Board logo

Distance driven for an IVA test
Slimy38 - 8/12/25 at 11:23 AM

I'm getting my IVA booked in, and calling them for Kidderminster, Derby and Nottingham reveals that the first two are booked up for January and February, and Nottingham is closed. I'm waiting for a call back from a private facility in Castle Donington, but if that has no availability I'm going to have to go further afield.

The next ones are 80-100 miles away. Is this a pretty standard thing, has anyone else had to travel 2-3 times as far as expected in order to get an appointment? I suspect a 2 hour drive followed by a 4 hour test then another 2 hours drive will make for a very tiring day, especially if the appointment is first thing.

Sanzomat - 8/12/25 at 11:53 AM

If you do end up travelling that kind of distance it might be worth considering Avonmouth (about 90 miles from Wolverhampton). Everyone I know who has been tested there is very complementary about how friendly and helpful the staff there are. No idea how busy they are though.

nick205 - 8/12/25 at 12:00 PM

Winchester to Southampton for my SVA test - 18 miles (with a support car following).

JAG - 8/12/25 at 02:39 PM

I did my SVA (back in 2005) at Nottingham and drove from Studley in Warwickshire.

It's roughly 65 miles and took nearly two hours, I had a friend follow me there and back.

It was fun to actually drive the car - although it started snowing while I was on the M1

gremlin1234 - 8/12/25 at 02:49 PM

something in my memory says the private test sites don't do kit cars. but this may have changed.

Slimy38 - 8/12/25 at 03:55 PM

quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
something in my memory says the private test sites don't do kit cars. but this may have changed.


Yeah I contacted them this morning and it's been unusually quiet...

Slimy38 - 8/12/25 at 03:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Sanzomat
If you do end up travelling that kind of distance it might be worth considering Avonmouth (about 90 miles from Wolverhampton). Everyone I know who has been tested there is very complementary about how friendly and helpful the staff there are. No idea how busy they are though.


Yeah that's the Bristol site isn't it? I've got Bristol, Chadderton and Leighton Buzzard as the next 'tier' of test stations, all around 100 miles away from me. I'll give them a call tomorrow and see if there's any available, thanks for the recommendation.

Slimy38 - 8/12/25 at 03:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JAG
I did my SVA (back in 2005) at Nottingham and drove from Studley in Warwickshire.


quote:
Originally posted by nick205
Winchester to Southampton for my SVA test - 18 miles (with a support car following).


You're both braver than I am, I'll be hiring a trailer for my test! Hopefully once the car is registered I'll build up the confidence to drive longer distances but for my first drive I'm not brave enough to go that far.

Slimy38 - 8/12/25 at 04:13 PM

OK, booked in at Bristol in February...

gremlin1234 - 8/12/25 at 07:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Slimy38
OK, booked in at Bristol in February...

excellent, good luck,
I still suggest posting some pics so the experts here may give their insightful knowledge

ps someone here had a problem taking their car on a trailer to Leighton Buzzard, as there was a width restriction about half a mile from the test centre.