SVA test centre locations and concerns.

SVA test centre locations and concerns.

Author
Discussion

kitcarman

Original Poster:

805 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
I wonder if I can call on you to point me in the right direction. I’m looking for a complete list of all the SVA test centres. I’m told there’s a government web site, but as I’ve said, I’m new to this world.

Additionally, the November issue of Kit Car is to contain a large slice of SVA related material. I’m looking for ideas concerning matters which need to be addressed that are of concern to those facing such a test.

Can anybody help or offer suggestions?

jonnyhilfiger

548 posts

256 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
This should help you.

www.via.gov.uk/vehicle_testing/sva/sva.htm

Cheers, John

kitcarman

Original Poster:

805 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
Thanks for that. Dissapointing though. I thought there would be more by now. There were 22 a couple of years ago and that's how many are listed now.

Anyway, at least I know. Thanks again.

traction

366 posts

259 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
Maybe it's worth you finding out how many vehicles they assess each year to get some idea of the workload on each of them?

If there's roughly the same amount of cars as previous years you wouldn't expect any new test stations, but if they're getting more you could certainly justify it.

If you're interested the guys I talked to down at Leighton Buzzard said it takes an entire morning (or afternoon) to test a kit car, but they can typically do about 3 grey imports or whatever in the equivalent time.

Ta.

liszt

4,330 posts

277 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
Another area is consistancy of the centres. If you search some of the posts here you'll find what is ok in one centre is a fail in another

kitcarman

Original Poster:

805 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
I know all about the problems at Southampton from personal experience. That centre was brilliant whilst a chap called Mike Lailey was the inspector. He moved to Leicester. The place then transformed from best to worst overnight.
This makes a deeper point. Namely the difficulty in naming and shaming any particular centre because the problem is that the targets of any exposeure can change with the move of an inspector.
I'd be very glad to entertain similar stories though. Any further suggestions?

Edited to remove actionable material. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I feel like Dobby!

>> Edited by kitcarman on Wednesday 3rd September 22:39

>> Edited by kitcarman on Wednesday 3rd September 22:46

PatHeald

8,058 posts

263 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all

Put it in Kit Car, by all means, but I'm sure Ted doesn't want it here.

Cheers

Pat.


>> Edited by PatHeald on Thursday 4th September 07:50

kitcarman

Original Poster:

805 posts

255 months

Wednesday 3rd September 2003
quotequote all
Its gone now PatHeald!

I'm sorry, and I'll get the hang of it soon.

Did you know that Kit Car has never been sued. Makes one wonder - doesn't it?

tigerk

4,386 posts

263 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
I think the number of SVA centres may be set to increase as my brother in law (currently an RAC inspector) recently went for an interview as an SVA tester at a station which is currently an HGV testing station only. He was told that this is part of the merger of vehicle inspectorate and some other govt. body under the heading of VOSA (no I don't know what that stands for)

If he gets the job I'll tell you where to book in for your test ;-)

meeja

8,290 posts

255 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
They could be preparing for the increase in workload when three wheelers have to be SVA'd....

Oh, hang on, they are a govenment department aren't they....

The kind of people who close the stable door after the horse has bolted, been back for his belongings, said his farewells to the rest of the farmyard, and written the goodbye note to the farmer!

bertie

8,566 posts

291 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
tigerk said:
He was told that this is part of the merger of vehicle inspectorate and some other govt. body under the heading of VOSA (no I don't know what that stands for)

;-)


Just had a letter from them about my SVA application, it stands for "Vehicle & Operator Services Agency" apparently.

kitcarman

Original Poster:

805 posts

255 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
Does this mean that in future we can expect a one-stop-shop?

SVA and registration in one fell swoop?

If so it sounds like a bally good idea for a change.

>> Edited by kitcarman on Thursday 4th September 18:20

traction

366 posts

259 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
They can currently do an MoT for you if you ask nicely apparently, so it'd be nice to think they could register the damn car at the same time.

Ta.

Liszt

4,330 posts

277 months

Thursday 4th September 2003
quotequote all
The DVLA are currently trialing a version of AFRL for the smaller manufacturer such as TVR. This negates the need to fill in a V55. The major motor manufacturers have been using there own versions (with direct links to the DVLA) for a good few years now.

It allows the DVLA to assign registration marks and tax disks with only a monthly visit to the VRO (or what ever it is called this week). It would be nice to be able see this in the testing stations and it really be a one stop shop