Cars set to change headlights, grilles

Replacing the front lighting with a product with equivalent power consumption is not considered vehicle modification. Photo: Vinh Phuc.

On December 29, 2023, the Ministry of Transport issued Circular No. 43/2023 amending and supplementing Circular No. 85/2014 on the modification of road motor vehicles. In the content of Circular 43 just issued, some changes only relate to the interior and convenience of cars and do not affect safety, so they are not considered vehicle modification.

Specifically, changing the door up and down in the passenger compartment (excluding changing the position and size of the door); changing some structures of the cargo compartment; adding additional metal sheets to the front frame of the convertible without increasing the height of the cargo compartment; or installing, replacing, or removing the cargo compartment cover, luggage of a pickup truck without changing the size of the cargo compartment and the overall dimensions of the vehicle will not be considered vehicle modification.

Notably, the new Circular also does not consider the installation of removable fog lights as vehicle modification. In addition, vehicle owners are also allowed to replace the front lighting assembly with a certified or announced assembly in compliance with QCVN 35:2017/BGTVT without the need to modify the vehicle’s structure to ensure installation; or replace the bulbs in the front lighting assembly with other bulbs with equivalent power consumption without having to intervene or modify the structure of the assembly.

Changing the design of certain details of the vehicle body such as the front grille, fender; or installing additional sunroof on the roof of a truck, steps up and down, decorative exhaust pipes, decorative headlight trim, signal lights without changing the overall dimensions of the vehicle will also not be considered vehicle modification, according to the content of Circular No. 43/2023.

The content of Circular No. 43 just issued also clearly states that the above cases are still subject to technical safety inspection and environmental protection for road motor vehicles in order to be granted a quality certificate of inspection along with an inspection seal.

Vehicles with modified lighting are still subject to inspection. Illustrative photo: Vinh Phuc.

It is known that Circular No. 43/2023 will officially take effect from February 15. Therefore, from the middle of next month, vehicles that make changes to the lighting, grill without intervening, modifying the structure of the assembly or changing the overall dimensions of the vehicle will still be subject to normal inspection.

In response to this information, both vehicle owners and auto garages expressed their joy and excitement. A car upgrade workshop owner in Bac Kan province expressed great appreciation for the open policies from functional agencies.

Meanwhile, Mr. Thanh Tuan (Ho Chi Minh City) said he has wanted to upgrade the halogen headlights on his Hyundai Grand i10 for a long time but still hesitated due to the inspection issue.

“When driving at night, I find the lighting system not very effective, but I have not dared to make any changes because I was worried it wouldn’t pass inspection. Now with the new Circular allowing these modifications, I am relieved,” Mr. Thanh Tuan happily shared.

In addition to the above content, Circular No. 43/2023 also expands the cases where vehicles to be modified are exempt from designing and submitting a dossier to create favorable conditions for individuals and businesses.

For example, installing, replacing, or removing the cargo compartment cover, luggage of a pickup truck that changes the size of the cargo compartment but does not change the overall dimensions of the vehicle; installing, replacing, or removing a roof rack on a sedan that complies with the manufacturer’s instructions without changing the overall width of the vehicle will fall within the scope of exemption from designing and submitting a dossier.