Motorcycle Type Approval
Customers wishing to register motorcycles, tricycles and quadricycles (including quad bikes, sometimes known as ATVs) are required to produce evidence of type approval (TA), unless they meet with an exemption. Current exemptions include:
- Slow vehicles, not designed to exceed 6km/h;
- Vehicles intended for pedestrian control;
- Vehicles intended for use by the physically handicapped;
- Tractors and machines, used for agricultural or similar purposes;
- Vehicles intended for use in competitions, both on and off the road i.e. trial or enduro bikes.
- Vehicles over 10 years old.
For the vast majority of vehicles, proof will take the form of a Certificate of Conformity (COC's). If a COC is not presented, the other form of acceptable proof is an approval certificate issued under the Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval Scheme (MSVA).
The reason for the change was the compulsory introduction of a European wide approval scheme for motorcycles (ECWVTA), similar to the existing scheme for cars. If a vehicle does not have a COC and is not exempt from approval, the Single Vehicle Approval Scheme (SVA) exists as an alternative route to approval. The SVA scheme seeks to establish that vehicles comply with UK design and safety standards or equivalent standards. More information on the SVA scheme is available on the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency website at www.dvtani.gov.uk (external Link) and at www.dvtani.gov.uk/vehicletesting/sva.asp. (External Link)
Please Note: Motorcycles must either have ECWVTA or Single Vehicle Approval. Without such approval, or an exemption from it, such vehicles cannot be registered in NI.
