Is it illegal to remove the rear seats of a minivan?
2 Answers
Removing the rear seats of a minivan is illegal as it violates the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China. Unauthorized removal of the rear seats of a micro minivan will result in the traffic management department of the public security authority ordering the restoration of the original condition, along with a warning or a fine. Taking the Wuling Rongguang V 2019 1.5L Utility Model National VILAR as an example, it is a micro minivan under SAIC-GM-Wuling. In terms of power, the vehicle is equipped with a 1.5L engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Regarding body dimensions, the vehicle measures 4415 mm in length, 1665 mm in width, and 1850 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2720 mm. For the suspension system, the front suspension is a MacPherson independent suspension, and the rear suspension is a leaf spring non-independent suspension.
Removing the rear seats of a minivan may indeed be illegal. Traffic regulations prohibit unauthorized modifications to the vehicle's structure, and the seats in a minivan are safety devices. I've seen people remove them to transport goods and get caught by traffic police on the road, resulting in fines of several hundred yuan and penalty points. The police explained that the seats protect passengers, and removing them can affect annual inspections and safety. Minivans are originally designed for passenger transport, and converting them into cargo vehicles without proper procedures is a violation. While it might seem convenient, it's not worth the risk. If you really need to make changes, you can apply for a modification registration. Safety comes first—don’t suffer losses over small conveniences. During vehicle inspections, discrepancies from the original configuration can cause trouble. My advice is to use the vehicle as intended and avoid illegal modifications.
