Which Vehicle Modifications Are Not Eligible for Registration According to the New Regulations in Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT?
From February 15, 2024, which modified vehicles will not be inspected for registration under the new regulations in Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT?
Based on the regulations of Article 4 Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT amended by Clause 1, Article 2 Circular 42/2018/TT-BGTVT and Clause 2, Article 1 Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT, the following cases of vehicle modification (vehicle retrofitting) must comply with the following regulations:
(1) No modification altering the purpose of use (function) for motor vehicles that have been used for over 15 years, from the year of manufacture to the time of design appraisal.
(2) No modification of imported specialized motor vehicles into other types of motor vehicles within 5 years, and refrigerated vehicles into other types within 3 years, from the date of initial registration plate issuance.
(3) No modification of the cargo box of brand new imported or locally manufactured and assembled trucks within 6 months from the date of issuance of the initial inspection certificate and inspection seal to the date of design application submission (except for modification into driving school vehicles, driver examination vehicles; installation of additional covers for open-box trucks).
(4) No conversion of other types of motor vehicles into passenger vehicles and vice versa, except for converting passenger vehicles with 16 seats or fewer (including the driver) into specialized vehicles or VAN trucks.
(5) No modification of the braking system, suspension system, and steering system of motor vehicles, except in the following cases:
- Installation or removal of auxiliary brake pedals on driving school vehicles, driver examination vehicles;- Modification to supply power and control the brake system of trailers and semi-trailers;- Modification of vehicles with right-hand drive;- Modification of controls and seats suitable for the mobility of disabled drivers;- Modification upon the proposal of the vehicle manufacturer (with a written confirmation from the vehicle manufacturer or a legally authorized representative specifying the modification proposal, accompanied by guiding documents and a list of components and sub-components used for replacement) in the following cases:
+ For the brake system: replacement of some components or sub-components of the brake system to eliminate potential safety risks or improve braking efficiency;+ For the steering system: replacement of some components or sub-components of the steering system to eliminate potential safety risks or enhance comfort and safety;+ For the suspension system: replacement of some components or sub-components of the suspension system by installing components or sub-components with equivalent load-bearing capabilities (not intended to increase cargo weight) to eliminate potential safety risks.
(6) No modification of the steering system of motor vehicles, except for right-hand drive imported vehicles.
(7) No installation of two-tier sleeper beds in passenger vehicles, except in cases where the original vehicle was a two-tier sleeper passenger bus.
(8) No modification to increase the luggage compartment's dimensions of passenger vehicles.
(9) No conversion of tractors into other types of motor vehicles (except specialized vehicles).
(10) No modification of tire size, axle number, and wheel trace of motor vehicles.
(11) No modification of the inter-axle distance of motor vehicles, except in the following cases: modification into specialized vehicles, tractors; shortening the wheelbase when restoring the vehicle to its pre-modification status, and modification to reduce the total length, cargo box dimensions of dump trucks, tank trucks, and trucks in accordance with the regulations in Circular 42/2014/TT-BGTVT.
(12) No modification to increase the total length of motor vehicles, except in the cases of conversion into specialized vehicles and modification of the front and rear face panels of passenger vehicles.
(13) The total weight, the axle load distribution weight permissible for traffic of modified motor vehicles must ensure it does not exceed the manufacturer's design weight values and the axle load limit and total weight limit of vehicles.
(14) Modified dump trucks, tank trucks, and trucks must conform to the technical specifications according to Circular 42/2014/TT-BGTVT.
(15) No reuse of engines of motor vehicles that have been used for over 15 years from the year of manufacture to replace or modify. Replacement engines must have maximum power within 90% to 120% of the maximum power of the engine being replaced according to the manufacturer’s announcement.
(16) Cranes, hazardous material tanks, compressed gas tanks, and liquid gas tanks installed on modified motor vehicles must be inspected and certified for performance, quality, and technical safety by organizations certified for technical safety inspections in the transport sector according to Decree 44/2016/ND-CP.
(17) Motor vehicles may only be modified to replace one of two main assemblies, engine or frame, throughout their service life.
Thus, if the vehicle modification does not comply with the above regulations, it will not be granted a registration inspection.
Which modified vehicles will not be eligible for registration inspection under the new regulations in Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT? (Image from the internet)
09 cases of vehicle modification eligible for registration inspection from February 15, 2024, under the new regulations in Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT
According to Clause 3, Article 1 Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT, supplementing Article 4a to Article 4 Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT, regulatory 09 cases of vehicle modification are still eligible for vehicle registration inspection from February 15, 2024, as follows:
(1) Changing the passenger compartment doors (excluding changing the position and size of the doors);
(2) Altering certain cargo box structures, such as sealing or changing the structure of cargo box doors; replacing flat sheet metal with corrugated sheet metal or vice versa; adding sheet metal to the frame cover of open-box trucks without increasing the cargo box height (Hc) specified in Appendix I issued with Circular 42/2014/TT-BGTVT; adding or removing dust covers for dump truck cargo boxes;
(3) Installing, replacing, or removing covers for the cargo or luggage compartments of PICKUP trucks without altering the cargo box dimensions and overall dimensions of the vehicle;
(4) Installing additional standalone fog lights;
(5) Replacing front headlamp assemblies with assemblies that have been certified or announced in compliance with the National Technical Regulations on the optical characteristics of road motor vehicle headlamps, QCVN 35:2017/BGTVT without the need for structural changes on the vehicle to ensure installation;
(6) Replacing headlamp bulbs within the front headlamp assembly with other bulbs having equivalent power consumption without the need for structural changes of the headlamp assembly;
(7) Changing body shell details and parts that are optional by the vehicle manufacturer, without altering the overall vehicle dimensions, except for cases specified in this Circular's Article 6. The installation is performed according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations or legal representative’s recommendations;
(8) Altering the design of certain body shell details, such as front grilles, spoilers;
(9) Adding wind deflectors on the roofs of truck cabs, step boards, exhaust pipe decorations, protective light bar decorations, and signal lights without altering the overall vehicle dimensions.
Note: The modifications of the above motor vehicles that do not change the vehicle type specified in Appendix XI issued with Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT and meet the safety and environmental protection requirements according to the corresponding National Technical Regulations will be eligible for technical safety inspection and environmental protection to be issued an inspection certificate and seal.
When is a modified motor vehicle exempt from design application?
According to Article 6 Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT as amended and supplemented by Article 1, Article 2 Circular 43/2023/TT-BGTVT, modified motor vehicles in the following cases are exempt from the design application:
- Driving school vehicles, driver examination vehicles installing or removing auxiliary brake pedals connected to the main brake pedal through a mechanical linkage.- Installing, replacing, or removing covers for the cargo or luggage compartments of PICKUP trucks altering the cargo box dimensions but not changing the overall vehicle dimensions.- Imported, locally manufactured, assembled, and modified dump trucks and tank trucks before November 1, 2014, voluntarily reducing the cargo box or tank volume to comply with the regulations in Circular 42/2018/TT-BGTVT.- Removing the LPG or CNG fuel supply system for modified motor vehicles with such systems, reverting to the original fuel supply system prior to modification.- Installing, replacing, or removing roof racks of passenger cars in compliance with the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions without altering the overall width of the vehicle.- Installing, replacing, or removing wind deflectors on the roofs of tractors.- Installing, replacing, or removing pumps, oil tanks, and hydraulic pipelines of tractors for the lifting system of dump truck semi-trailers.- Changing the arrangement of passenger seats or cargo doors, or changing cargo compartment lining materials.- Trucks installing or replacing freight lifting devices of cargo compartments certified by competent authorities or removing such devices.
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