Is It Illegal to Remove Seats from a Van?
2 Answers
It is illegal to remove seats from a van without authorization. According to Article 16, Paragraph (1) of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": "No unit or individual may assemble motor vehicles or alter the registered structure, construction, or characteristics of motor vehicles without authorization." In accordance with Article 57 of the "Regulations on the Registration of Motor Vehicles," "those who alter the appearance of a motor vehicle or its registered technical data without authorization shall be ordered by the traffic management department of the public security authority to restore it to its original state and may be given a warning or fined up to 500 yuan." The following modifications are considered legal: 1. Installation of front and rear anti-collision devices on small and mini passenger vehicles. 2. Installation of windshields, water tanks, toolboxes, spare tire racks, etc., on freight motor vehicles. 3. Addition of interior decorations to motor vehicles.
I remember driving a van for decades, and some people would greedily remove seats for more cargo space, but that's illegal. Traffic regulations clearly state that vehicle seat structures cannot be altered without authorization. Removing seats destabilizes the vehicle's center of gravity, making it prone to rollovers during braking. The risk of accidents increases significantly, and without seats, the safety system is incomplete, leading to more severe injuries in rear-end collisions. In terms of fines, if caught, you could face penalties ranging from hundreds to thousands of yuan, plus demerit points affecting insurance. I've seen many cases where restoring seats was both troublesome and costly. My advice is to stick to the original factory design—if cargo space is insufficient, rent a truck or make multiple trips. It's safer and more worry-free. Don’t risk big trouble for small gains; following the rules ensures long-term safety.