Can modified car interiors pass the annual inspection?
2 Answers
Modified car interiors can pass the annual inspection if they do not affect safe driving. However, if they impact safe driving, they will not pass. The annual inspection is an event every car owner will encounter, where professional staff and equipment are responsible for inspecting the vehicle. Car interiors mainly refer to the automotive products used for internal modifications. Car interiors cover various aspects of the vehicle's interior, such as steering wheel covers, seat cushions, floor mats, car perfumes, hanging accessories, interior decorations, and storage boxes—all of which are car interior products. Car interior components not only serve decorative purposes but also involve rich functionality, safety, and engineering attributes.
I've specialized in studying vehicle inspection regulations, and whether interior modifications affect the inspection largely depends on the nature of the changes. According to traffic laws, non-permanent soft modifications like replacing regular seat covers or adding floor mats are completely unrestricted. However, structural alterations are prohibited. For example, removing seats to create a bed or converting a five-seater into a seven-seater—these changes to the original registered data will definitely fail the inspection. One detail to note is that steering wheel modifications should be approached with caution. Overly thick aftermarket steering wheels may interfere with airbag deployment. Also, fixing too many dolls or items on the dashboard can obstruct the driver's view, which the DMV will flag. In fact, seatbelt modifications are the most easily overlooked—when reupholstering, ensure the buckle positions aren't shifted from their original locations. Before the inspection, it's advisable to remove excessively flashy steering wheel covers and vision-obstructing decorations, and you should generally be fine.
