Is It Illegal to Add a Spoiler to a Car?
3 Answers
Adding a spoiler to a car is illegal. Here are some specific regulations: Vehicle Registration Regulations: According to Article 57 of the "Vehicle Registration Regulations," except for the circumstances specified in Articles 10 and 16 of these regulations, unauthorized changes to the vehicle's appearance and registered technical data will result in the traffic management department of the public security authority ordering the restoration of the original condition and imposing a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan. Other Regulations: Article 16 states that under any of the following circumstances, the owner of the vehicle does not need to apply for a modification registration, provided that it does not affect safety and the identification of the license plate: Installation of front and rear anti-collision devices on small and mini passenger vehicles; Installation of windshields, water tanks, toolboxes, spare tire racks, etc., on freight motor vehicles; Addition of interior decorations to the vehicle.
Last time I accompanied my buddy for his annual vehicle inspection, the huge spoiler on his car almost failed the test. China has particularly strict regulations on spoiler modifications, mainly focusing on three points: First, the size—anything exceeding 30cm beyond the original car length is absolutely unacceptable. Second, it must not obstruct the license plate—I’ve seen cases where half the plate was blocked by a spoiler, resulting in a 12-point deduction. Third, you must register the modification with the DMV. The most troublesome are those with lighting modifications, like blue lights flashing while driving at night—cops will definitely pull you over. A modification shop owner secretly told me that out of ten cars with spoiler mods, eight have to remove them to pass inspection. If you really want to enhance downforce, it’s better to opt for an OEM sport spoiler—at least those installed by 4S shops can pass inspection.
My neighbor's kid just got a ticket for modifying his rear spoiler, wasting 3000 bucks and having to remove it. The key is it depends: for regular family cars with a small ducktail spoiler under 30cm, as long as it doesn't block the license plate or have strobe lights, traffic cops usually don't bother. But if a hot hatch installs a racing-style large spoiler, it gets pulled over immediately. Experienced mechanics say material matters too—carbon fiber is too flashy, plastic cracks easily, best to choose injection-molded parts matching the original car color. If you really want to modify, go straight to the DMV with your registration for photo updates after installation, don't wait until you're caught to regret it.
