If you are importing a newer car from outside Europe, you will hear the letters IVA a lot. It sounds like the hardest part of the whole import, and waiting for a government test slot can take a while. With the right preparation, though, it is a straightforward inspection, and we run the testing on our own site.
What IVA is
IVA stands for Individual Vehicle Approval. It is how a single car that was never approved for the British market shows it meets British safety and environmental standards. Pass it and you get an Individual Approval Certificate, which the DVLA needs before it will register the car.
It is a one-off test. Once the car is registered, it follows the normal MOT rules like any other car.
Which imports need it
As a rule, it comes down to the car's age and where it was built:
- Under 10 years old from outside Europe: IVA
- Under 10 years old from the EU: usually a Certificate of Conformity instead, with IVA if one cannot be found or the car was not built in the EU
- 10 to 40 years old: an MOT
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed
So a three-year-old car from the USA, Japan or the UAE will normally need IVA. GOV.UK also notes that a car which has been registered in the UK before cannot go through IVA; it takes a different route back onto the road.
What is checked
The inspection is broader than an MOT, because it is checking the car was built to the right standard, not only that it is in good order. In general terms it covers:
- Structural integrity and bodywork
- Lighting and signalling
- Emissions and noise
- Brakes, steering and suspension
- Fuel and electrical systems
- Seat belts and their anchorages
- Mirrors, tyres and the VIN
- The paperwork that goes with it
GOV.UK describes two levels: basic IVA, a mainly visual inspection used for personal imports and kit cars, and normal IVA, which also needs documentary evidence.
What usually fails
Most failures are things that could have been put right beforehand. These are the ones we see most often, and the ones we check before a car goes into the lane.
Before the IVA test
0 of 11 done
If a car does fail, GOV.UK allows an appeal within 14 days. In practice, the better answer is to fix the fault and test again, which is far easier when the workshop and the lane are in the same building.
How our own lane cuts the wait
Getting a slot at a government test centre can take anything from a few days to several weeks, sometimes months. Meanwhile the car has to be taken there and back.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and the DVSA visits us every week to carry out tests. Your car stays on our site from the moment it is unloaded: we make the changes, a DVSA examiner tests it in our lane, and if anything needs another look we sort it there and then. No transporter to a test centre, and no knock-on effect from a missed slot.
No driving to the test. GOV.UK only allows an unregistered import on public roads when it is going to a pre-booked MOT or approval test, and it must be insured. With the test on our site, that journey does not happen.
From arrival to registration
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Arrival
Customs clearance
We clear the car as HMRC CDS authorised agents and work out the import tax.
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Within 14 days
NOVA
We tell HMRC the car has arrived. Without NOVA the DVLA will not register it.
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Preparation
UK changes
Headlights, rear fog light, mph speedometer and anything else the car needs to pass.
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Test day
IVA on our lane
A DVSA examiner tests the car on our site. A pass means an Individual Approval Certificate.
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Within 10 working days
DVLA registration
Our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register imported cars within 10 working days.
IVA and MOT side by side
| Feature | IVA | MOT |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | The car meets British build standards | The car is roadworthy this year |
| When | Once, before first UK registration | Every year, usually from 3 years old |
| Which imports | Usually under 10 years old from outside Europe | Usually 10 to 40 years old |
| Who tests | DVSA examiner | Approved MOT garage |
| Certificate | Individual Approval Certificate | MOT certificate |
For more on the order of events, see when your car arrives in the UK. The full detail on our testing is on My Car Import's IVA page.
Questions people ask
Does every imported car need an IVA test?
No. It is usually cars under 10 years old from outside Europe. Newer EU cars normally use a Certificate of Conformity, cars 10 to 40 years old need an MOT, and cars over 40 need no MOT.
What happens if my car fails its IVA?
The faults are listed, they are put right and the car is tested again. GOV.UK also allows an appeal within 14 days. With our workshop and lane on the same site, a retest does not mean moving the car.
How long is the wait for an IVA test?
At government test centres it can range from a few days to several weeks or more. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and the DVSA visits us weekly.
Can I drive my car to its IVA test?
GOV.UK allows an unregistered import on public roads only when going to a pre-booked MOT or approval test, and it must be insured. If we test it on our site, you do not need to.
Is IVA the same as an MOT?
No. IVA is a one-off check that the car was built to British standards, done before it is first registered. An MOT is a yearly roadworthiness check once it is on the road.
Bringing in a newer car from outside Europe? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will include the testing and registration in your price.
