Vehicle modification is any cosmetic or technical changes to the vehicle’s factory specifications that enhance its performance or improve its appearance. Before you decide to modify your car, make sure you have all the necessary information. Because not all modifications to vehicles are legal. Here are some car modifications that are not allowed.

Fancy Plates

India has its own rules regarding number plates. There is no way to customize plates.

Any artwork or font on a number plate is illegal. The dimensions of the plates should be, at most, the required size. The number of plates must be displayed on both the front (and the back) of your car. Only cars that have HSRP (High-Security Registration Plate) are allowed to be driven in India.

Pressure Horns

Air horns have been banned by the government to protect the environment as well as the lives of people. Even if you believe that intermittent honking can distract you from driving on busy streets, noisy horns could cause more problems. Loud noises can cause hearing loss and are dangerous to birds and animals. All horns above 100 decibels are forbidden. This accessory should be avoided.

Loud aftermarket exhausts

Many aftermarket exhausts can be quite loud, even exceeding 100 decibels. Police keep an eye on those who use this type of exhaust. Don’t choose exhausts that cause a lot of noise and inconvenience pedestrians and motorists. You’ll turn heads and stop people in their tracks by using that exhaust. We don’t mean cops when we refer to people.

Many of these aftermarket exhausts, which can be fitted to your vehicle, do not include a catalytic convertor. They don’t conform to the BS6 standards. The catalytic converter is responsible for turning toxic exhaust gases into water vapour, and less toxic carbon dioxide.

Dark Sun Film (Window Tinting).

Tinting is legal if it allows light to pass through tinted windows. Tinting windows is legal as long as it filters enough light. To be road legal, the windscreens at the front and back must be at least 70% transparent. It is against the law to use tint film that doesn’t permit 70% VLT. You can still use a darker tint for the side windows. You can let at most 50% of the sunlight through.

But, windshields with very dark sun film can reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents. It would also make it difficult for police to see inside the vehicle. It would make it more difficult for police to catch criminals and do their job. This is why extremely dark window tints are banned in the country.

Illegal High-Intensity Discharge (High-Intensity Lighting)

Headlights and taillights that are modified are not allowed. It is illegal to swap out your headlamps with those of a different colour. If the headlights are too bright, it can blind vehicles coming from the other direction.

You cannot also equip your PV (or any other vehicle) with flashing lights or red beacon lighting. However, neon lights and under-glow lights can be used as long as they are not turned on. They should be kept hidden. You can also add brighter auxiliary lights.

Cut the Roof

Legally, you can’t remove the roof from your vehicle. It is illegal to convert a regular car into a convertible. You cannot also make a DIY sunroof for the top. The vehicle’s roof is an integral part of its chassis. The structural integrity of your car would be compromised if you removed the roof. This would increase the safety risks for you and your passengers.

Engine Swap

It cannot be very clear to understand the legal aspects of engine modifications. Some modifications and “tuning” of an engine are statutory, while others are not. In 2019, the SC passed a bill that clearly prohibited modifications not in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. This includes upgrading your car’s engine to a more powerful one.

RTO approval can be obtained for minor engine modifications. You could get in trouble if the engine number of your car is different from the one listed in the RC books. It is important to remember that engine numbers can only be changed with approval from the RTO and that any changes should be noted in the RC book.

Bull Bars/Crash Guards

Bull Bars are metal rod-like structures that are placed on the bumper. They absorb shock and reduce damage to the car’s front end. They can also transmit the energy of an impact to the vehicle’s body. Bull Bars are a dangerous accessory.

They can also interfere with sensors like the parking sensors or the airbag sensor. The vehicle’s airbag sensor is located at the front. The airbag circuit is activated when one is involved in an accident. Bull Bars in your car can cause sensor problems and make it difficult for the airbags to deploy at the right time.

Extra Wide Tyres

A Kerala Isuzu D-Max V-Cross driver was handed a nearly half-million dollar penalty for illegal vehicle modification. If he wanted the suspension to be revoked, the MVD asked Muvattupuzha’s man to return the vehicle to its original condition. The modded Isuzu checks almost every illegal modification to vehicles that are in existence. This pickup has huge ground clearance, large Cooper tires, and massive wheels, to name just a few.

It is not a good idea to turn your car into an enormous machine like this guy. Don’t spend your time looking for truck tires for your car. It will look nicer, but it isn’t worth the cost. You can change your stock tires so that they meet the specifications of the carmaker.

The same applies to wheels. Alloy rims are possible, provided that the lip of the wheel does not protrude from the side of your tires.

Kits for Body Lifting

The body lift kits raise the car’s frame and increase its ground clearance. Although we raise the vehicle’s ride height, the suspension is not altered. However, a lift kit is illegal in India and can prove to be problematic.

Many modifications that are deemed illegal can be dangerous in one way or another. Because of this, modifications to the vehicle’s structure or other integral parts can pose serious safety hazards. Bull Bars are sometimes used to protect the vehicle, but they do not protect pedestrians. You could be driving a stolen car if you change the vehicle’s color without informing authorities.

Vehicle modification laws exist because they are necessary. These rules are the result of careful thought and thoughtful consideration. The Motor Vehicles Act was updated in 2019 with good intentions to improve safety for all.