So iv sent my IVA papers of on Tuesday and had an Email this morning saying that they have received it and given me my REF number. So iv got a few things to finish of in the next 4-5 weeks before my test. Now iv got to start planning how I'm going to get the car to Cardiff (my nearest station). Do I drive it or do I trail it Bering in mind it is 90 mile there and 90 mile back and on the M4. Am I tempting fate if I drive it that fare for my first drive.

What is the most any of you guys have driven your cars to a test centre?

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[Edited on 3/3/16 by metel matt]

Tidy looking car

I would trailer it, that way it gets there clean and working... 90 miles is a long way for a new car! There's always a few niggles no matter how well built your car is and it wouldnt do to find them on the way to the test making you late....

Im sure others have driven that far, ive also heard of others trying to drive 10 miles and missing their IVA after the car stopped working...

Providing you insure it on the Vin, I would use the opportunity to give the car a shake down, bed in brakes and check for anything loose or similar. That way you can arrive an hour early (if possible) and tinker if anything rears its head on route.

ETA -
side repeaters may fail in the position you have the, as the arches block the rear visibility angles.
and i suspect the front indicators will need extending to reach the 400min from the widest point of the car.

[Edited on 3-3-16 by loggyboy]

I did the 10 mile journey to Kidderminster IVA in 60 miles on the morning of the test ! Just make sure you have a cover note on the chassis number and all the documents in case you get stopped with no reg plates (It may pay to wait until you get a date as some insurers will only let you do this for a 4 week period at a time).

Although I drove mine to it's SVA, it was only a few miles and had I missed the test would have been out of pocket by a lot less than for a missed IVA. Given the distance involved I'd be inclined to tow it.

Make sure you are insured on the vehicle vin number and I'm sure you will be fine. I did 55 miles to Kidderminster (and 70 back) in a 20 year old robin hood with no issues; you need to start believing in your build quality at some point, and if you don't think it will be good enough to drive there and back why would it be good enough to pass IVA?

I drove mine to the SVA, but it wasn't that far at 20 miles each way.

Given your distance I'd be inclined to trailer it for peace of mind.

Or do both, drive there with a friend with a trailer following.

I trailered my car to the first IVA test then drove to the retest. Unfortunately the rear drive shaft came off and smashed the suspension arms up. The IVA centre didn't charge me for the retest. Drove again to the test centre and passed.

I would probably do it that way round again. If you have done something daft at least it might get picked up at the first test.

I put IVA on the number plates. .40 mile there...40 mile back...
October....It rained there...and back


IVA Pass

[Edited on 3/3/16 by johnemms]

I've done an SVA and IVA, both times I drove the car, circa 100 mile round trip each time.

After the IVA I drove back and got pulled over by the boys in blue as I had no number plates, I explained and showed them my IVA appointment / pass cert and my insurance and I was on my way again, they even called other units to let them know I was legal so I didn't get pulled over again.

Cheers

Ian

I drove mine to IVA but it was only 4 miles. There is trusting your build and trusting your build. I was happy to drive mine a few miles on A roads, but if I was in your position I wouldn't be brave enough to drive it 90 miles down the M4 without someone having tested it.

A motorway is not the best place to bed your brakes in or to discover that they pull a lot to one side or that something falls off. Irony's example is a case in point, a drive shaft falling off on an A road is a bummer, the same thing happening to you in a seven on a motorway is life threatening.

As has been said 90 miles each way even more so on the motorway this time of year is not a good idea I have trailered both my cars I have put through SVA the car will be cleaner and you can take more tools and spares with you .

I drove mine last Friday 25 miles it was bloody freezing, wouldn't fancy doing 90.

Hi
Drove 90 miles there 90 miles back left really early treated it as a nice day out, Lincolnshire Wolds and Humber bridge (couldnt reach the kiosk to pay without getting out) bike carbs came loose had to re-attach to the manifold just outside the centre fixed it. Did the SVA alternator failed on the way home AA man gave me a transit battery to see me home and i just made it before that died as well (sold it to someone with a van for £25 after).
Treated it as an adventure grin from ear to ear all the way.
But 90 miles on the M4..... ?

Your call

Nick M

The devil inside you says....... do it !

quote:

---

Originally posted by loggyboyETA -
side repeaters may fail in the position you have the, as the arches block the rear visibility angles.
and i suspect the front indicators will need extending to reach the 400min from the widest point of the car.[Edited on 3-3-16 by loggyboy]

---

Guys
Thanks for all your comments it has made some good reading. I'm still undecided on what to do ill have to see if I can borrow a trailer if not I might get someone to follow me up. The indicators were once on the side of the scuttle but I then read the IVA manual and relisted that they wouldn't work so I have now moved them up to the front arches. The front indicators are on my to do list to move them out a bit hopefully some time this weekend.

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Matt

Depending on where you are in sunny Pembs, you'd have up to 20 miles of A road to St Clears, then dual carriageway (not quite as scary) all the way to Pont Abraham, with plenty of places to pull off. Anything that was going to fall off should have done so by then :-)

Car looks good!

Regards

Wyn

Wyn
You are spot on and I live all the way down in Pembroke dock and it is not so sunny at the moment

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