What are the penalties for not filing a record when replacing an engine?
4 Answers
Replacing an engine without filing a change registration within the stipulated time limit will result in a warning or a fine. Here is some additional information about engine replacement: 1. Procedure: To complete the change procedure, apply at the vehicle management office. The owner needs to bring their ID card, vehicle license, vehicle registration certificate, and proof of the new engine. At the vehicle management office, staff will issue a vehicle inspection application and take an imprint of the new engine number. 2. Expired Annual Inspection: If the vehicle license does not undergo the annual inspection upon expiry, the previous year's inspection validity will expire. Failure to conduct the annual inspection means the vehicle has not passed the required annual or biennial inspection. Vehicles that have not passed the annual inspection are not allowed to drive on public roads. Driving such a vehicle on public roads will result in penalties, hence the need for replacement.
Last year my car's engine broke down and I replaced it with a new one, but forgot to register the change with the DMV. As a result, I was pulled over by traffic police on the road. They checked and saw the engine number didn't match, so they immediately issued me a ticket: a 300-yuan fine, and my car was towed to an inspection station for re-examination. It took three days to get my car back, during which I spent a lot of unnecessary money on taxis. What's even more frustrating is that later my annual inspection failed, and the insurance company refused to cover accident damages, claiming the modification was illegal. I really regret not following the rules—after replacing the engine, you must immediately bring the invoice, ID card, and vehicle documents to register the change. Otherwise, it's not just about fines and impounding; even daily driving becomes a hassle. For safety's sake, don't cut corners to save trouble.
Having run an auto repair shop for over a decade, I've encountered cases where car owners were fined for failing to register their engine replacements. Typically, the penalty involves traffic police issuing a fine ranging from 200 to 500 yuan, varying by region. The vehicle also gets impounded, requiring the owner to retrieve the new engine's certification and invoice from the shop for reinspection and registration at the DMV before release. More troublesome is how this affects insurance claims and annual inspections—if an accident occurs, no one will cover the damages, creating serious complications. I always remind customers: registering an engine swap is straightforward—just visit the DMV with the documents, taking less than half a day. Why risk turning a minor issue into major losses?
Remember my neighbor who swapped his car's engine without registering the modification? Last month, he got caught. The penalty wasn't light: an on-the-spot fine of 400 yuan, the car impounded for inspection, and it took him two full days to sort everything out. This not only burned a hole in his pocket but also wasted his time. In case of an accident, insurance might outright refuse to pay because the records don't match. Road inspections are strict these days, so it's advisable to go through the proper channels and register any modifications to avoid future troubles.
