GB Conversion IVA for vans and light commercial vehicles from Europe — step-by-step guide

If you are importing a van or light commercial vehicle from continental Europe to the United Kingdom — a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, Ford Transit, Fiat Ducato, Volkswagen Crafter or Renault Master — you must obtain UK type approval before registering the vehicle with the DVLA. For most such vehicles there is a simplified route available: GB Conversion IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval), which is significantly faster and cheaper than the full IVA test. The key question is whether your van qualifies for GB Conversion. In many cases it does — and then you have access to a procedure that in practice comes down to verifying a handful of specific adaptations required for left-hand traffic (the steering wheel is already on the right, but headlights, speedometer and mirrors need adjustment). This article describes step by step what GB Conversion IVA is, when you can use it, what the inspector checks, how much it costs, what documents to prepare, and how to register your van in the UK after a successful test. You will also find information on the mandatory NOVA declaration.

What GB Conversion IVA is and how it differs from full IVA

Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) is the UK system for approving individual imported vehicles that do not hold a valid UK Type Approval. The full IVA test is an extensive procedure that checks dozens of safety aspects of the vehicle.

GB Conversion IVA is the simplified version for vehicles that hold a valid European type approval (EU Type Approval or WVTA — Whole Vehicle Type Approval) but were manufactured with left-hand drive (LHD) for continental traffic. There is no need to re-test whether the engine meets emissions standards or whether the bodywork structure is safe — that has already been verified by EU Type Approval.

GB Conversion IVA checks only those elements that are specific to left-hand traffic and normally differ between LHD and RHD variants.

Detailed information about IVA is available on gov.uk.

Key differences:

Feature	Full IVA	GB Conversion IVA
Test scope	100+ items	Around a dozen items
EU type approval required	No	Yes (WVTA/EU Type Approval)
Approximate cost	£700–1,500	£400–600
Waiting time for appointment	4–8 weeks	2–4 weeks
Modifications required	Depends	Yes (headlights, etc.)
Applicable to LHD vans	Yes	Yes — preferred route

When you can use GB Conversion IVA (versus full IVA)

GB Conversion IVA is available for light commercial vehicles (LCV) with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3,500 kg that:

1. Hold a valid European type approval (EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval or EU Type Approval)
2. Are new or used with a documented service history
3. Were manufactured with left-hand drive (LHD)
4. Have not undergone major structural modifications that would affect compliance with EU Type Approval

Typical vans eligible for GB Conversion IVA: - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (all generations from 2006) - Ford Transit (Custom, Connect, Heavy) - Fiat Ducato / Citroën Jumper / Peugeot Boxer (shared platform) - Volkswagen Crafter / MAN TGE - Renault Master / Vauxhall Movano / Nissan NV400 - Iveco Daily (up to 3.5 t)

When you must go for full IVA: - The van does not hold a valid EU Type Approval (e.g. very old vehicles, specialist vehicles) - The van has undergone significant structural modifications - The vehicle is very heavy (above 3,500 kg GVW) — in which case other procedures apply

What the inspector checks during GB Conversion IVA

The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) inspector during a GB Conversion IVA focuses on several key areas:

Headlights

This is the most important element. European headlights are designed for right-hand traffic — the light beam is asymmetric, illuminating the nearside verge on the right. In the UK traffic is left-hand, so unmodified headlights from a continental van would dazzle oncoming drivers.

Required actions: - Replace headlights with RHD (UK spec) units — the preferred solution - Or: fit self-adhesive beam deflectors — a cheaper option, but not always accepted by the inspector on newer vehicles

Speedometer

The speedometer must display speed in miles per hour (mph), not only in kilometres per hour. The following are acceptable: - Dual-scale speedometers (km/h and mph) - Replacement of the instrument cluster with a UK variant - On older vehicles — a conversion sticker is insufficient; a physical mph needle is required

Mirrors

An LHD van typically has an interior mirror and exterior mirror set up for the perspective of a driver seated on the left. In the UK the driver sits on the right.

Required actions: - The inspector checks the field of view from both side mirrors - Adjustment or replacement of the nearside (right-hand) exterior mirror with a wider-angle mirror is frequently required

GB Conversion IVA inspection checklist (indicative)

Area	What the inspector checks
Headlights	Beam direction, condition, seal
Speedometer	mph reading, legibility
Mirrors	Field of view, adjustment range
Windscreen wipers	Whether they operate correctly for right-hand-drive perspective
Number plate mountings	Front and rear plate positions
Emissions	Verification of WVTA documentation (no physical test)
VIN number	Matches documentation

Cost of GB Conversion IVA and waiting times

The GB Conversion IVA test fee (DVSA government charge) is approximately £400–600 depending on the vehicle category and the location of the test centre. On top of that come the costs of the adaptations themselves (headlight replacement, speedometer), which may add a further £200–800 depending on the vehicle and the workshop.

Approximate total budget for a typical van:

Item	Approximate cost
GB Conversion IVA test fee	£400–600
Headlight replacement (RHD)	£150–400
Speedometer replacement/adaptation	£100–250
Mirror adaptation	£50–150
Customs agent fees (customs clearance)	£45–120
NOVA declaration	£0 (free of charge)
Total (approximate)	£745–1,520

The waiting time for a test appointment is typically 2–4 weeks. During peak periods (spring, September) it may extend to 6 weeks.

Documents required for GB Conversion IVA for a van

Before booking a test appointment, prepare the following documents:

1. European Certificate of Conformity (CoC) — the manufacturer's document confirming the vehicle's type approval. If you do not have it, you can order it from the manufacturer (typically €50–150)
2. Purchase invoice / commercial invoice — proof of ownership
3. Registration document from the country of origin (e.g. Zulassungsbescheinigung for Germany, vehicle registration card for Poland)
4. NOVA declaration (completed before the test — details below)
5. Completed IVA application form — available on gov.uk
6. Test fee — payable online in advance when booking the appointment

How to register a van in the UK after a successful IVA test

After passing the GB Conversion IVA test, the DVSA inspector will issue an IVA certificate. With this document you can register the vehicle with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency).

Steps for registering an imported van with the DVLA:

1. Submit form V55/4 (Application to register a used motor vehicle) or V55/5 (for new vehicles) — to the DVLA in person or by post
2. Attach the IVA certificate
3. Attach proof of ownership (purchase invoice)
4. Attach confirmation of paid Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) or exemption
5. Pay the registration fee (£25 for used vehicles)
6. The DVLA assigns a UK registration number and sends the V5C (logbook)

Waiting time for the V5C: typically 2–4 weeks after submission.

NOVA Declaration — what it is and when you must submit it

NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) is a mandatory declaration that every vehicle importer to the UK must submit within 14 days of the import date. Without a NOVA you cannot register the vehicle with the DVLA.

NOVA is submitted online via the HMRC website (Vehicle Online Notifications and Applications — gov.uk). The declaration is free of charge. Once submitted you receive a NOVA number, which you enter on the V55 registration form.