Guidance: Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: vans and light goods vehicles

Driver Vehicle Standards Agency

October 1

23:01 2024

You can use the IVA scheme if youre making or importing a single light goods vehicle or a very small number of vehicles.

These vehicles are classed as category N1 in the EU vehicle categories.

The manual sets out how Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency examiners will inspect vehicles to make sure they meet the necessary standards.

You can use the manual to find out more about the detailed requirements and processes.

Published 31 May 2012
Last updated 2 October 2024 +show all updates

2 October 2024
Added Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: light goods vehicles (N1) (from 9 October 2024)
5 May 2023
Added Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: light goods vehicles (N1) (from 22 May 2023)
3 March 2022
Added 'Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: light goods vehicles (N1) (from 1 April 2022)'.
29 October 2020
Updated to latest version of manual
10 September 2018
Updated the 'very low volume' definition in the foreword to clarify that up to 500 vehicles can be produced.
1 September 2018
An updated version of the IVA inspection manual for vans and light goods vehicles has been published following the introduction of improved environmental and safety standards on 1 September 2018.
1 July 2018
Added a draft version of the IVA inspection manual for light goods vehicles that will apply from 1 September 2018 when improved environmental and safety standards are introduced.
10 April 2018
Added the final version of the IVA inspection manuals for vans that applies from 10 April 2018 - it clarifies technical standards and adopts best practice.
3 April 2018
Added a draft version of the IVA inspection manuals for vans that will apply from 10 April 2018 - it clarifies technical standards and adopts best practice.
4 November 2015
An updated version of the manual has been published.
31 May 2012
First published.