Is it illegal to modify the exhaust pipe sound?
3 Answers
Modifying the exhaust pipe sound is illegal. Below is an introduction to some knowledge about exhaust pipes: 1. Reason: If the modification is not approved by the traffic management department in advance, the modified exhaust pipe is illegal and cannot pass the annual inspection normally. 2. Installation position: Installed in the exhaust pipe between the engine exhaust manifold and the muffler, making the entire exhaust system a flexible connection, thereby reducing vibration and noise, facilitating installation, and extending the life of the exhaust muffler system. 3. Material: The main material is stainless steel SUS304, and the sleeve and connector materials can be stainless steel or aluminized steel. 4. Classification: Generally includes original pipes, back pressure pipes (environmentally friendly like the original), semi-back pressure pipes, straight pipes, semi-straight pipes, etc.
I heard many young people enjoy modifying exhaust pipes for the sound, but this can actually cross legal boundaries. A few days ago, a friend at the traffic police department told me that the Road Traffic Safety Law explicitly prohibits unauthorized modifications to a vehicle's structure. If the exhaust noise exceeds 80 decibels, getting caught means your car could be impounded plus a fine starting at 500 yuan. What’s worse, during the annual inspection, if the emissions and noise tests fail, you’ll have to remove the modifications—wasting both effort and money. In fact, overly loud exhaust noise on highways can compromise driving safety, as the constant buzzing makes it hard to hear navigation prompts. If you want to stand out, it’s better to choose compliant exhaust kits—at least you won’t get noise complaints from neighbors at midnight.
Last year, I got into trouble because of modifying my exhaust. At that time, I thought the stock exhaust was too quiet, so I spent 3,000 yuan on a valve exhaust system. But right after driving out, I was stopped by traffic police for a noise test. They directly pulled out a decibel meter and said I exceeded the limit by 15 decibels, issuing an on-the-spot fine and ordering me to restore it to original condition. The most frustrating part was failing the annual inspection later, costing me over 800 yuan in labor fees to reinstall the original exhaust. According to regulations, all modified vehicle parameters must be filed with the DMV, but exhaust pipes fall under environmental protection items and are basically never approved. My advice is if you really want to modify, just upgrade the muffler and avoid touching the exhaust tailpipe.
