Updated on April 16, 2021 - We all love to modify our bikes, to make them look cool and unique and sometimes to extract more performance too. But, do you know what are the procedures for the modified bike registration in India? In this article, we will tell you all about the registration of modified bike in our country.
Original Article - December 19, 2019; You just want attention&..you dont want my heart
Oh, if only our bikes could sing out their feelings. We hate to admit it but it's true. We all care about our bike's appearance and talk a tad bit more about it than what actually powers the machine. We all love it when our bikes get attention; heads turning when you go past a crowd with that screaming exhaust. Those racy decals that make it seem like its fresh off the race track. Despite the additional investments that these modifications entail, it wasnt uncommon to come across such modified bikes pretty frequently.
2019 however changed the game for a lot of people. The Honourable Supreme Court of India in 2019 ruled that No vehicle can be altered so as to change original specification made by the manufacturer. Such particulars cannot be altered, which have been specified by the manufacturer for the purpose of entry in the certificate of registration. This decision was taken in lieu of the original decision by the Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court suggested that the high courts decision failed to give effect to the provisions contained in section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. Hence, any major modifications on vehicles have been completely banned and any alterations to the original specifications will now be illegal.
So what does this mean for those who wish to convert their fairly simple bikes into a handsome roaring beast?
Well, in short, the Supreme Court has a blanket ban on all modifications that change any of the original specs given by the manufacturer to the govt. These specs include performance specs, dimensions of your bike, brakes, exhausts etc. Almost everything in fact is untouchable except a few little things about which we will tell you down below. This also brings us to the big question: is modified bike registration possible anymore?
Can I register my bike now if Ive already modified it?
If you have already modified your bike and are now looking for a way to register it, were sorry but it will simply not be possible. Any RTO today will simply refuse to register your bike unless it has its original specifications. If you dont register and youre caught, the bike will be impounded. So in a nutshell, no, it is currently not possible to register any bike which does not match its original RC book that was issued when it was first bought.
What can be legally modified in a bike?
1) The colour of your bike can be changed as the Supreme Court specifically said that changing the colour of the vehicle to any RTO approved colours will be allowed. This means that you can either wrap your bike or do a custom paint job as long as you take prior permission from the local RTO to do so.
2) Extremely minor fitments and modification like winglets, visors, decals, tail tidys, engine bellys etc can be added and are legal.
3) It is also allowed to change the tyres if the manufacturers offer different spec tyres for the base and the top variant. You can change the tyres then to match the ones on the top spec variant.
4) The engine can also be changed provided your current engine is damaged or is not safe enough to operate, but even this requires prior permission from the RTO. You will have to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the RTO first to allow you to change the engine and then apply for re-registration once the engine is changed. If your old engine is in working condition then this wont be allowed. Also, both the old and the new engines have to run on the same fuel. If the protocols are not followed, the vehicles registration can be cancelled.
How to take permission from the RTO for colour changes.
1) So the first step is to take your RC book along with a sample and precise name of the colour you wish to paint your bike to the authorised RTO under whose jurisdiction your vehicle is registered.
2) Fill the form for requesting an approval for colour change ( NAMV form) and get a signed letter of approval from the RTO for the colour change.
3) Go to a reputed workshop that can wrap or paint your bike properly. Always use good quality wraps and paints for the job. Get your vehicle painted in the same colour for which you got your approval.
4) Now, take your vehicle to the RTO, show the colour and the RTO approval letter, pay the necessary fees and get your RC book entry edited by the Authorized RTO officer.
It is important to note that you cannot paint your vehicles colour to Olive Green or Military Green. These colours are not permitted for civilian use and are only meant for defence vehicles. This is precisely the reason why the Royal Enfields Battle green (Classic 500 in the military green) is not available for sale to civilians in India. It is however exported to other markets outside India. Apart from the Military colours, camouflage patterns are also not permitted for civilian use.
