JPJ/RTD GUIDELINES FOR PRIVATE CAR MODIFICATIONS

Car modification is an industry and also a hobby, in which a car is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and presentation and improve the owner’s driving style.Usually those who is like to modify their car will put some car accessories, body kits, car audio, car spoilers, sport rims and many more.But here in Malaysia, we have some rules and guidelines from the JPJ/RTD that we need to follow.Read more info from JPJ/RTD below.

Picture credit to Azmeen

Section (12) Road Transport Act 1987 has set the legal requirements on any modification to the vehicle before and after registration are:
Inspection of Motor Vehicles and the provision of information to the Director-General

1. The Director General or a director may at any time prior to the registration of a motor vehicle requires that the vehicle motor be brought to any place specified by him and examined and, if necessary, be weighed and measured and after registration may at any time require a motor vehicle to be brought as aforesaid if he has reason to believe:-
-that the motor vehicle does not comply with the requirements of this Act;
-that any information given to him in respect of such motor vehicle is false, incorrect or misleading;
-that the motor vehicle is not in condition; or
– that the weight, dimensions, features, construction, color, identifying particulars or seating was changed after registration.

2. The registered owner of a vehicle shall immediately notify the Director in writing of any state of things or events that affect the accuracy of any entry in the register of motor vehicle and shall pada the same time or deliver.

3. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall, when required by the Director to do so: –
-immediately give the Director all information necessary for the purpose of verifying the entries relating to motor vehicles in the register, and
-immediately forward or deliver to the Director the registration certificate relating to motor vehicle

4. After a motor vehicle inspected, weighed or measured under subsection (1), or upon receipt of any information or evidence given in respect of a motor vehicle under subsection (2) or (3), the Director may make such amendments in the in the register and registration certificate relating to motor vehicles as it deems necessary, and shall return the registration certificate to the registered owner

5. Any person yang without reasonable excuse fails to comply with any requirement of the Director General or a Director under subsection (1) or under subsection (2) or (3) is guilty of the offense.

MINOR MODIFICATIONS OR ADD-ON ACCESSORIES WHICH IS ALLOWED WITHOUT ASKING PERMISSION FOM JPJ/RTD

There are some modifications or add-on accessories which can be done without getting any permission of the Head Director of JPJ, especially those which do not give any effect of characteristics, stability and safety of the vehicle, such as:-

1. Front and rear air spoilers
2. Side skirts, aerofoils and door visors
3. Front and rear protecting guards
4. Minor modifications on radiator grilles, front bonnet or shape and design or the lamps.
5. Modifications or add-on of big bumpers (either it is metal or fibreglass) at the front and rear.
6. Bigger size of rims and tyre
7. Roof rack
8. Additional brake lamps (red in colour) or signal lamps (Amber in colour)
9. Spot lights or Halogen lamps (Both white and yellow) at the front region, which serve as an additional to the existing lamps.

Notes:

The list above will be updated and edited from time to time.

However, these minor modifications and add-on accessories have to fulfill all the needs of the law which is listed in Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Rules 1959 or Motor Vehicles (Construction, Equipment and Use) Rules 1988.

Examples:-

1. Air spoiler, aerofoil or side skirt. not over 150mm measured from the area outwards from the rear tyre.

2. Door visors. not over 100mm width and height.

3. When using big rims or wide tyres, it should be fully-covered with mudguards or mudflaps.

4. Protecting guards. It should not cover the vehicle’s lamps. Sharp edges or pointing parts which is more than 100mm are not allowed. Also, the overall width should not be more than the vehicle’s original width.

5. Add-ons of big bumpers or protecting guards, the extra allowance should not exceed 50% from the vehicle’s wheel base.

6. The distance between headlamps and signal lamps should not exceed 300mm and 400mm, measured from the widest area of the vehicle after modification.

7. Roof rack. It should not exceed the length of the roof, or width of the vehicle or the height of 400mm, measuring from the highest region of the vehicle.

INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT WHICH IS NOT ALLOWED

1. Blinking lights (other than signal lights and hazard lights) at the front or rear of the car.
2. Installation of light blue, purple or green.
3. Installation of a mix of horn or with a two-tone horn.
4. Installation of spot lights at the rear of the car.
5. Installation of tinted glass or colored material on the front windscreen, rear windscreen and side windows which permit the light is less than 70%.

Note: However, the use of tinted glass or colored material at the top of the front windscreen of 20% of its width and the window glass is allowed in the quarter may be amended from time to time

TYPES OF MODIFICATIONS WHICH REQUIRES THE PERMISSION OF JPJ/RTD BEFORE INSTALLATIONS

If the modification and add-on of additional accessories can cause a big differences in terms of design, measurements, stability and safety, and characteristics of the original vehicle, a written permit is required from JPJ. Examples:-

1. Modification on the frame andstructure or monocoque frame of a motorized vehicle.
2. Modification on its shape or original characteristics of the vehicle.
3. Modification from a saloon car to a convertible car.
4. Modification on the fuel system.
5. Changes on the braking systems
6. Changes on the steering system
7. Changes on the vehicle’s wheel base
8. The use of fibreglass body as to replace the metal body parts.
9. Changes on the engine.
10. Installation of sunroof on the roof.

For modifications in the above or similar thereto, applications must be submitted to: –

Director,

Automotive Engineering Division,

Road Transport Department,

Level 2, Block D4, Complex,

Federal Government Administrative Centre,

62620 Putrajaya

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