Can a car with an added roof rack pass the annual inspection?
2 Answers
A car with an added roof rack cannot pass the annual inspection, as installing a roof rack on your own alters the vehicle's appearance, thus failing the inspection. The annual motor vehicle inspection includes an exterior examination, checking for damaged lights, whether the vehicle's body appearance matches its original state, any changes to the suspension, as well as components like the sunroof and tires. Additional installations that affect the vehicle's exterior appearance, such as roof racks, body kits, spoilers, modified exhaust pipes, or larger tires, will not pass the annual inspection. Vehicle annual inspection refers to a mandatory test for every vehicle that has obtained an official license plate and registration certificate, equivalent to an annual health check for the vehicle based on the safety technical conditions for motor vehicle operation.
Last year, I installed a roof rack on my car and specifically consulted the inspection station before the annual review. The staff emphasized that it must comply with height regulations—the rack should not exceed 30 centimeters from the roof and must be securely fixed with bolts. I had the installation done by a professional shop and kept the construction receipts and product certification. During the annual inspection, they used a tape measure to check the height and even shook the rack to test its stability. In the end, it passed smoothly. The key is to file the modification in advance and retake the vehicle license photo with the roof rack visible. I recommend not casually installing low-quality products yourself—those glued on will definitely be rejected, and removing them can end up costing more time and money.
