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Guidance

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: lorries and goods vehicles

How lorries are inspected when they're being approved under the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) scheme to make sure they're safe to be used.

Updates to this page

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Published:
31 January 2011
Last updated:
5 May 2026
Show all updates

  1. Added Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: heavy goods vehicles (N2 and N3) (from 11 May 2026).

  2. Added 'Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: heavy goods vehicles (N2 and N3) (from 28 November 2025)'.

  3. Added Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: heavy goods vehicles (N2 and N3) from 20 October 2023.

  4. Updated to latest version of manual.

  5. An updated version of the IVA inspection manual for lorries and goods vehicles has been published following the introduction of improved environmental and safety standards on 1 September 2018.

  6. Added a draft version of the IVA inspection manual for heavy goods vehicles that will apply from 1 September 2018 when improved environmental and safety standards are introduced.

  7. Added the final version of the IVA inspection manuals for lorries that applies from 10 April 2018 - it clarifies technical standards and adopts best practice.

  8. Added a draft version of the IVA inspection manuals for lorries that will apply from 10 April 2018 - it clarifies technical standards and adopts best practice.

  9. Updated version of the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual for heavy goods vehicles (vehicle categories N2 & N3).

  10. Updated IVA inspection manual

  11. Version 7.0 of the manual is now available.

  12. Version 7.0 of the manual comes into effect on 3 February 2014

  13. First published.

Documents

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: heavy goods vehicles (N2 and N3)

PDF, 4.67 MB, 263 pages

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Details

You can use the IVA scheme if you’re making or importing a single heavy goods vehicle or a very small number of vehicles.

These vehicles are classed as categories N2 and N3 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.

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