What are the penalties for removing seats from a van?

[DiLuke]

Removing seats from a van is an illegal act. The traffic management department of the public security authority will order the restoration of the original condition and impose a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan, and may even detain the vehicle. Relevant regulations are as follows: 1. Article 16 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": No unit or individual may engage in the following acts: assembling motor vehicles or altering the registered structure, construction, or characteristics of a motor vehicle without authorization. 2. Article 57 of the "Regulations on the Registration of Motor Vehicles": Except for the circumstances specified in Article 10 and Article 16 of these regulations, unauthorized alteration of the appearance of a motor vehicle or its registered technical data will result in the traffic management department of the public security authority ordering the restoration of the original condition and imposing a warning or a fine of up to 500 yuan.

[Faith]

Last time I mentioned a friend's story. He removed several seats from his minivan to carry more stuff, thinking it would save time and money. But that night, he was stopped by the police at an intersection for inspection and was immediately issued a ticket—fined 500 yuan and deducted 2 points! Even worse, the police demanded he restore the vehicle to its original condition before allowing him to drive away, otherwise it wouldn’t pass the annual inspection. This isn’t just about money; it’s a major safety hazard: minivans are designed with fixed seats, and removing them disrupts the interior space, making it dangerous during sudden braking—people or cargo could fly out and cause injuries. He later told me it took him three days to find someone to reinstall the seats, costing more than what he had saved. I advise everyone not to follow his example. Stick to the factory configuration—safety first. Don’t invite big trouble for a little convenience. During regular maintenance, check the seat fixtures to ensure a stable ride.

[AlexaAnn]

As someone who cares about driving safety, I must emphasize that removing van seats is a serious issue. This counts as illegal modification and carries heavy legal penalties: traffic police may impose fines of over 200 yuan, deduct 3 or more points from your license, or even revoke it in severe cases. More importantly, the risks are alarming: without seat support, the vehicle's structure weakens, making rollovers or passengers being thrown out during turns or sudden brakes much more likely, significantly increasing the probability of injuries or fatalities. I've seen accident reports where unsecured cargo in modified vans flew around and injured passengers. Also, don't forget this will cause your vehicle to fail annual inspections, and insurance companies may deny claims—it's not worth the loss. Remember, vehicle designs meet safety standards; arbitrary modifications endanger yourself and others. Always check seat stability before driving, and if you need cargo space, rent a compliant vehicle for safer transport.

[WyattRose]

I learned this the hard way: I once removed the rear seats of my minivan to make space for delivering packages, thinking it would be more convenient. But just a few days later, I was pulled over by traffic police during a random check. I was fined 400 yuan and had points deducted from my license. The whole process was embarrassing, and the officer lectured me about how this was an illegal vehicle modification, warning that the penalty would be heavier if I did it again. The consequences didn’t stop there—later, when I was working in freight transport, my company found out and nearly fired me because the illegal modification could affect insurance coverage. Looking back, I realize how risky it was. Removing the seats might save space, but it creates serious safety hazards—loose cargo could block exits or even injure people. I strongly advise against doing this. Instead, consult your dealership for legal ways to transport goods safely.