Buried away in the DFT (Department for Transport, parent department to DVLA and VOSA) Consultation Document, re: the demise of SVA and its replacement with BIVA, are the following questions.

For example, it is obvious that a larger bore exhaust or tuned engine could be seen by many to be detrimental to the environment. This is despite the fact that most aftermarket exhaust systems are manufactured to TUV / SVA standards of noise and that many tuned engines run cleaner than the factory specifications.

Quote from the Consultation Document :-

“7.1 Your views on Post Registration Conversion

1. Many vehicles are modified after registration, ranging from the addition of alloy wheels to the removal or addition of seats. On heavy vehicles more extensive modifications like addition of an axle are common. There are already regulations on this topic. Question 9 asks whether there is an issue with safety today, question 10 asks which specific areas are most problematic and question 11 asks whether we should impose more stringent requirements on vehicle owners and operators to declare modifications to vehicles.

Question 9
Do you believe that there are safety or environmental protection issues today with vehicles modified at some point after registration? Please explain why and provide evidence to support your statement.

Question 10
Are there any particular areas of the vehicle where you believe there is a problem at present, where modifications are made which have a negative effect on road safety or the environment? If yes please give details below, and describe which vehicle categories you are most concerned about.

Question 11
Do you favour more stringent restrictions and checks on the modifications that can be made to registered vehicles? Please give a reasoned justification and advise which vehicle categories you are addressing. ”

Link to original document :-
BIVA Consultation Document Response Form

Edit: Consultation has now closed

This shows that our rights to continue to modify are constantly being reviewed and that we need to have input into any such document to ensure a fair appraisal and review of propose changes to existing laws.