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HomeFeatured ArticlesHere Is A List Of Legal Car Modifications In India

Here Is A List Of Legal Car Modifications In India

In January 2019, the Supreme Court of India made vehicle modification illegal. However, not all kinds of alterations to your car is against the law. You can make some changes to your ride, without being an outlaw. So here let us take a look at some vehicle modifications that are de jure.

Read: Car Modifications In India | Legal Vs Illegal

  1. Upgrading the Tyres

    Get performance tyres for your car
    Get performance tyres for your car

    You are within your legal rights to upgrade your tyres as long as the new set of tyres comply with the stipulations of the manufacturer. But, while upsizing tyres, you should get ones with the same or higher speed rating and load index than the stock tyres. If the new tyres have a larger section width, you will have to decrease the sidewall height. Also, you can get different type and compound of tyre for your vehicle.

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  2. Repainting (Changing the Colour)

    Car Re-paint
    Car Repaint

    You are allowed to repaint your car in the colour of your choice. But it is necessary to get the pain modifications approved by the RTO. Your vehicle’s RC book should reflect the changes you make to vehicle colour. However, refrain from getting your car painted in Army Green. India reserves Olive Green for military use only.

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  3. Body Wrapping

    Car Wrapping
    Car Wrapping

    A Body-Wrap will not do any damage to your car’s paint job. In contrast, a vinyl wrap can protect the factory paint. This car modification might cost you anything from 10,000 to a lakh rupee. But if applied well a body wrap can last more than 5 years.

    Vinyl wrapping your car is perfectly legal. Besides, you don’t even need to get it pre and post approved by the RTO like in the case of a veritable paint change.

  4. Suspension Upgrade

    Aftermarket Coilover Suspension
    Aftermarket Coilover Suspension | Legal Car Modifications

    You can get a better suspension for your car which would enhance the quality of your drive. But lowering the car too much can be a problem. So would increasing the ride height by several inches.

    Modifications like installing anti-roll bars can reduce body roll while making turns. This means a more stable ride. You can also upgrade to coil overs and aftermarket shocks which improve suspension, increase stability and reduce body roll.

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  5. Window Tinting

    Tinted Car Windows
    Tinted Car Windows | Image Source (1)

    In 2012, the Supreme Court of the country banned heavily tinted windshield and vehicle windows. Since tinted glasses makes being inside a car in summer more tolerable, they become more or less indispensable. Therefore, most of us look for ways around this law. Also, cars like Maruti Suzuki Baleno, come with UV tinted glass as stock.

    Related: 8 Easy Car Modifications you can do to make your car Faster

    It is still permissible – according to the Motor Vehicles Act of 1998 – to use tint that let more than 80% of light through (to be on the safer side). You should stay away from darker sun films that do not comply with this.

  6. Modification for the Differently-Abled

    Acclimatizing vehicles for those who are differently-abled would let them drive on their own and be self-reliant. Fitting adapted mirrors, wheelchair lifts, automatic or hand-operated clutch, accelerator or brakes and similar customizations can make a vehicle suitable for them. Any car, from Alto, Swift and many others can be modified to fit folks who are physically challenged.

Related: 8 Easy Car Modifications you can do to make your car Faster

All this means you can make a lot of customizations to your car and still be within the bounds of the law. Therefore, you can do a lot with your car and make it your own as long as you are not turning into say, 230 inches long Batmobile.

Modified Swift Custom Seat Covers
Modified Swift Custom Seat Covers | Legal Car Modifications

All jokes aside, you can get minor enhancements to transform your car and give it an all-new look. As long as you keep the structure of the vehicle intact you are within your legal rights to do this. If in doubt be sure to check with your local authorities. But any modifications you make might affect the car’s warranty and insurance. Therefore, inform your insurance company about changes.

So yes, go ahead and get tinted glasses for your car. And don’t forget that batman Bumper sticker.

Read Next: Here Is A List Of Illegal Car Modifications In India

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Kavitha Nambiar
Kavitha Nambiarhttps://gomechanic.in/blog
Foodie. Always up for a challenge. Enjoys reading and writing.

76 COMMENTS

  1. My question here i am told by Traffic police we need to endorse the wrapped color on RC. And that is not allowed by RTO.

    • Yes, Wrapping any car a different shade other than the factory one will attract a fine or penalty. The law is a bit opaque on this kind of car modification.

    • Yes, making any structural changes, and in this case, converting your Swift into a convertible is illegal and will attract legal action.

    • Any form of structural modification, especially converting a four-door car to a two-door is illegal and will attract cops.

  2. Can I setup my Maruti Ecco as a demo center for the business I run? I mean, Can I fix some electrical products in the rear side of the ECCO after removing its back seat.. BTW my ECCO is registered under my name and not my company name.

  3. So,how does one go about requesting permission to change the colour of their car?…(was planning on getting dinting n painting done for my Baba in Orange colour)
    Car is registered in MP,but I am in Goa,can it be done?

    • Hi Katherine! If you’re planning on changing the colour of your car, you will need to seek permission from the RTO where your vehicle is registered. Once permission is granted, you can change the colour of your car.
      After changing the colour, you will need to drive to the RTO again to get your car inspected. After the inspection is done, the RTO will issue a new RC with the new colour mentioned.

  4. The point about window tints is outdated. The 80% law is no more in force, and it was replaced by a complete ban on all kinds of films. Only factory-tinted glass are now allowed if the manufacturer provides one.

    • Hey Musab, replacing the original engine on the HM Contessa will require you to make changes to the RC. I recommend you to get in touch with your nearest RTO for more information.

  5. I am differently abled I want to modifiy santro xing 2015 model in automatic clutch system where it can be done in uttarpredesh or in delhi ncr. I belong to distt bijnor in northern up… What is d cost approx can ds same. kit may be used if vechile changed in future/

    • Hey Pravin, you can install replacement seats on your car, but make sure you don’t make any major structural changes to the vehicle.

    • Racing Strips won’t cause any problems and are legal as long as they don’t cover or change the colour of the car in any manner.

  6. I want to change my car into vanity car
    Sofa cum bed , TV, table , bar
    And separate cabin
    Iron wall between driver and passenger
    It is legal all these changes in interior not in exterior

    • Cosmetic roof rails pose no problem in India. Moreover, if the carrier is of a functional type, make sure, you don’t make any major structural changes to the car.

  7. If alteration from specification specified by manufacturer is not allowed? How come buses and trucks have increase height and body dimensions are allowed but smaller passengers cars face restrictions?

      • Hi Vishal, thanks for replying.
        I’m looking forward if I can change my car’s trunk/dikky’s dimensions or shape And then repaint it to the car’s color. Or maybe replace the new Xcent’s Dikky with the old Xcent’s Dikky. Since old Xcent’s dikky looks so bad. T_T

  8. Can i change the head of bike ..
    Fir ex my head light is rectangle in shape and i want circular head light like bullet in my bike . So is it possible to modify it .

    • Yes, it is legal to change your car’s colour. However, doing so requires you to follow a stringent procedure that includes permissions from the RTO, intimation to the insurance provider, etc.

  9. Hi.. Just Enquiring.. Is It Officially Allowed To Modify Only From Inside Without Distrubing The Engine.. Electricals.. Chassis.. Body Color And Tyres For A Maruti Eeco To Travel Any Were Within “India”..

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