What did others do with regard to 'road testing' their cars prior to SVA?

Obviously it can't be 'legally' driven on the road but I can't see any other way of at least finding out if it basically works and goes through the gears, brakes correctly, etc!

Rich.

I took it for an MOT - mind you, the MOT station was 12 miles away...

David

PS: There's a down-side to a pre-SVA MOT... when I got my road tax reminder it said that I needed an MOT certificate - on a 6-month-old car! The DVLA woman reckoned that it was due to the MOT being recorded on the car's history - the logic was that if it's had 1 MOT, then the certificate needed to be shown. She fixed the records.

Was going to take it for MOT first but didn't think of the problem you mention! Probably worth doing anyway to make sure it is basically safe!

Rich.

Is there no old airfields or industrial estates near you that you could take it to?

Book it for an MOT some distance away as suggested, if you need to turn up do so, otherwise cancel due to a malfunction

I wanted the MOT anyway - you can't beat an independent inspector going over your work. I know the people who run the test station anyway, and they gave it a good going-over for my benefit.

Still not 100% certainty, but up until then it was entirely down to my own checks.

DJ

Exactly what I did Rich!
I booked it in to a 'friendly' MOT place, because it didn't obviously have a reg. number. I wanted the MOT anyway to satisfy myself, but I knew that I didn't need one legally.
However, as from this year, the MOT's are logged on computer, which is direct to DVLA, so once you have that MOT, they are going to ask for another next year whether you need one or not because you are on the 'system'.
If you just want to satisfy yourself that the car is roadworthy, and you have a 'friendly' MOT place, see if they will do a 'test' MOT, that is, put it through the testing, but NO actual certificate, say for the price of a pint or 3.
If you just want to satisfy yourself, do as suggested, book it in, take it for a blast, then cancel (preferably with a bit of 'notice' so they haven't lost out).
HTH Fozzie

[Edited on 5/7/05 by Fozzie]

just book the car in for a cat test if you dont want the mot,at least it gives you a drive out

no-one seems to have mentioned one down side Lack of insurance or do you just run the gauntlet and hope no-one hits you.
my insurance company won't entertain it KitCar & no reg
tony

[Edited on 5/7/05 by mad-butcher]

No, my car was insured
My insurance company insured my car on the chassis number provided by the DVLA, but only for 28 days to enable SVA to be done and first registration. They gave me a document supporting this! As soon as I got my registration, I informed the insurers, who then issued my 'proper' insurance papers.
Sorry I didn't mention this previously, I didn't think for one minute that people would take their car out on the public road without any form of insurance!

Fozzie

I will be insured, similar to Fozzie they have insured it from Friday on the chassis number for 30days and I specifically asked about taking to an MOT and SVA and they said both were fine.

Rich.

Don't do what i did! Took my indyblade for a spin on industrial estate where I am building it one Saturday afternoon. Some jealous b'stard grassed me to the plod and on my second run they caught caught me. They said they were going to throw the book at me and made me sweat for 15 minutes whilst they poured over it saying comments like "what you got under the bonnet mate". Good job they were young plods with a like for speed cos they sent me on my way but made me promise to give them a spin once its on the road!!

Lucky escape for me but wouldn't advise anyone do the same!!! Best go down the legal route!