• News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Sunday, June 1, 2025
  • Login
Auto Journal Africa
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Ask Autojorunal AI
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home Premium

From cool to costly: Seven car modifications you should avoid in South Africa

David Ijaseun by David Ijaseun
August 20, 2024
in Premium
0
South Africa’s most expensive number plates costs R113,619 or $6,000
661
SHARES
8.7k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Customising cars is a popular trend in South Africa, with many enthusiasts eager to modify their vehicles for better performance or a unique look. However, while trendy, some of these car modifications can land drivers in trouble with the law. When taken too far, certain changes can render a vehicle unroadworthy and illegal to drive on South African roads.

According to legal experts at Law for All, car modifications typically fall into three categories: functional upgrades, aesthetic makeovers, and performance enhancements. Each of these can carry different levels of legal risk.

READ ALSO

Toyota transforms RAV4 into all-hybrid SUV starting 2026

Tesla loses ground in Europe as EV rivals surge amid cooling sentiment over Model Y

Functional Upgrades:

These modifications generally aim to improve practicality or give a car a sportier look. For instance, installing bigger and wider tyres or lowering the suspension slightly might make your vehicle look and feel more dynamic. However, these changes, while often harmless, can affect your car’s handling and may lead to problems during a roadworthy test.

Aesthetic Makeovers:

Custom paint jobs, chrome rims, and “halo” headlights fall under aesthetic modifications. These changes primarily alter the vehicle’s appearance without affecting its performance or safety. As such, they are generally considered harmless, though some aesthetic choices, like custom number plates with symbols or vulgar language, could run afoul of the law.

Car Modification

Performance Enhancements:

For those looking to push their car’s limits, performance enhancements like turbochargers or Nitrous Oxide systems are popular choices. However, these modifications are the most likely to be illegal because they can significantly alter a car’s speed and handling, potentially endangering both the driver and other road users.

Understanding the Legal requirements:

South Africa’s National Road Traffic Act does not provide a detailed list of illegal modifications, but it does emphasize the importance of roadworthiness. If your car fails to meet the necessary standards after modifications, it must be restored to a roadworthy condition and pass another test before being legally driven again.

Law for All highlights seven specific modifications that are most likely to be deemed illegal:

1. Excessive Speed Enhancements: Installing Nitrous Oxide cylinders can significantly boost a car’s speed, but this comes with a high risk to safety and legality.

2. Extreme Suspension Modifications: Lowering the suspension to a point where it compromises vehicle handling can make your car unroadworthy.

3. Oversized wheels: Fitting larger wheels may affect steering and overall vehicle control, leading to safety concerns.

4. Custom Number Plates: Plates featuring symbols like %, &, @, or offensive language can be illegal.

5. DIY Suspension Changes: Modifications such as cutting springs or heating coils to lower the vehicle can dangerously affect its handling.

6. Oversized Engines: Installing an engine that is too powerful for the vehicle can negatively impact handling, braking, and tyre wear.

7. Excessive Noise Systems: Installing a sound system that creates noise levels deemed a public nuisance could land you in legal trouble.

“Bear in mind, if you make adjustments that affect the handling or the speed capabilities of your car, you could end up endangering your own life and potentially the lives of other road users,” a report by Top Auto read in part. The consequences of such modifications could include fines, imprisonment, vehicle impoundment, or AARTO demerit points.

Given the broad interpretation of the law by traffic authorities, it is essential for car owners to carefully consider the potential legal implications before making any modifications. The key is to ensure that your vehicle remains safe, roadworthy, and in compliance with South African law.

Read more on Only South Africans who earn at least R40,000 monthly can afford the cheapest 7-seater SUV

Tags: HeadlineSouth Africa

Related Posts

Toyota transforms RAV4 into all-hybrid SUV starting 2026
Cars/SUVs

Toyota transforms RAV4 into all-hybrid SUV starting 2026

May 31, 2025
Tesla in Europe
Electric Vehicles

Tesla loses ground in Europe as EV rivals surge amid cooling sentiment over Model Y

May 27, 2025
Xiaomi hypercar
Business

Xiaomi rides high on Q1 boom, profits surge 65%

May 27, 2025
China’s BYD tops Tesla in European EV sales for the first time
Electric Vehicles

China’s BYD tops Tesla in European EV sales for the first time

May 25, 2025
Safe Return: The new tech making single-pilot flights safer than ever
Aerospace

Safe Return: The new tech making single-pilot flights safer than ever

May 24, 2025
Hawaiian Airlines
Aerospace

Passengers face steep penalties as Hawaiian Airlines tightens “no-show policy”

May 24, 2025
Next Post
Uber UK

Uber, Bolt drivers in South Africa plan four-month strike for better safety measures

POPULAR NEWS

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

July 3, 2023
Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors: Rising taxes, competition ends Kenyan SUV maker’s journey

August 7, 2024
Autojournal car race

Get ready for the biggest RACE show this December in Nigeria

August 12, 2024
From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

October 25, 2024
Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

August 22, 2023

EDITOR'S PICK

Ford Motor

Ford recalls nearly half a million vehicles in the U.S. over battery issues

April 17, 2024
The all-electric Xiaomi SU7 Ultra

China’s Xiaomi EV Sets New Nürburgring Standard, Beating Rimac and Porsche

November 15, 2024
Bugatti Mistral Sets 282mph World Record for Open-Top Cars

Bugatti Mistral Sets 282mph World Record for Open-Top Cars

February 28, 2025
Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes can narrow performance gap to Red Bull

April 3, 2023

About

Auto Journal Africa is the leading online and print magazine for automobiles in Africa.

Follow us

Recent Posts

  • Toyota transforms RAV4 into all-hybrid SUV starting 2026
  • BMW reveals next-gen superbike concept with 230hp and carbon winglets
  • Tesla loses ground in Europe as EV rivals surge amid cooling sentiment over Model Y
  • Xiaomi rides high on Q1 boom, profits surge 65%

Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Tools
  • For Sale

© 2023 Auto Journal

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa

© 2023 Auto Journal

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In