Modification Guidelines

The following requirements must be met when changing or modifying bumpers:

1. The bumper must be of a design approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
2. Installation must be carried out in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.
3. The bumper must not have any sharp corners or edges.

Aftermarket car seats, such as sport seats and bucket seats, must be properly secured using the original anchorage points of the vehicle for safety reasons. The car seats must not obstruct the driver's view in any way. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

Any modification to original airbag-equipped car seats must be carried out in consultation with the vehicle manufacturer or its agent.

As fog lamps can cause unwanted glare when improperly installed, the installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations. The following requirements must also be met:

1. The fog lamps should bear approved markings to show that they have met international recognised standards such as those adopted in the countries of the European Union, Japan and the United States. For example, if the fog lamps meet United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Regulations, they will bear markings 'B' and 'F' for the front and rear fog lamps respectively.
2. The front fog lamps must cast a white or yellow light. They must be installed not more than 400 mm from the sides of the vehicle and at least 600 mm apart from each other. They should also be located below the headlights and at least 250 mm above the road surface.
3. The rear fog lamp mounted on a vehicle can be a single unit or a matched pair. The rear fog lamp must cast a red light and be located between 250 mm and 1,000 mm above the road surface. For a single rear fog lamp, it must be installed at the centre or offside of the vehicle. In all cases, the distance between the rear fog lamp and each stop lamp must be greater than 100 mm.
4. The front fog lamps can only be switched on if the front and rear position lamps are switched on. The rear fog lamps can only be switched on when the front headlamps are switched on.
5. There should be separate switches for switching the headlamps and fog lamps on. The switches must be constructed such that switching on the position lamps or headlamps do not automatically switch on the fog lamps.

If the fog lamps do not meet the above requirements, it must always be covered when the vehicle is being used. For more information on Fog Lamps, please refer to the FAQs.

Fuel additives should be used in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The installation of fuel molecule polarizers must not adversely affect the operation of the vehicle fuel system. It must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The aftermarket gear knobs should be securely fastened in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The installation of in-vehicle entertainment systems, such TV, VCD/DVD systems or LCD screens, must meet the following requirements:

1. The visual display unit of the system should be installed such that it is not in the view of driver. If it is, it should have a function to automatically disable or switch off the visual display when the vehicle is in motion.
2. It should not interfere with existing vehicle controls or instrumentation in any way.
3. The electrical system should be adequately protected against fire hazards.
4. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the system manufacturer's recommendations.

In-vehicle information and communication systems:

1. Should be designed such that it would not adversely affect the safe operation of the vehicle, for example:
   • It should not unduly distract the driver nor give rise to potentially dangerous driving. The text information should be sufficiently large, brief and concise to enable the driver to read all the information on the screen at a glance without affecting operation.
   • It should have a voice guidance feature incorporated to minimise interaction with the visual display unit.
2. Should not interfere with existing vehicle controls or instrumentation in any way.
3. Should be adequately protected against fire hazards.
4. Should be installed by qualified personnel in accordance with the system manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Should only be used by drivers when it is safe to do so.

Changing of original intake air filters to other filters, such as high flow, cone-type or open pod-type filters, must not affect the structural integrity of the vehicle. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The installation of aftermarket intake manifolds must not adversely affect the exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle. It must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

Additional meters or gauges, such as vacuum gauges, oil temperature gauges or battery voltage meters, installed in the vehicle should not obstruct the driver's view. These additional meters or gauges should not interfere with existing vehicle controls or instrumentation.

The installation of such meters or gauges must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The installation of aftermarket radiators must not affect the structural integrity of the vehicle. It must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

If your vehicle is a convertible, the installation of aftermarket rollover bars must not obstruct the driver's view in any way. It must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

The following requirements must be met when installing roof racks:

1. The roof rack must be suitable for the vehicle.
2. The roof rack should not protrude from the vehicle body laterally and/or longitudinally.
3. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
4. The loads (i.e. cargo and its carrier) carried on the roof rack should not exceed the loading capacity of either the vehicle or the roof rack.
5. The cargo should be securely fastened to the roof rack and no part of the cargo or its carrier should project laterally beyond the vehicle.

The following requirements must be met when changing from original to aftermarket seat belts (e.g. aftermarket 5-point seat belts, etc):

1. The seat belts must be anchored to proper seat belt anchorage points in the vehicle.
2. They must comply with internationally recognised standards.
3. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the seat belt manufacturer's recommendations.

