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Motorcycle single vehicle approval

Your motorcycle, 3-wheeled or light 4-wheeled vehicle must have a provisional GB type approval in England, Scotland and Wales.

If your vehicle does not have a provisional GB type approval you must use the motorcycle single vehicle approval (MSVA) scheme to approve your vehicle.

You must also use the MSVA scheme if your vehicle has been radically altered or built using a mixture of parts from previously registered vehicles. For example:

  • amateur built vehicles
  • rebuilt vehicles
  • vehicles converted to a different wheelplan

Eligibility for MSVA

You can use the MSVA scheme for vehicles that:

  • are under 10 years old
  • have not been registered before in the UK
  • do not have ECWVTA or provisional UK vehicle type approval

The following types of vehicle are eligible:

  • 2-wheeled mopeds
  • 3-wheeled mopeds
  • light quadricycles
  • solo motorcycles
  • motorcycle combinations
  • motor tricycles
  • heavy quadricycles

These vehicle types are defined in the foreword of the MSVA inspection manual.

If your vehicle is damaged

If your vehicle is classed as ‘seriously damaged’ you cannot register or tax it with DVLA. You will not be refunded any money you spent on vehicle approval.

Serious damage means the vehicle cannot be repaired. For UK vehicles this means it’s a category A or B insurance write-off.

For imported vehicles, it might say something like ‘statutory write-off’, ‘scrapped’ or ‘non-repairable’ on the registration certificate.

Check with the registration authority for the country the vehicle is from to find out if the vehicle is ‘seriously damaged’.

If it is not ‘seriously damaged’, ask them to provide evidence of this.

Vehicle identification number

Your vehicle needs a vehicle identification number before having an MSVA inspection. Write to the following address if it does not have one.

VC15A/MASET
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1ZZ

Cost of the scheme

You have to pay a fee for DVSA to inspect your vehicle.

Choose a test station

DVSA will inspect your vehicle. You’ll need to choose an approved test station for the inspection.

How to apply

Apply using the MSVA service.

What happens next

DVSA will inspect your vehicle at the test station you’ve chosen and issue a Minister’s Approval Certificate (MAC) if it passes. You’ll need this certificate when you register your vehicle.

Appeals

You can appeal for a re-test if your vehicle fails MSVA. You must appeal within 14 days of the original decision by completing form MSVA17 and returning it to the station used for the original test.

You’ll have to pay the test fee again, which will be refunded if the appeal is successful. Contact DVSA to find out how to do this.

More information

Read the MSVA inspection manual.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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