The basis of a European wide approval scheme was introduced in the 1970's and we now have a scheme covering cars. The benefits of such a scheme know as European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) are clear and include:
- Consistency of environmental and safety standards.
- Independent validation of performance against legislative requirements.
- A level playing field for companies wishing to sell to Europe, reducing potential barriers to trade.
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The European approval scheme is based on the concept of 'type approval', which assesses the environmental and safety performance of a vehicle without having to inspect and test every single one
Under the EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval system, a prototype is tested. If it passes the tests and the production arrangements also pass inspection, then vehicles or components of the same type are approved for production and sale within Europe, without further testing.
Over the next number of years legislation will be introduced to extend the scope of European wide approval from just cars to lorries, minibuses, buses, coaches and trailers. If you are involved in either the manufacturing or sale of such vehicles, you will need to understand how this will affect you.
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All manufacturers of vehicles in the categories outlined below will be affected. It will apply to all elements of vehicle builds, i.e. those who build a chassis /chassis cab and those who build a body of any description on a chassis before selling the vehicle to the customer.
It is also likely to affect importers of commercial vehicles from inside and outside Europe.
If you are planning to make, import or sell vehicles in the UK or any other member state, you will need to have the appropriate approval. Without it, vehicles cannot be licensed for use on the public roads.
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From 2009, new regulations will begin to change the way vehicles can be approved for sale and registration.
The UK government realises that there are a significant number of small to medium businesses throughout the UK that build vehicles in small volumes or on an individual basis that are not for export to the European market and therefore the wider benefits of ECWVTA do not apply.
In addition, a number of national manufacturers do not produce sufficient volumes of vehicles to make it cost effective to adopt ECWVTA if it were the only option. The Government has therefore agreed in principle that there should be national schemes for small series and individual vehicle approval.
The national schemes whilst maintaining the same technical standards as defined in the EC Directive, will aim to keep the cost of compliance affordable.
the options for approval are;
- ECWVTA - Full Type Approval for all vehicle categories both single-stage complete vehicles and multi-stage incomplete vehicles and completed vehicles. The dates at which ECWVTA becomes mandatory are given in the link below.
Vehicle Certification website with dates when ECWVTA becomes mandatory (opens a new window)
- National Small Series Type Approval - for vehicles produced in small-series rather than large volumes (i.e. buses and coaches no more than 250 of a type or goods vehicles and trailers no more than 250 or 500 (depending on category) of a type, per annum).
- Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) - for vehicles approved individually. The IVA scheme will be phased in from April 2009 by vehicle category. More detailed timing information will appear here shortly.
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Vehicle Certification Agency
The Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) has produced a comprehensive presentation which provides a lot of useful information. Click on the link below to view the presentation:-
Vehicle Certification website ECWVTA presentation (opens a new window)
Department for Transport
Department for Transport in Great Britain have a lot of useful information on ECWVTA on their website. The site can be accessed by clicking on the link below.
Department for Transport (GB) ECWVTA site (opens a new window)
EC Directive
Link to the EC Directive which is being implemented in UK wide Regulations.
Vehicle Certification website ECWVTA presentation (PDF opens in a new window)
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If you wish to discuss any aspect of ECWVTA the DVA contact is:
- Kevin Henderson
- Telephone 02890541815
- E-mail: Kevin.Henderson@doeni.gov.uk
- Address:
- Driver & Vehicle Agency
- Balmoral Road,
- Boucher Road,
- Belfast.
- BT12 6QL
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European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA)
Background