Driving on public road before SVA test
Discussion
I know I can drive my kit car on the road before having it SVA'd and registered as long as:
[ a ] It's insured
[ b ] It complies with the construction and use regs
[ c ] I'm driving to a pre-arranged appointment
It's the [c] part I'm not clear about - what constitutes essential work for the SVA test that allows the car on the road ?
I'm sure emissions work, suspension setup etc would be allowed but technically, does any work on a part of the vehicle that is checked by the SVA test constitute essential work ?
What would the police be happy with ? Don't want to take the pi*s but I do need to get some work done and want to be prepared.
Posted here as it's a legal question rather than a kit car question - hope that's OK.
Steve
[ a ] It's insured
[ b ] It complies with the construction and use regs
[ c ] I'm driving to a pre-arranged appointment
It's the [c] part I'm not clear about - what constitutes essential work for the SVA test that allows the car on the road ?
I'm sure emissions work, suspension setup etc would be allowed but technically, does any work on a part of the vehicle that is checked by the SVA test constitute essential work ?
What would the police be happy with ? Don't want to take the pi*s but I do need to get some work done and want to be prepared.
Posted here as it's a legal question rather than a kit car question - hope that's OK.
Steve
if i remember correctly from watching 'a car is born' mark hammond had to have his cobra kit car trailored to the sva test center as it was illegal for it to be on the road without passing the sva first.
thats the only reference i have to that,best trying the d.o.t for an absolute answer though mate.
thats the only reference i have to that,best trying the d.o.t for an absolute answer though mate.
I beleive you are correct you can drive an un SVA'd car on the road as long as you have an apointment.
When I had my wrx SVA'd I got a booklet from the DVLA and in it all this was explained. As I recal even things like sequrity were covered so an apointment to fit an alarm would be legal.
When I had my wrx SVA'd I got a booklet from the DVLA and in it all this was explained. As I recal even things like sequrity were covered so an apointment to fit an alarm would be legal.
It is actually legal to drive from the port of importation to the place where the car may be prepared for the SVA, from there to the SVA test place and from there to a place where the car may be stored awaiting first registration. Of course the DVLA now want to 'inspect' the car at their local office and so one can legally drive there too. Oh and back to the place where the car may be stored while awaiting the issue of a registration number.
I've done this several times with pleasure. While several anxious citizens have told me "............you haven't got any plates.!!" the police seem either to know this and assume thats what I'm doing or perhaps not notice !
The DVLA on their web site advise that the car should not be driven on the road because of 'difficulties' but this is the same kind of control freakish rubbish that motivates them to con people into giving their driver number on a vehicle transfer form.
The insurance brokers might have a bit of a fit - it has to be insured of course - but they usually accept the VIN no instead on the cover note.
I've done this several times with pleasure. While several anxious citizens have told me "............you haven't got any plates.!!" the police seem either to know this and assume thats what I'm doing or perhaps not notice !
The DVLA on their web site advise that the car should not be driven on the road because of 'difficulties' but this is the same kind of control freakish rubbish that motivates them to con people into giving their driver number on a vehicle transfer form.
The insurance brokers might have a bit of a fit - it has to be insured of course - but they usually accept the VIN no instead on the cover note.
How strange (!) I literally just bumped into a friend of mine in the motor trade who is driving two jap imports down to southampton for there SVA, he does however have trade plates for both vehicles.
But whats with having to have a full tank of fuel in the car for it to be tested? From a motor trade point of view it sounds like a nightmare having to put £45 of fuel in a car before you sell it
>> Edited by markda on Monday 29th September 08:32
But whats with having to have a full tank of fuel in the car for it to be tested? From a motor trade point of view it sounds like a nightmare having to put £45 of fuel in a car before you sell it
>> Edited by markda on Monday 29th September 08:32
The only time you are allowed to drive it is to and from a pre arranged MOT or to and from the SVA. You are not theoretically allowed to drive it to the VRO (or what ever it is called this week).
Once it is registered it is then possible to drive without tax after a failed MOT to a place were remedial work will be carried out. Trade plates allow you to drive without tax and so less of a chance of being stopped by BiB.
So you are right when you say from Port of Entry to SVA and from SVA to "home".
Edited to add, the tank of fuel is to check weights with all fluids on board
>> Edited by liszt on Monday 29th September 11:42
Once it is registered it is then possible to drive without tax after a failed MOT to a place were remedial work will be carried out. Trade plates allow you to drive without tax and so less of a chance of being stopped by BiB.
So you are right when you say from Port of Entry to SVA and from SVA to "home".
Edited to add, the tank of fuel is to check weights with all fluids on board
>> Edited by liszt on Monday 29th September 11:42
Since the DVLA VRO required to see the vehicle at their premises ( in Chester ) and no, they are not prepared to travel to inspect it, they agree that that leaves one with no option other than to drive it. They have no facilities other than a car park space so that a clerk can ' check the VIN' and they certainly didn't want a trailer there.
It's one of those well thought out rules 
If the VRO wont come to inspect it then according to the rules, it must be trailered as there is no rules regarding driving to/from this inspection.
In practice people do drive to it and your lucky if you don't get stopped and asked to explain yourself.
If the VRO wont come to inspect it then according to the rules, it must be trailered as there is no rules regarding driving to/from this inspection.
In practice people do drive to it and your lucky if you don't get stopped and asked to explain yourself.
pdV6 said:
From a motor trade point of view it sounds like a nightmare having to put £45 of fuel in a car before you sell it
Like he wouldn't syphon it off first!
I've test driven a car before now that's run out of petrol before leaving the forecourt!
I am sure it has crossed his mind, it certainly would cross mine
I cannot see him getting his hands dirty for the hastle to be honest. It's a good job most jap imports don't have fuel tanks like ranger rovers! How much does it cost to fill one of those up these days
Mlocal police station initially said I couldn't drive it at all and would need to trailer it to the SVA test and if they saw me on the road would for sure stop me and I'd get a ticket, although she didn't saw what for. (No tax for starters probably)
I explained that I know I can drive to/from SVA test so she agreed to investigate.
They came back and said I can drive to/from MOT or SVA test but I can't drive to/from a garage where work was being done to pass the MOT/SVA test until the vehicle had actually failed one of those tests. Bit daft I thought so I contacted VOSA who sent me their little booklet.
On page 13 of booklet SVA 4 Revs it says I cna drive to/from test stations and "if necessary, to and from a garage or other place where modifications are done to enable complience with the requirements."
So, I'm taking this at face value - I can drive anywhere as long as I'm attending an SVA test or going to a place (probably pre-booked so have proof) where the car is being worked on in order to enable it to pass SVA test.
My cover note starts this weekend
I explained that I know I can drive to/from SVA test so she agreed to investigate.
They came back and said I can drive to/from MOT or SVA test but I can't drive to/from a garage where work was being done to pass the MOT/SVA test until the vehicle had actually failed one of those tests. Bit daft I thought so I contacted VOSA who sent me their little booklet.
On page 13 of booklet SVA 4 Revs it says I cna drive to/from test stations and "if necessary, to and from a garage or other place where modifications are done to enable complience with the requirements."
So, I'm taking this at face value - I can drive anywhere as long as I'm attending an SVA test or going to a place (probably pre-booked so have proof) where the car is being worked on in order to enable it to pass SVA test.
My cover note starts this weekend
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff