What are the penalties and demerit points for removing seats from a van?

[KendraAnn]

The penalty for removing seats from a van is that the traffic management department of the public security authorities will order the restoration of the original condition and impose a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan. 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 a motor vehicle or alter the registered structure, construction, or characteristics of a motor vehicle without authorization. The vehicle registration management office may apply for the following changes in registration: 1. Changing the body color; 2. Replacing the engine; 3. Replacing the body or frame; 4. Replacing the entire vehicle due to quality issues; 5. The change of the motor vehicle owner's residence out of or into the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office.

[SanAustin]

Speaking of removing seats from vans, I must warn you not to mess around with it. Just the other day, my neighbor Old Zhang took out the back seats of his Jinbei van to haul goods, but he was pulled over by traffic police as soon as he hit the road. The officer issued him a 200-yuan fine, deducted 3 points from his license, and worst of all, demanded he reinstall the seats the same day. The officer explained clearly that Article 16 of the Road Traffic Safety Law prohibits unauthorized modifications to vehicle structures, and removing seats from vans is explicitly banned as illegal modification. Don’t think you can get away with it—not only will you face fines and points, but your vehicle will also fail its annual inspection, and in serious cases, it could even be impounded. If you really need to transport goods, just buy a proper truck. It’s not worth the risk just to save a little money.

[DelJourney]

A friend's personal experience running a small business tells you that removing seats is absolutely not worth it. When his family was delivering goods, they took out the last two rows of seats in their Wuling Hongguang, only to be caught at a highway checkpoint. The traffic police treated it as illegal vehicle modification—deducted 3 points, fined 500 yuan, and issued a rectification notice requiring restoration to the original condition. That wasn't the end of it—during last year's vehicle inspection, the DMV directly blocked it from passing, and they had to spend extra money to hire a fixer to resolve the issue. The key problem is that such modifications are extremely unsafe. Last time he slammed on the brakes, all the cardboard boxes in the cargo area slammed into the driver's seat, nearly causing an accident. If you really need to transport goods, it's better to go through the proper channels and apply for commercial operation qualifications—far better than living in constant fear.

[SanAlana]

We van drivers all have the urge to modify our vehicles, but removing seats is something to seriously reconsider. Last year, I took out the back seats because they were in the way when hauling renovation materials, only to get caught by traffic cameras on the third day. The traffic police notified me to handle the violation and issued a fine with 3 demerit points, citing unauthorized modification of the vehicle structure. The officer specifically emphasized that such alterations can disrupt the vehicle's center of gravity, making it prone to rollovers during sharp turns. Later, experienced fellow drivers shared a tip: if you occasionally need to transport goods, you can fold the seats instead of removing them, as long as you don't overload or block the windows—this way, it's more justifiable. But for long-term use, applying for a road transport permit is the safer bet.

[McVincent]

I run an auto repair shop and have seen too many car owners fined for removing seats. The most common penalty is a fine of 200-500 yuan plus 3 demerit points, mainly based on the 'Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations'. There was a fruit vendor who converted his Changan Star into a mobile stall and got fined with his license temporarily suspended after being caught. The key issue is safety risk—factory seats have fixed brackets to ensure safety, but removed seats turn cargo into projectiles during collisions. Annual inspections are another major problem; our veteran mechanic says any traces of seat rail removal will fail the inspection line. If you really must modify, keeping at least one seat intact is safest—this way you can argue it was a temporary removal during inspections.

[StCorbin]

A while ago, I helped my brother move, and right after removing the van's rear seats, I got a ticket. At that time, I was stopped by traffic police for a random check under an overpass. The officer pointed to the empty rear seat area and said it was clearly a modification. The penalty was quite strict: a 200 yuan fine, 3 demerit points, and a verbal warning requiring restoration within three days. The officer explained that removing the seats alters the van's structural integrity, compromising passenger safety in a collision. Later, I learned there's a workaround: keeping the last row of seats intact but folding them to secure cargo. This way, you can still carry items without violating modification laws. The key is not to remove the mounting brackets, preserving the vehicle's original structural features, which makes it easier to explain during inspections.