy of the whole IVA as well.

[Ethel]

£500 seems reasonable it must have cost a fortune to tgrain staff to make sense of those mirror regulations

[onefastmoke]

practical classics mag has a page on it this week and are quoting £540 and you will be charged for every retest. final details are yet to be agreed at but it is hinting towards full type approval where you will need abs braking etc fitted but at the moment everyone just has to wait and see but it will come into force on march 31st

[Jammy]

Is this a UK thing, or EU? What are the tests like in Ireland? lol

[bamby]

the fee is yet to be fixed , it is suggested at that due to the ammount of time it takes to inspect a kit car (no matter on the form) the fee should be appropriate to the time that is taken. I would suggest that the test would be the same in the whole of the UK. If a car in kit form is being imported into the uk (to gain a uk registration) then it may (depending on certain factors) have to Pass the new IVA test. Until the Government agencies release a full and up to date criteria on 29th april/ 31st march it will be at the speculation of everyone as to what is to happen, with different interpretations of the regulations as is now with the SVA depending on the person you get on the day will depend on how stringent they are.

This is most likely to effect Kit Cars that are mostly made from new parts and an old engine such as the Westfield cars. Although it is most probable to affect all kit cars on the whole. With regards to re-shelling a vehicle there are guidelines that are set out as to what you need to do to maintain the origional classification and registration etc. It doesn't however say that a year or so down the line you can't modify the car futher (ie adding coilovers(sp) etc

as i said before until its all signed and sealed theres not really anything can do. just watch this space as they say.