What is modification of motor vehicles? Regulations on modification of motor vehicles in Vietnam

What is modification of motor vehicles? Regulations on modification of motor vehicles in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. What is modification of motor vehicles?

According to Clause 4, Article 3 of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT, modification of motor vehicles means changes are made to structures, shapes, arrangements, working principles, parameters, technical specifications of part or whole of the system of a motor vehicle.

In case the system, parts are replaced with another system, parts of the same type and manufacturer (the same spare part code), this shall not be called as modification.

2. Regulations on modification of motor vehicles in Vietnam

According to Article 4 of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT (amended in Circular 42/2018/TT-BGTVT), modification of motor vehicles and motor vehicles in Vietnam after being modified must conform to technical regulations and standards, regulations on technical quality, safety, and environment protection with respect to motor vehicles participating in traffic and must comply with the following regulations:

- Do not modify purposes of use (uses) with respect to motor vehicles that have been put in use for more than 15 years from the year of manufacture to the time of design appraisal.

- Do not modify to other kinds any imported dedicated motor vehicle and imported refrigerated truck that have been put into use for five years and three years respectively since the first registration date.

- Do not modify bodywork of imported brand new trucks that have been put into use for six months from the first assessment of technical safety and environmental protection to the time of design appraisal (except modification into dual-control cars or installation of roof on open trucks).

- It is prohibited to modify other types of motor vehicles to passenger vehicles and vice versa, except modification of vehicles for the transport of up to 16 people (including the driver’s seat) to specialized vehicles or vans.

- Do not modify suspension system of motor vehicles;

- Do not modify brake system of motor vehicles except:

+ Install auxiliary brake pedal on dual-control cars and vice versa;

+ Carry out modifications to provide energy and control brake system of trailers, semi-trailers;

- Do not modify steering system of motor vehicles except imported right-hand drive cars;

- Do not install sleepers of two-floor types on passenger cars

- Do not expand size of cargo compartment of passenger cars;

- Do not modify tractors to motor vehicles of other kinds (except specialized vehicles)

- Do not modify size of tires, number of axles and tire tracks of motor vehicles;

- Do not modify distances between axles of motor vehicles except to convert into specialized cars, tractors; when converting back into original cars, shortening basic length, size of bodywork of tipper trucks, tankers and trucks participating in road traffic must conform to the Circular 42/2014/TT-BGTVT.

As for semi-trailers (except tipper semi-trailers) and container semi-trailers with total mass allowed for traffic participation lower than the entire weight by design, it is permitted to modify positions of axles, axle group, couplers until December 31, 2015.

- Do not increase length of the entire vehicle except to convert into specialized cars, to change front, back panels of passenger cars.

- Do not increase size of bodywork of trucks, volume of tank of tankers; do not increase height of truck side when roof is installed on roofless open trucks.

- When converting modified trucks, tankers into original forms, do not increase size of bodywork.

- Total mass of a modified motor vehicle allowed for traffic participation must ensure:

+ Passenger cars: Total mass is not allowed to be more than value of designed total mass corresponding to maximum number of passengers (allowed according to design) and total mass allowed for traffic participation according to the regulations on road & bridge loading.

+ Specialized trucks: Total mass is not allowed to be more than value of designed total mass and total mass allowed for traffic participation according to the regulations on road & bridge loading.

- Total weight of cargo allowed for traffic participation for modified motor vehicles is not allowed to be more than total weight of cargo allowed according to original design (design of original truck)

- Technical specifications of modified motor vehicles such as tipper trucks, tankers and trucks must conform to the Circular 42/2014/TT-BGTVT.

- Do not use used systems, parts for the modification of motor vehicles except specialized equipment, engines (An engine to be re-used must be taken from a motor vehicle that has been put into use for a maximum of 15 years, including replacement for the engine of the same kind). Maximum capacity of an engine as replacement must be from 90%-120% of maximum capacity of original truck’s capacity.

- Cranes, tanks of dangerous cargo, tanks of compressed air, LPG to be installed on modified motor vehicles must be inspected and certified for uses, technical safety quality by competent agencies.

- During the operation, each motor vehicle is allowed for modification or modification of only one or two main parts such as engine and bodywork and no more than three parts as follows: cabin, bodywork, passenger compartment; transmission, drive train, suspension, brakes, steering and fuel system.

- Modification of a system, a part that causes effect on parameters, technical specifications of other related systems, parts shall be examined and calculated in particular and considered as modification of related systems, parts.

- Any motor vehicle that is modified to ensure access for the disabled and does not conform to this Article shall be still allowed for modification. Any motor vehicle that was modified to provide access for the disabled is only allowed for modification back to its original form.

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