Any device such as a belt stopper that may hinder the proper operation of the seat belt should not be used.

The following requirements must be met when installing side skirts:

1. The installation of side skirts must be carried out in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
2. They should not protrude from the car body laterally.
3. They should not have sharp corners and edges.
4. The lowest point of the side skirts should not contact the road surface at any time.

Owners of light goods vehicles can now choose to:

1. Install side windows in the rear compartment of their vehicles

Side windows will enhance the comfort of passengers at the rear compartment. Drivers will be able to see better especially when they are changing lanes, making turns or while reversing.

2. Remove the partition that separates the driver's cabin and the cargo compartment

This will allow workers to escape through the front doors, in addition to the rear hatch door and side doors of the vehicle, in the event of an accident.

For more information, please refer to the FAQs. Alternatively, you can call LTA at 1800-2255-582.

The installation of aftermarket spark plugs and spark plug cables must be carried out in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations and should not interfere with existing vehicle controls or instrumentation.

The following requirements must be met for cars when changing to sports rims:

1. The size of the sports rims should be in accordance with the car manufacturer's recommendations.
2. They should not protrude from the car body laterally.
3. The overall rolling radius of the original wheels and tyres should not be altered.

The installation of aftermarket steering wheels must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.

Any modification to original airbag-equipped steering wheels must be carried out in consultation with the vehicle manufacturer or its agent.

The following requirements must be met when installing sunshades:

1. No part of the sunshades should be affixed:
   • More than 6 inches (150mm) from the top edge of the front windscreen.
   • More than 4 inches (100mm) from the top edge of the rear windscreen and side windows.
2. Graphics and words should not appear in any way pornographic, obscene or vulgar. They also must not be seditious or affront any religious belief.

Curtains can be fitted on the passenger windows of a vehicle as long as the curtains are not drawn while the vehicle is in motion and/or obstruct the view of the driver.

The following requirements must be met when changing or modifying the suspension system (e.g. aftermarket springs, shock absorbers, strut bars, anti-roll bars, etc.):

1. Aftermarket suspension systems should not adversely affect the steering characteristics and manoeuvrability of the vehicle.
2. The installation must be carried out by qualified personnel in accordance with the product manufacturer's recommendations.
3. The lowest point of the vehicle body should not contact the road surface at any time.
4. No part of the vehicle bodywork should be modified to accommodate the suspension system.

The following requirements must be met when installing tinted films:

1. They must not be of the reflective type.
2. The resultant light transmittance for the front windscreen and two front side windows must be at least 70%.
3. The resultant light transmittance for the rear windscreen and the rear passenger windows must be at least 25%.
4. The front windscreen must not prevent, obstruct or interfere with the transmission of signals between the In-vehicle Unit (IU) and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) facility.

To ensure that the tinted films comply with the above requirements, you may send your vehicle for testing at any of the LTA-Authorised Vehicle Inspection Centres.

The following requirements must be met when installing tinted glass:

1. They must comply with internationally recognised standards for safety glasses.
2. The resultant light transmittance for the front windscreen and two front side windows must be at least 70%.
3. The resultant light transmittance for the rear windscreen and the rear passenger windows must be at least 25%.
4. The front windscreen must not prevent, obstruct or interfere with the transmission of signals between the In-vehicle Unit (IU) and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) facility.

To ensure that the tinted glasses comply with the above requirements, you may send your vehicle for testing at any of the LTA-Authorised Vehicle Inspection Centres.

LTA allows changing of engines provided that it is of the same type as the original one. You are required to submit the following for evaluation:

New or reconditioned engines

1. Invoice or bill of sales from the supplier of the replacement engine.
2. Certification from vehicle manufacturer or the local sole agent stating that the replacement is of the same type as the original one.

Swapping of engines

1. Swapping of engines between two registered vehicles is allowed, provided that both engines are of the same type and engine capacity.
2. After the swap, one of the vehicles must be scrapped immediately while the other must be produced for inspection at LTA.

The exhaust system, which consists of the exhaust manifold, catalytic converter and muffler, is used as part of a vehicle's exhaust emission control system to ensure that the exhaust emission meets our environmental requirements. You are required to get LTA’s approval for any modification to the exhaust system by submitting the following for evaluation:

1. Certification from the product manufacturer stating that the proposed aftermarket exhaust system is suitable for the make and model of the vehicle.
2. Test reports from the LTA/NEA recognised test laboratories to show that the aftermarket exhaust system when fitted to the vehicle on a per make and model basis complied with prevailing noise and/or exhaust emission standards.

