Best Car Modification In India
Accessories that are Legal for Use
These are the accessories that are usually available as both aftermarket solutions and authorised items designed and offered by the carmakers, complying with the dimensional and performance limitations. The following are such legal accessories:
Alloy wheels: You can swap the original steel or alloy wheels of your car with other alloy wheels that match the original wheel size of the vehicle or even surpass it. Larger alloy wheels are safe to be used only if they comply with the manufacturer's recommendation for that model. Most people opt for alloy wheels to enhance their vehicle's visual appeal, while they can also improve its performance and fuel efficiency.
Infotainment system: Almost all vehicles now come equipped with an infotainment and music system as an OEM fitment right from the factory in their mid and top-spec variants. However, the majority of the compact and mid-size vehicles still don't come with an infotainment system, for which they can opt for a conventional or touchscreen unit with custom speakers, subwoofer and amplifier.
Ambient lighting: Usually available only as aftermarket solutions, ambient lights can be equipped in your car's dashboard, footwell and door panels, which enhance the cabin's experience while driving in the darker hours.
Exterior lights: Many new-age vehicles are now equipped with modern lighting elements. You can also upgrade your vehicle with more advanced options, such as LED headlamps, fog lamps, LED DRLs, and bi-xenon and HID projector headlamps.
Safety accessories: You can also fit your vehicle with accessories that make your driving experiences safer, such as a dashcam, front parking sensors and tyre pressure monitoring system.
Seat covers: Another car accessory popular among all types of car buyers, seat covers are available in a variety of fabrics, leatherette, and velvet options.
Floor mats: To protect the original floor of your car, you can use floor mats, which are available in the form of separate mats or even in the form of carpets.
Chrome and faux carbon fibre garnish: Many car owners also try to enhance the visual appeal of their car with chrome highlights for the exterior elements of a vehicle, such as grille, door handles, boot lid garnish, bumper garnish and window waistline.
Body kits: Accessories that make your car's exterior look sportier, such as boot or roof spoilers, side body skirts and claddings, are also loved by many car owners.
Vinyl wraps and body graphics: You can also customise your car with a custom vinyl wrap job and body decals, provided the vinyl wrap is of the same colour as your vehicle.
CNG kits: Several carmakers now offer CNG kits in their compact models as an alternative fuel solution. However, if your car doesn't have one and you want it as an alternative fuel solution, you can go for an aftermarket CNG kit authorised under RTO norms.
Performance Tuning: You can enhance your vehicle's performance by making a few tweaks, such as ECU remapping, installing free-flow exhausts that meet government norms, and using performance air filters, among other options. However, such changes usually void the warranty of a car, if it exists.
Accessories that are Illegal to Use
In contrast, certain accessories can alter a vehicle's originality to the extent that they defy RTO norms, potentially leading to fines and even the cancellation of the driving license and vehicle registration certificate. Some of these are even popular among the masses, but are not permitted to use under RTO norms. The following are such illegal accessories:
Loud exhausts and horns: While people love to make their vehicle more noticeable with louder horns and exhausts for their aural pleasure, these are not allowed if they are noisier than the upper decibel limits (usually 80-100 dB).
Bull bars: These are preferred by car owners, particularly SUV and MPV owners, for their vehicle's safety in the event of a frontal or rear-end collision. However, they are not permitted as they can restrict the deployment of airbags in case of a crash or cause more harm to pedestrians.
Beacon lights: Strictly allowed only for a few government officials or emergency vehicles, beacon lights or sirens are not permitted for private cars, using which can attract heavy penalties.
Tinted windows: Window films or tints that restrict the light from outside in the cabin by more than 30 per cent for front and rear windscreens and more than 50 per cent for side window panels are illegal due to safety constraints.
Structural alterations: Changes made to a car that alter its original structural condition, such as cutting roofs for a sunroof or convertible mechanism, chassis tweaks, and engine swaps, are likely to attract fines.
Fancy number plates: Currently, any license plate other than high-security registration plates (HSRP) authorised by the RTO is not allowed for any vehicle in India. Using any other license plates with fancy fonts and colours will attract penalties.
Are the Accessories Worth the Investment?
Customising a vehicle with accessories, in some form or another, is a trend that always crosses through the minds of all car buyers. However, you should have an idea about which accessories make sense for the vehicle's performance and appearance, and comply with the RTO norms. Stick to the specified guidelines and avoid accessories that might attract fines or even vehicle seizures.
FAQs
1. Is car modification illegal in India?
All car modifications in India that comply with the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) guidelines are legal. These modifications focus on the safety of the vehicle and its occupants, without altering the vehicle's original structure.
2. What car accessories add style to a car?
Accessories like lights, chrome or faux carbon accents, alloy wheels, spoilers, body kits, vinyl wrap and body graphics enhance the looks of a car from the outside. On the other hand, the look of a car's interior can be improved by trim accents, seat covers and floor mats.
3. What modification makes a car faster?
Modifications like ECU remapping, free-flow exhausts and turbochargers enhance the performance of a car. However, you should be opting only for those tweaks that comply with RTO's guidelines.