The craze of customizing one’s own car and building a ‘vanlife’ or mobile home is growing rapidly in India. However, major modifications to cars are subject to very strict rules under Indian law.
According to Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Supreme Court orders, it is illegal to make unauthorized changes to the original structure as provided by the manufacturer. If you want to enjoy Vanlife legally, it is very important to understand the following rules,
1. What is completely illegal?
Structural changes– It is absolutely illegal to cut the chassis of a vehicle, increase the length or width of the vehicle beyond its original design, or cut off the roof of the vehicle.
Changing Seat Capacity: It is illegal to alter the seating capacity (eg 5 or 7 seater) as stated on your RC book by removing the seats and making a permanent bed or sofa.
Engine and Exhaust: Altering engine capacity or installing a loud silencer is illegal.
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2. What is legal and what is permitted?
You can make interior changes without affecting the basic design of the car.
Portable furniture– It is perfectly legal to make a removable bed, folding table or mobile kitchen without making any permanent changes to the vehicle. As long as it does not change the specifications of the vehicle in the RC, neither the police nor the RTO can object to it.
Cosmetic and interior amenities– Changes to the interior infotainment system, interior LED lights, charging points or seat covers are permitted.
Roof rack and carrier– Standard roof racks are allowed to be installed for storage of luggage, but the luggage mounted on it should not exceed the prescribed height.
Driving Licence : License valid till age 50; RTO’s tension is over, all services will be online from home
3. Car officially ‘Campervan‘ So how to register?
If you want to convert a large commercial van (eg Force Traveller, Tata Winger, or a large bus) into a fully-fledged ‘Caravan or Camper’, this procedure has to be followed,
ARAI Acknowledgment of: The garage or mechanic from which you are going to get the van customized, the design has to be certified by ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India).
RTO Permission (RTO Approval): Prior permission through Form 22A is required from the local RTO before modifying the vehicle.
RC Book Update (RC Modification): After the modification is completed, RTO officials inspect the vehicle. After approval, the vehicle type is changed to ‘Campvan’ or ‘Omnibus (Modified)’ and an official entry is made on your RC book.
If you don’t want to get into RTO and legal hassles, use the “Bolt-on / Modular” method. That is, design beds, kitchen counters and storage compartments in such a way that they are fixed only on nut-bolts, and if necessary, the entire carriage can be restored to its original position in just 10 minutes.
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