How Long does the SVA Test take

[Kelvincob]

Hi Guys,

I got my SVA test coming up shortly, how long on average does the test take.

Kelvin

[Clive]

Take a packed lunch with you!
Mine, in Aberdeen, started at 8am sharp and didn't finish until 3pm with a half hour break for lunch. Some centres seem to be quicker.

[TINKA]

Some times it can be shorter if they have seen a few others of the same make, AK, Dax, Sumo etc. Otherwise it is a case of how long is a piece of string.

[Stu J]

It can take a shorter time if you go prepared, I had a library of different photographs to show the examiner on certain parts that could not be seen, like the seatbelt anchor points for example.

Don't get me wrong he was very thorough, but it just made the test 4 hrs instead of 6 IMO

[purge98]

0830 hrs to 1330 hrs with a hard bench to sit on in a draughty waiting room in Aberdeen.
Good advice about the packed lunch. You will fail if you leave during the test.
Remember these testers are Civil Servants in white coats with authority. Need I say any more?

[Clive]

Hi Jason,
I didn't have any problems like that at Aberdeen. In fact it was a very enjoyable day, with a friendly examiner who explained everything he was doing and looking for. He let me follow him round as he carried out his work and even asked me to take the car back to him so he could see it when it was "finished"!
I had no problems leaving the Centre for lunch either.

[mcartney]

I passed at Aberdeen 2 weeks ago . Arrived at 08.00 and had passed by 11.00.
Examiner was so helpful.

Ian.

[Clive]

Originally Posted by mcartney

I passed at Aberdeen 2 weeks ago . Arrived at 08.00 and had passed by 11.00.
Examiner was so helpful.

Ian.

Well done Ian, another one on the road in "God's Country".

[Oldun]

Hi. Mine took about 3 1/2 hours in Birmingham including a couple of quick fixes. Very helpful guy who let us follow him round. I think it all depends on the individual!!
Good luck

Cheers

Dave

[purge98]

Originally Posted by Clive

Hi Jason,
I didn't have any problems like that at Aberdeen. In fact it was a very enjoyable day, with a friendly examiner who explained everything he was doing and looking for. He let me follow him round as he carried out his work and even asked me to take the car back to him so he could see it when it was "finished"!
I had no problems leaving the Centre for lunch either.

Unfortunately the CS who did my initial SVA was being followed round by a VI inspector so was being rather "thorough(petty)" to say the least. Among others, I failed on the DAX exhausts which I had set up in accordance with the DAX SVA guide re. end caps. I explained in minute detail why they were SVA friendly but he just said "I have deemed the exhausts in contravention with blah blah blah....".

When I got home I contacted Peter at DAX to complain. When I returned for the retest I was greeted by the same examiner who asked what I had done since my last visit as the phone, fax & email had been red hot since my departure!!

Needless to say he didn't even look at the exhausts again.

He then failed me on the emissions again. I asked him what limits he was using and I had to correct him by showing him the correct ones in MY copy of the SVA manual which I happened to have in my boot.

All in all a very unpleasant couple of visits which I am glad I will never have to endure again.

I did get my own back during the braking test (LSD rear). He sat in the pax seat with some gadget on the floor untethered and asked me to accelerate up to 30 mph and stop as quickly as possible. I obliged.

His sensitive monitoring gadget shot forward and smashed into the front on the footwell.

Happy days.......