Can a Modified Grille Pass the Annual Inspection?
2 Answers
Whether a car with a modified grille can pass the annual inspection depends on whether the manufacturer of the grille has registered it and whether the vehicle matches the photo on the vehicle registration certificate. Without approval from the traffic management department, modifying the grille is illegal and will prevent normal license plate registration and passing the annual inspection. Here is relevant information: 1. The main functions of a car grille are to allow air intake for the radiator, engine, and air conditioning, to prevent damage to internal components from external objects while driving, and to enhance aesthetics and individuality. In automotive engineering, the grille is used to cover the body to allow air intake. Most vehicles have a front grille to protect the radiator and engine. 2. The grille can be modified before purchasing a new car, which does not affect license plate registration or the annual inspection. If you want to modify the grille, you can do so after the vehicle has been licensed, and the modified grille will not affect the annual inspection. 3. New cars require an inspection every two years within the first six years, and annually after six years. The deadline for the annual inspection is two years from the date of license plate registration (you can inspect the car up to 90 days in advance). Additionally, modifications to color, logos, lights, etc., will not pass the annual inspection.
Last time I modified the front grille of my car and was worried it might fail the annual inspection, but it turned out fine. The key is the extent of the modification. If you just replaced it with a similar style, without changing the color or size, and it doesn't affect the license plate position or safety functions, most places will pass it. However, remember that during the annual inspection, the staff will check if the vehicle's appearance matches the photo on the registration certificate. If the modification is too extreme, like adding LED lights or enlarging the size, it could cause issues. I personally went to the DMV in advance to ask, and they suggested keeping photos of the original parts as proof. Modifying cars is fun, but to save trouble, I recommend not altering key parts randomly, or you might end up spending money to restore them.
