Guidance

Vehicle approval test costs: cars (M1)

Updated 13 December 2022

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

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This publication is available at /government/publications/individual-vehicle-approval-inspection-fees/vehicle-approval-test-costs-cars

This guide sets out the fees and average test times for having vehicle approval (IVA) tests done.

You must give at least 3 clear working days鈥� notice to change or cancel your test or you鈥檒l have to pay the test again.

Check which type of fee applies

The fee will depend on:

  • whether your test is statutory (which does not include VAT) or voluntary (which does include VAT)
  • whether your test is 鈥榖asic鈥� or 鈥榥ormal鈥�
  • whether your test is in working hours
  • your vehicle class, for example, a personal import (class P)

Working hours are Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm, and Friday 8am to 4:30pm

You need:

  • statutory IVA - if your vehicle has not been registered in the UK before, or has been modified significantly since it was registered in the UK
  • voluntary IVA - if your vehicle has already been registered in the UK

There are 2 levels of IVA inspection: basic and normal. Which one you need will depend on your vehicle.

Find out how vehicle approval works.

Statutory basic IVA

Basic IVA involves a visual inspection and other tests to make sure the vehicle meets the necessary standards.

In this section:

Amateur built, rebuilt, or made using parts of a registered vehicle

The table shows the price for statutory basic IVA for these type of vehicles:

  • amateur built (class A)
  • rebuilt (class s)
  • made using parts of a registered vehicle (class C)
Test type In working hours Outside working hours Average test length
Inspection 拢450 拢545 240 minutes
Re-inspection 拢90 拢109 45 minutes
Appeal 拢450 拢545 180 minutes

Low-volume produced, hearses, left-hand drives, or personal imports

The table shows the price for statutory basic IVA for these types of vehicles:

  • low-volume produced (class L)
  • hearses (class M)
  • left-hand drives (class N)
  • personal imports (class P)
Test type In working hours Outside working hours Average test length
Inspection 拢199 拢294 110 minutes
Re-inspection 拢40 拢59 35 minutes
Appeal 拢199 拢294 70 minutes

Add 45 minutes to the average inspection test length for vehicles over 3,500kg.

Statutory normal IVA

You have to apply for normal IVA if you do not meet the criteria for basic IVA.

Vehicles have to meet extra standards and you鈥檒l have to provide documentary evidence.

Test type In working hours Outside working hours Average test length
Inspection 拢199 拢294 60 minutes
Re-inspection 拢40 拢59 20 minutes
Appeal 拢199 拢294 70 minutes

Voluntary Basic IVA inspection

If your vehicle has already been registered in the UK you will need to take a Voluntary IVA test.

In this section:

Amateur built, rebuilt, or made using parts of a registered vehicle

The table shows the price for voluntary basic IVA for types of vehicles:

  • amateur built (class A)
  • rebuilt (class s)
  • made using parts of a registered vehicle (class C)

The table shows the fees for tests done in working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (in working hours) VAT (in working hours) Total (in working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢483.87 拢96.77 拢580.64 240 minutes
Re-inspection 拢52.40 拢10.48 拢62.88 45 minutes
Appeal 拢483.87 拢96.77 拢580.64 180 minutes

The table shows the fees for tests done outside of working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (outside of working hours) VAT (outside of working hours) Total (outside of working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢586.03 拢117.21 拢703.24 240 minutes
Re-inspection 拢72.83 拢14.57 拢87.40 45 minutes
Appeal 拢483.87 拢96.77 拢580.64 180 minutes

Low-volume produced, hearses, left-hand drives, or personal imports

The table shows the price for voluntary basic IVA types of vehicles:

  • low-volume produced (class L)
  • hearses (class M)
  • left-hand drives (class N)
  • personal imports (class P)

The table shows the fees for tests done in working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (in working hours) VAT (in working hours) Total (in working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢213.98 拢42.80 拢256.78 110 minutes
Re-inspection 拢43.01 拢8.60 拢51.61 35 minutes
Appeal 拢213.98 拢42.80 拢256.78 70 minutes

The table shows the fees for tests done outside of working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (outside of working hours) VAT (outside of working hours) Total (outside of working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢316.14 拢63.23 拢379.37 110 minutes
Re-inspection 拢63.44 拢12.69 拢76.13 35 minutes
Appeal 拢316.14 拢63.23 拢379.37 70 minutes

Add 45 minutes to the average test length for vehicles over 3500kg.

Voluntary Normal IVA inspection

The table shows the fees for tests done in working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (in working hours) VAT (in working hours) Total (in working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢213.98 拢42.80 拢256.78 110 minutes
Re-inspection 拢43.01 拢8.60 拢51.61 35 minutes
Appeal 拢213.98 拢42.80 拢256.78 70 minutes

The table shows the fees for tests done outside of working hours.

Test or check type Service charge (outside of working hours) VAT (outside of working hours) Total (outside of working hours) Average test length
Inspection 拢316.14 拢63.23 拢379.37 110 minutes
Re-inspection 拢63.44 拢12.69 拢76.13 35 minutes
Appeal 拢316.14 拢63.23 拢379.37 70 minutes

Add 45 minutes to the average inspection test length for vehicles over 3,500kg.

Certificates

Certificate Cost
Mutual Recognition / EC Approved Vehicles without Certificate of Conformity 拢100
Replacement Individual Approval Certificate (IAC) 拢25
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