What this checklist covers
The DVSA Individual Vehicle Approval Checklist is a 15-point scorecard for IVA manual requirements, vehicle inspection readiness, technical documents, modifications, and approval records. Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on what the auditor sees on the day, and every gap goes into an action plan with an owner and a close date.
AutoSmart tip: DVSA IVA inspections are conducted against the published IVA manuals, which are publicly available on the GOV.UK website. Pre-inspection preparation using the exact manual applicable to the vehicle type is the most reliable way to avoid failures — examiners assess against the manual requirements directly, so a thorough self-assessment against the same document should identify every failure point before the inspection date.
The checks
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IVA requirements and vehicle readiness
- Has the applicable DVSA IVA manual been identified for the vehicle type, confirming the correct set of technical requirements applies to this vehicle?
- Is the vehicle presented for IVA inspection in the condition it will be used on the road — not with temporary or removable modifications applied only for the inspection?
- Are all IVA inspection items covered in the applicable DVSA manual addressed before the inspection appointment, with a pre-inspection check completed against the manual's checklist?
- Is the vehicle's VIN/chassis number legible, correctly formatted, and permanently marked as required under IVA requirements?
Technical documents and modifications
- Is a complete technical document pack prepared for the IVA inspection, covering the vehicle's specification, any modifications made, and evidence of component compliance where required?
- Are modifications from the base vehicle specification documented, with the modification's impact on IVA requirements assessed and addressed before inspection?
- Where specialist or aftermarket components are fitted, is documentation confirming their compliance with the applicable IVA requirement available for the inspector?
- Are components that require specific IVA evidence (e.g., seatbelts, restraint systems, glazing) from manufacturers holding UN or GB approval records available?
Safety checks and lighting
- Are all lighting units (headlights, taillights, indicators, fog lights, reversing lights) correct in type, position, and function as required by the IVA manual?
- Are braking systems checked against IVA requirements, including service brake, secondary brake, and parking brake performance criteria?
- Are all sharp edges, protrusions, and interior fittings assessed against IVA occupant protection requirements, with non-compliant items rectified before inspection?
Emissions, records and approval closure
- Is the vehicle's emissions compliance confirmed for the applicable IVA category, with test evidence or manufacturer declarations available where required?
- Are all IVA inspection outcomes, including any advisory notes or required rectifications from the DVSA examiner, documented and retained?
- Where a vehicle fails IVA inspection, is a rectification plan prepared against each failed item, with re-inspection booked only after all failures are resolved and re-checked?
- Is the IVA certificate retained with the vehicle's documentation and referenced in any subsequent registration or sale, confirming the vehicle's compliance history?
How to run it
How the scoring works
Before the visit, fill in the dealer or centre, the auditor, the date and the audit cycle. Then score each of the 15 checks from 1 to 5 on what you see on the day, not on what the site aims for, and add them up out of 75.
- 1Not in place
- 2Attempted
- 3Defined
- 4Managed
- 5Fully sustained
- Green60–75 · 80–100%Compliant. Keep the standard.
- Amber38–59 · 50–79%Improvement needed: a structured action plan within 30 days.
- Red0–37 · Below 50%Priority intervention, escalated to regional management.
Then close every gap
Each gap goes into the action plan tracker and moves through four stages until the auditor closes it.
- 1PendingOwner and close date set
- 2In progressWork under way, evidence gathered
- 3CompletedEvidence submitted for review
- 4ApprovedVerified and closed by the auditor
