Importing/Exporting

Registering an imported vehicle	Permanent or temporary export
Temporarily importing a vehicle	Single vehicle approval test fees
Components inspected during a SVA	Find an SVA and MSVA test station
What is the single vehicle approval (SVA) scheme?
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What is the Single Vehicle Approval scheme?

The Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) scheme ensures that vehicles have been designed and constructed to suitable safety standards before they are used on public roads.

The SVA checks that vehicles constructed for non-European Union markets comply with British law. Vehicles outwardly similar to European specification models, but intended for other markets, can often be unsuitable for use in Britain without at least some modification. The SVA recognises foreign systems and components that meet the SVA technical standards.

The SVA also checks that the construction of amateur-built vehicles, rebuilt vehicles and vehicles using parts from a previously registered vehicle meet modern safety and environmental standards. It also provides an alternative to type approval for vehicles manufactured in very low volume, including hearses and armoured vehicles for civilian use.

The SVA is also available on a voluntary basis for manufacturers and importers of motor caravans and ambulances and for light goods and passenger vehicles modified after registration.

Which vehicles require an SVA test?

Your vehicle will be subject to the SVA scheme if it is one of the following:

commercial import
personal import
amateur built
very low volume (VLV) vehicle
motor caravan
ambulance
a vehicle manufactured using parts from a previously registered vehicle
hearse
armoured vehicle
rebuilt vehicle

Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Scheme (MSVA)

From 17th June 2003 motorcycles, three-wheeled and light four-wheeled vehicles had to comply with European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA). Without this approval, vehicles cannot be registered for use in Great Britain. If a Certificate of Conformity to ECWVTA cannot be produced then the vehicle will be subject to an MSVA examination before the first licence can be issued. If MSVA were not available the only route to registration in Britain would be full Type Approval which is an expensive and time consuming process and would effectively bring a halt to the registration of non-ECWVTA vehicles (e.g. custom / bespoke vehicles, amateur builds, non-EEA imports).

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