Tinted glass, loud exhausts, lipstick marks: What counts as an illegal car modification in India

Modifying a vehicle in India is not simply a matter of personal choice: any change to a car's appearance or specifications that departs from its original manufacturer settings requires prior approval from the registering authority, according to Delhi Traffic Police, PTI reports. Owners who skip this step risk fines or even having their vehicle impounded under the Motor Vehicles Act, regardless of how harmless the modification might seem. The issue recently drew attention after a Gwalior man was fined Rs 5,500 for an unusual case of vehicle alteration: roughly 3,400 lipstick kiss marks left on his car by his girlfriend, in a makeover that went viral before police tracked down the vehicle and ordered the marks removed.

The car had been driven around Gwalior's City Centre for two days before a video of it went viral. Traffic police subsequently traced the vehicle and imposed the fine on its owner under the Motor Vehicles Act, in addition to ordering the removal of the lipstick marks.

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What counts as an illegal modification

The Gwalior episode raises a broader question for motorists elsewhere, including in Delhi: what kinds of vehicle modifications can actually land an owner in legal trouble? According to a senior Delhi Traffic Police officer, a vehicle cannot be freely altered once it has been purchased from a manufacturer.

"When someone buys a vehicle from a showroom, it complies with the prescribed traffic and motor vehicle guidelines. For any further changes, one has to take permission, which will be examined by the competent authority. Whether the permission should be granted or rejected is decided after verification and on the basis of the reason for which the owner wants to make the change," the officer said.

Under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, alterations that cause a vehicle's registration certificate to differ from its original manufacturer specifications are regulated, with permission from the registering authority required in cases where such changes are permissible. According to the officer, modifications that substantially alter a vehicle's appearance or prescribed specifications can invite enforcement action.

"Any modification that changes or hides the original identity or make of the vehicle, changes its entire colour without the required permission, or involves prohibited fittings such as tinted glass can land the owner in trouble under the Motor Vehicles Act. Depending on the nature of the violation, enforcement authorities can also take action against or impound the vehicle as permitted under law," he said.

Common violations: Tinted glass, loud exhausts and prohibited horns

Tinted glass remains one of the most frequent violations, according to Delhi Traffic Police, which prohibits black films or additional tinting. Factory-fitted glass is required to allow at least 70 per cent visible light transmission through the windscreen and rear window, and 50 per cent through the side windows.

Loud aftermarket silencers, particularly on motorcycles, represent another area of concern, the officer said. The Central Motor Vehicles Rules mandate that vehicles be fitted with silencers meeting prescribed noise standards, meaning a modified exhaust cannot be treated as a permissible alteration simply because the vehicle remains roadworthy.

Additional violations include excessively powerful or unauthorised extra headlights and improper use of high beams, which can dazzle other motorists in built-up urban areas and fall under specific traffic enforcement rules. Pressure horns and multi-toned horns are similarly prohibited, with owners barred from installing horns producing harsh, shrill, loud or alarming sounds.

The use of "Press" or other official-looking signage on private vehicles can also draw scrutiny where it falsely implies an official status or violates prescribed vehicle markings, since such a sticker does not by itself confer any special road privilege. Changing a vehicle's registered colour or carrying out substantial structural modifications without following the prescribed approval and registration process is similarly not permitted.

The officer cautioned that motorists should not assume a modification is allowed simply because it does not affect the vehicle's mechanical functioning. "Every vehicle owner must follow the prescribed traffic and motor vehicle rules. Before making any alteration, they should check whether permission is required rather than making the change first and approaching the authorities later," he said.

While the Gwalior case involved an unusual modification, the broader takeaway for motorists remains more conventional: tinted windows, unauthorised lights, loud exhausts, prohibited horns, unauthorised colour changes and similar alterations can turn a personal style choice into a traffic violation.

Delhi's broader enforcement drive

Separately, Delhi Traffic Police recently conducted a week-long citywide enforcement drive, issuing 7,675 challans for wrong-side driving, 22,992 for riding without a helmet, and 1,568 for triple riding, targeting violations considered serious risks to the safety of motorists, pedestrians and other road users.

Focused enforcement was also carried out against e-rickshaws at congestion-prone locations, with 7,298 challans issued to e-rickshaw drivers for violations and 63 e-rickshaws impounded for offences warranting such action. Police said a citywide operation to check vehicles not complying with prescribed norms will also be launched.