One of the promises that the current government made to the youth and vehicle owners in the state was to make vehicle modifications legal to some extent, and they have been working towards the same goal since then. A new report has now surfaced online suggesting that the Motor Vehicle Department is planning to make seven types of modifications legal in the state. What are these modifications? Let’s find out.
The report has been shared by Manorama News on its YouTube channel. As per the report, the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) and the Transport Commissioner have now taken a major decision regarding vehicle modifications. The report suggests that the Transport Commissioner has announced that vehicle owners will now be permitted to carry out seven types of modifications.
The modifications that the department has now made legal include changes to body colour, engine replacement, chassis frame replacement/repairs, body structure alterations, fuel conversions, propulsion kit upgrades, and modifications to support drivers or passengers with disabilities.
The report suggests that, as per the new notification, a customer can change the colour of his or her vehicle to any of the permissible shades. The customer can also swap the engine with an identical unit that meets the same manufacturer specifications.
If a vehicle is involved in an accident and the body or chassis is severely damaged, the customer can replace the chassis or frame of the vehicle. He or she can also make modifications to the vehicle’s body structure within approved legal limits.
Customers can also opt for retrofitted petrol-to-CNG conversion kits. Apart from this, the department is also allowing propulsion kit upgrades. This means customers can convert their ICE vehicle into an EV. It remains to be seen whether petrol-to-diesel conversion will fall under this provision or not.
The government will also make modifications that support drivers or passengers with disabilities legal.
Before making any of these modifications to your vehicle, the customer or vehicle owner should know that he or she cannot carry out these modifications at will. The owner will have to submit an application to the local Regional Transport Office (RTO) beforehand.
After making the modifications as per the application, the vehicle will be inspected and, once approved, the owner must formally endorse these modifications in the vehicle’s Registration Certificate (RC).
If the customer fails to obtain prior approval or does not get the modifications endorsed on the documents, the department has the right to impound the vehicle or issue a fine during routine inspections.
While the department has allowed seven types of modifications, there is still a long list of modifications that remain illegal. Modifications such as loud aftermarket horns, heavy auxiliary/laser lighting setups, and loud exhausts are still illegal.
The government department had actually conducted a public survey to understand which modifications the public wanted to be legalised, and many respondents had requested that auxiliary lights, loud horns and aftermarket exhausts be allowed. However, the department has ignored those requests.
The department reiterated that aftermarket lights and loud noise setups violate the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) and remain strictly illegal.