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Guidance

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: buses and coaches

How buses and coaches 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:
11 February 2013
Last updated:
20 July 2026
Show all updates

  1. Corrected the date the new version applies from to 27 July 2026.

  2. Added 'Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: buses and coaches (M2 and M3) (from 29 July 2026)'.

  3. Added 'Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: buses and coaches (M2 and M3) (from 15 April 2024)'.

  4. Updated to latest version of manual.

  5. An updated version of the IVA inspection manual for buses and coaches 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 buses and coaches 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 buses and coaches 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 buses and coaches that will apply from 10 April 2018 - it clarifies technical standards and adopts best practice.

  9. First published.

Documents

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) inspection manual: buses and coaches (M2 and M3)

PDF, 3.45 MB, 349 pages

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Details

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

These vehicles are classed as categories M2 and M3 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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