Do blackened headlights require registration?
4 Answers
According to current legal regulations, any changes to the vehicle body that differ from the registered condition must be reported to the vehicle management office for registration. Modifications to the vehicle's appearance: This means that any changes to the vehicle's appearance must be registered. Therefore, extensive blackening of the headlights requires registration with the vehicle management office. If significant differences from the original vehicle appearance are found, the vehicle may not pass the annual inspection. Relevant regulations: According to the current vehicle registration rules, if the owner wishes to change the authorized vehicle's color, model, power, purpose, or body design, or modify the chassis, body, or engine, they must apply to the transportation department for a change of registration. Adding spoilers, designing large belts, or altering exhaust pipes are generally not permitted.
I just helped my brother with blacking out his car lights last time and specifically checked the regulations. Strictly speaking, blacking out headlights is considered altering the parameters of lighting devices, which falls under illegal modifications. According to the 'Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations,' apart from major components like body color and the engine that require filing, lighting systems cannot be modified arbitrarily. After blacking out, the light transmittance decreases, making nighttime driving particularly dangerous. If caught by traffic police, you'll be issued a ticket directly. I know a few friends who are into car modifications and have suffered losses, with the worst case being their car impounded and ordered to restore the original condition. If you really like the blacked-out effect, I recommend using peelable spray film, which can be removed during annual inspections. Driving around with blacked-out lights and worrying about being checked by traffic police isn't worth it—it's safer to stick with the original factory lights.
I specifically asked a master mechanic with 20 years of experience about this, and he's handled countless cases. The law requires that headlight light transmittance must meet standards, and blackout treatments are definitely non-compliant. Traffic police mainly check if your light transmittance is below 70% - exceeding this limit counts as illegal modification. The master said their shop handled over a dozen blackout modification cases last year, and all encountered issues. The most typical example was a highway accident at night where the driver was deemed fully at fault due to non-compliant lighting, and the insurance company refused compensation. Nowadays, road cameras can detect abnormal lighting - it's really not worth the risk. If you want customization, it's better to switch to OEM blackout assemblies that come pre-registered from the factory - those are the only legal option.
I've checked the explicit regulations, and the requirements for headlight modifications are very strict. If the light transmittance is insufficient after tinting, it's illegal, and there's simply no official channel for approval. A friend's car failed the annual inspection last year due to tinted lights and had to buy bulbs on the spot for a quick replacement. Before making any modifications, I suggest considering three questions: Will the headlights become dimmer for daily use? How much will the lighting effectiveness be reduced on rainy days? What's the probability of being stopped by traffic police? These issues can all cause real trouble. Safety comes first—instead of spending effort on these modifications, it's better to save up for upgrading to the factory high-end lighting system.
