[wilf leek]

One thing that calms the fears (to a degree) of the UK insurance companies is the fact that all home-build cars must pass an exhaustive "construction and regs" test we know as SVA (single vehicle approval). This is a central Government-organised thing.

Whilst passing this test involves some compromises for the "purist" Cobra replicar builder, it tells the insurance companies that at the least, each and every car they cover is constructed properly, has brakes/steering/lights etc. which work and work correctly and so on.

Our main problem is the grey area of post-SVA test modifications to the cars, things like going back and fitting wheel spinners, windwings, sunvisors, non-compliant rear view mirrors etc.

So far, this has not caused an issue, but if I were a betting man.....

The SVA test has removed some of the death trap vehicles I used to see at shows and mutter darkly about. In my view it has been the major contributing factor to the survival of the kit car industry in the UK, not least because of insurance issues.
And to think that so many people protested against it when it was proposed.