Will Illegal Vehicle Modifications Result in a 12-Point Deduction?

[StevenMarie]

Illegal vehicle modifications do not result in point deductions. Here is the relevant information: Handling Measures: Driving a motor vehicle without a license is subject to fines, temporary seizure of the vehicle, and detention for up to 15 days. Driving an illegally modified motor vehicle on the road is subject to fines, revocation of the driver's license, and confiscation of the vehicle. Introduction to the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China: The Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China was enacted to maintain road traffic order, prevent and reduce traffic accidents, protect personal safety, safeguard the property safety and other legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations, and improve traffic efficiency.

[LillianLynn]

I've carefully checked the regulations, and illegal modifications don't necessarily result in a 12-point deduction. Common modifications like changing the body color or replacing the exhaust usually lead to fines ranging from 200 to 2000 yuan if caught by the police, followed by an on-the-spot order to remove and restore the original parts. However, if you go for dangerous modifications—such as installing blinding xenon headlights, adding a turbocharger for racing, or replacing the engine without registration—then it's the maximum penalty. I once witnessed a severe case at the traffic police station where the vehicle was impounded, and the driver received 6 points for tampering with vehicle parameters, plus another 12 points for racing, making them retake the written test. In the end, modifications aren't entirely off-limits; just register them with the DMV ten days in advance to keep it legal.

[DelOlive]

My young neighbor is a die-hard car modification enthusiast who got pulled over last week. He had applied a rainbow-colored electro-optic film and added a rear wing for street racing, but the traffic police issued him a ticket for illegal modifications: a 500-yuan fine on the spot with the film being torn off, and no points were deducted at all. Later, chatting with him, I learned that the current regulations are actually quite humane. Common modifications like changing to wheels of the same size or adding a small front lip aren’t considered illegal at all. However, if the exhaust roar exceeds 80 decibels, it counts as noise pollution, and if strictly enforced, it might even be penalized as dangerous driving with point deductions. The most unfair cases are those who believe online rumors claiming they’ll lose 12 points instantly, scaring them into reverting their cars overnight. In reality, properly registered modified cars can pass annual inspections—my matte paint job was approved this year, and the inspection took just five minutes.

[IkerLee]

Modifications and penalty points depend on the nature of the changes. Minor modifications usually just count as violations, resulting in fines and a requirement to restore the vehicle to its original condition. However, my cousin who works in auto repair shared two extreme cases: one where someone used low-quality brake calipers in a modification, leading to a rear-end collision, which was eventually classified as endangering public safety; another where a substandard battery was installed in a new energy vehicle, causing a fire, resulting in immediate revocation of the driver's license. Modifications that compromise safety can lead to criminal charges, not just penalty points. Recent regulations have added a new rule: if modifications lead to falsified annual inspections—for example, using temporary spray to remove dark window tints to pass inspection—getting caught will result in an additional 3 penalty points, which is more severe than the modification itself.