Certain popular car modifications in South Africa may not be explicitly considered illegal, but if taken too far, they can render your vehicle unroadworthy.
These include things like installing Nitrous Oxide, cutting or heating the suspension coils to lower the body, or installing an excessively big engine.
Legal firm Law for All notes there are three main categories of trendy car modifications, comprising:
- Functional upgrades
- Aesthetic/visual makeovers
- Performance enhancements
Functional upgrades generally target practicality, for example, car owners who want to give their ride a sportier look and feel might opt for bigger and wider tyres, and drop the suspension slightly.
These changes may not make your vehicle drive faster or produce more power, but they can make it look different and perform better in certain applications.
Aesthetic/visual makeovers are things such as custom paint jobs and decorations like chrome rims, grilles, and so-called “halo” headlights.
For the most part, these changes only affect the way the car looks and not the way it performs, nor do they endanger other road users. Because of this, they are generally seen as harmless, said Law for All.
Enthusiasts wanting to ramp up their car’s engine potential, top speed, or braking abilities employ performance enhancements like installing turbochargers or making use of Nitrous Oxide.
These tweaks can drastically alter performance capabilities, however, the caveat is that they are the most likely to be illegal since they pose the biggest threat to the safety of the driver and other road users, said Law for All.
7 automotive sins
The National Road Traffic Act isn’t particularly descriptive on which car modifications are deemed outright illegal.
However, before you take your wheels for an extreme makeover, you must take into account whether it will still be roadworthy and if it might endanger other drivers.
If, after the upgrades, your vehicle ends up being unroadworthy, you will have to make the necessary changes and restore it so that it can legally be used on the roads again, as well as perform another roadworthy test.
Law for All notes that the following modifications have the highest probability of being illegal:
- Excessive speed enhancements like Nitrous Oxide cylinders
- Lowering the suspension to the point where it affects the handling of the vehicle
- Fitting larger wheels that might affect the steering and general control of the vehicle
- Custom number plates that include symbols (such as %, &, @ or $) or vulgar and harmful language
- DIY suspension changes that involve cutting springs or heating coils to lower the body of the vehicle
- Installing a bigger engine than the vehicle can handle might affect the handling, ability to stop, and increase the wear and tear of tyres
- Installing a sound system that might cause an illegal noise nuisance, which is defined as any noise that “may disturb or impair the convenience or peace of any person”
Unfortunately, because the National Road Traffic Act is quite vague, many traffic authorities often take liberties in enforcing it and could interpret any modifications that alter the car’s appearance so much that it doesn’t resemble the actual model anymore as illegal, said Law for All.
“Bear in mind, if you make adjustments that affect the handling or the speed capabilities of your car, you could end up endangering your own life and potentially the lives of other road users,” said the legal firm.
“They could lead to fines, prison time, your vehicle being impounded, or AARTO demerits.”
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