What procedures must be followed to ensure that my car modifications are legal?

 

 

Have you ever thought about what happens to cars when their engines get taken out and replaced with newer, more powerful ones? Movies and reality shows never show these processes, because there is no appeal in them whatsoever, but they must be done. The same goes for cars that have been out of commission for an extended period of time. In many cases, the wear and tear caused by exposure to the elements leaves the engine and its various parts unsafe for use, as they may be faulty and become a hazard on the road.

 

New or overhauled engines need to be recognized legally by the authorities, as all engines and chassis’ have VIN numbers that are used to identify them in any needed situations. In most cases, when cars are stolen, these VIN numbers and any other form of identification is scraped or welded off to make the part untraceable and sellable on the black market. So engines that are installed in cars need to be checked for the relevant information on the VIN number (i.e whether or not the number is still visible, and if not, if the part has been declared a recovered part by the police.

 

The process of getting the car declared roadworthy is also important, as some parts need to be measured and evaluated according to the laws that govern them. For instance, engines with a BHP (Brake Horse Power) rating above a certain level are not meant for use on public roads, hooters must be clearly heard at a certain pitch and range, and tire treads must be within a certain limit.

 

Once all of these procedures have been completed, the engine you fitted into your car will be legal on the road, as long as the documentation has been approved and declared to be in working order.

 

If you are planning on fitting a custom body kit to your car, whether it is self-made or shipped in via a licensed modifier, must be fitted professionally, in order to prove the quality of the work done. Fitting the parts any other way may lead to issues such as obstruction of view, recommended measurements and specifications being ignored, or even loose parts that become hazardous to others on the road.