Advanced Test Categories

The IAM can conduct Advanced Tests on the following vehicle types. If you have any doubts about your particular vehicle and how it fits into the categories defined below, then please contact us to using the email link at the foot of this page.

• PRIVATE CAR CATEGORY
  (All vehicles must be capable of achieving and sustaining national speed limits)

1. All private cars, including all estate cars.
   
2. All people carriers up to a maximum of seven seats, including the driver’s.
   
3. All private cars specially adapted for drivers with physical disabilities. (The vehicle MUST be adapted in a way that enables the driver to maintain full and proper control at ALL times).
   

• MOTORCYCLE CATEGORY
  
  1. All motorcycles with an engine capacity that will enable the machine to achieve and sustain national speed limits. There is no minimum engine capacity specified and IAM Tests may be conducted with smaller machines at the discretion of the Examiner, provided the criteria above can be met.
     (From the 1st January 1997 significant changes in legislation concerning motorcycles were introduced. Examiners will use their discretion whether or not to conduct tests with lower capacity machines, in conjunction with power to weight ratios).
     
  
  
• TRICYCLE CATEGORY
  
  1. IAM Advanced Driving Tests may be conducted in 3-wheeled vehicles of the 'Bond' and 'Reliant' types, provided the vehicle is capable of easily achieving and sustaining national speed limits and that there is a properly constructed seat available alongside the driver, for the Examiner.
     
  
  
• COMMERCIAL CATEGORY
  
  1. Light Commercial – all car-derived vans, light vans and pick-up trucks up to and including 3500Kgs.
     
  2. Medium Commercial – all goods vehicles over 3500Kgs up to and including 7500Kgs.
     
  3. Heavy Commercial – all goods vehicles over 7500Kgs up to and including the maximum permitted weight, also passenger carrying vehicles constructed to carry more than 16 passengers, excluding the driver, and that by definition cannot be a minibus.
     
  4. Minibus – all passenger carrying vehicles constructed to carry more than 8, but not more than 16 passengers, excluding the driver.
     
  
  
• THE IAM TOWING TEST
  
  1. All private cars, estate cars and light commercial vehicles towing any properly constructed trailer or caravan, provided the trailer or caravan is fitted with an approved braking system and the combination is appropriately balanced according to law.