BUYING, IMPORTING, CONVERTING AND REGISTERING AN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS AS A UK MOTORHOME

IVA Test

TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021

In order to register a vehicle in the UK as a Motor Caravan (a special form of M1 Passenger Vehicle) you need to pass the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test, since a US School Bus does not have "Type Approval".  DVSA is the Agency that issues IVA and you need to meet the specifications in the IVA Manual.  You have to convert it to a Motorhome (which has a specific definition) before you can submit for the IVA test.  DVSA will test "as presented" so if you leave it as a bus, it will fail immediately since it deposits passengers on the wrong side of the road.

Before buying the bus DVSA said that a US School Bus had previously passed IVA (I think it was this one,
http://www.yellowbusevents.co.uk/american-school-bus-hire/ but  I'm not sure.  When I phoned them up the owner said that some third party had handled registration.  Anyway there was a significant risk that I would buy the bus, import it, convert it to a Motorhome and it would still fail and I would be left with a lump of scrap!

All I can say is that it is possible to meet 2015 regulations and get a standard US School Bus through IVA as an M1 Motor Caravan.

A US School bus has US FMVSS approval and Bluebird sent me a document to confirm this, but after some discussion between various DVSA inspectors it was not deemed relevant.  However during the IVA test I think I was given some leeway on the basis that the vehicle clearly met US regulations and was basically safe. 
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Here are some of the key things I learned about passing the IVA
  1. As soon as it arrived in UK I put it in for an MOT - I used Renault Trucks in Reading - most ordinary MOT stations can't lift more than 5 tonnes or don't have a pit -  It passed the MOT on the 2nd attempt after swapping around some light covers.  The MOT includes an  emissions test.  The limit is 3.0 (somethings - can't recall if it was CO2 or particulates!) and mine was 0.3 - so plenty of margin.  Apparently the US is stricter than EU on emissions.  Also I passed the MOT break test.  That gave me some more confidence.
  2. You need a engine immobilizer and you need to get an approved installer to fit it.
  3. UK regulations require a 3 point seat belt for the driver, in the US only a lapbelt is required.
  4. The things that you will fail on are lights (wrong height, colour, brightness, direction etc) and sharp edges - but these are all fixable.  Follow the manual to the letter!  Assume you will get the lights wrong first time around!
  5. Use the right strength of bolts for seat anchorages
  6. When they asked me to take of the steering wheel covers to see if it was collapsible I thought I was dead in the water, but it was OK
  7. M1 assumes hydraulic brakes, but I have air brakes.  The inspector could have technically failed me, but he did a calculation to show it would have passed.
  8. If you can take it to the DVSA in Gillingham Kent then Laurence Williams is the tester who now knows about US School buses
  9. They check the markings on the safety glass - probably Guardian Glass
  10. DVSA deem me to be the 3rd stage manufacturer - I could choose the Design Weight (as long as greater than actual kerb weight) - choose 7.49 tonnes if you can
  11. You need to wire in a foglamp and it has quite a complex relay setup - has to be off after ignition switched off.  I used an Autoelectrician!
|I thought that the US equivalent to Type Approval would help (called FMVSS and Bluebird sent me a document to confirm that my VIN met FMVSS approval, but it turned out (after some discussion between DVSA inspectors)  that FMVSS was not relevant.
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Need rubber strip on window edge near passenger seat
Sharp edge - removed
Need to add trim to sharp edge
Too sharp
Rounded edges which passed
Sharp edge rounded
This rear door handle failed
Old door handle too sharp (and it broke off)
New legal rear door handle
US sidelight is also indicator, so you need to disable sidelight and fit a separate one.
Sharp edge at end of bumper
Welded on a plate to close sharp edge
This door mechanism does not meet DVSA - needed to fit bolt and buzzer
Mechanism for door buzzer
Put trim around sharp edges
You need this sign by non passenger seats
Was deemed temporary so had to add yellow cover!
New cover
Had to make cover for engine straps - used old water hose covered in faux leather cover
Had to cut pipe end off so it was behind bumper
Sharp edge - needed to file down
Sharp edge - need to remove
Step removed
Side light has to be withing 40cm of outside edge - the Stop sign counts as the outside edge!
New sidelight to right of headlight
Bolt with buzzer for bifold door
Add Engine immobiliser - bottom right - you tap key before starting ignition
Sharp edge
OK with trim
Indicator was not bright enough
Cover nuts
Add trim
Add trim
IVA failure report
IVA failure report
IVA failure report
IVA failure report
IVA failure report
Bracket removed
Handle removed
Add side light
New sidelight
IVA test statistics
Rear light cluster - originals too high
New running lights - watch out for spacings and angle of visibility
Sharp edge removed on table top
Trim
Rubber strip on passenger window
There is a lot to do
Read this!
Bolt up - buzzer rings when ignition on
Bolt down - buzzer stops ringing
Buzzer sounds when circuit broken
Sharp edge
Moved intercom behind wheel
New foglight switch added
Rewire separate sidelight
You need to stamp on a VIN - should be on right hand side. Sticker not sufficient
Remove bifold door bottoms
Run all wires in sheathing
Hinge too sharp
This rubber pad passed the test
Needed new rear light cluster at the right height - inc foglight
Trim on rear
Blank off reflectors
New indiactor light at legal height
Round off edges on light cluster
Stop sign was OK for sharp edges
But had to be disabled - can't show red light to front
Nuts too sharp
Legal wheelnut covers
This door opening mechanism was not allowed by DVSA.  I had to fit a bolt and buzzer
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  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Contents
  • Introduction
  • Why choose an American Bus
  • Buying and Importing a US School Bus
  • Amazing Spaces
  • Blog
  • Stripping out
  • Interior
  • Construction
  • Planning
  • Electrical
  • Utilities
  • Seats
  • Floor
  • Engine
  • Exterior
  • Underside
  • Headlamp
  • IVA Test
  • Home - Skoolie in the UK
  • Original Photos
  • Artwork
  • Links
  • Misc Stuff
  • Update November 2021