Do note that you are not allowed to remove catalytic converters and mufflers as it will adversely affect the exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle. Vehicle owners found modifying or tampering with the exhaust system may face a Court fine of up to $1,000 or 3 months' imprisonment upon conviction in Court.

The addition of hoods or canopies, such as aluminium hoods or canvas covers on open deck goods vehicles, may affect vehicle safety. Therefore, you must present the proposed drawing or sketches of the hood or canopies at any LTA authorised inspection centres for evaluation.

Modifying the seating arrangements, such as adding, removing or re-arranging seats, may have safety implications. You are required to get LTA’s approval by submitting drawings or sketches of the proposed seating arrangements for evaluation.

The addition of sunroofs may affect vehicle safety. The sunroof fitted must meet one of the recognised international standards e.g. ECE, DOT, BS or JIS. The vehicle fitted with the sunroof must also pass an inspection at any LTA authorised inspection centres.

The addition of superchargers or turbochargers to a vehicle may adversely affect the safe operation and its exhaust emission characteristics. You are required to submit the following for evaluation:

1. Technical specifications and installation details (including pictures and drawings) of the proposed supercharger or turbocharger.
2. Certification from the vehicle manufacturer stating that the supercharger or turbocharger is suitable for the vehicle on a per make and model of the vehicle.
3. Certification or test reports from LTA/NEA recognised test laboratories to show that the turbocharger or supercharger when fitted to the vehicle on a per make and model basis complied with prevailing exhaust emission standards.

LTA allows the transmissions to be changed from manual to auto and vice versa. You are required to submit the following for evaluation:

1. Invoice of the proposed transmission from the supplier.
2. Certification from the manufacturer stating that the transmission is suitable for the vehicle.

The use of air horns, including the modification of existing car horns to air horns, is not allowed as they may distract and cause nuisance to others.

When motorcycles are in use, headlamps must always be switched on as they enhance the safety of motorcyclists.

Motorcycles registered in Singapore on or after 1st November 1997 must be equipped with an automatic headlamp switch-on function to comply with the above requirement.

Removal of chain guards on motorcycles is not allowed, as the guards help to minimize injury to motorcyclists in the event of chain or sprocket failure.

The chassis (i.e. the base frame of your motorcycle) is an integral part of your vehicle. Hence, if it is badly damaged or beyond repaid, it cannot be re-used and the vehicle must be scrapped.

Crash bars, such as Bull bars and Kangaroo bars, are not allowed as they can aggravate injuries to pedestrians in the event of a collision.

You are not allowed to install aftermarket DRL kits onto your vehicle as such lamps may cause unwanted glare and distraction to other motorists on the roads.

Vehicles should only be installed with factory-fitted Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) as the manufacturer would have designed the lamps to meet internationally recognised vehicle standards.

Decorative lamps, such as Wiper washer LEDs, undercarriage neon lights, vehicle interior neon lights or flashing decorative lights, are not allowed to be fitted as they may cause confusion and distraction to other road users.

Increasing the engine capacity, such as enlarging the cylinder bore of the engine, may lead to premature failure of the engine and other related components. Hence, it is not allowed as it may adversely affect the safety and exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle.

Aftermarket High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamp kits are not allowed as they may cause unwanted glare when used. Vehicles should only be fitted with factory fitted HID lamps as they are designed to meet internationally recognized standards. For more information on HID lamps, please refer to the FAQs.

Replacement bulbs must also be of a design recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Higher wattage bulbs are not allowed as they increase the risk of fire due to greater current consumption.

With effect from 1 April 2012, the use of Hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants in vehicle air-conditioning systems is not allowed because it is extremely flammable and pose a potential safety hazard. For more information, please refer to the fire safety regulations by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF).

Nitrous injection devices are not allowed as introducing nitrogen oxide gas (which is highly reactive) into the combustion chamber will result in faster combustion that may be detrimental to the engine. This may lead to premature failure of the engine and its related components, and adversely affect the safety and exhaust emission characteristics of the vehicle.

Use of spot lamps are not allowed because they may cause glare and distraction to other road users. If fitted, they must always be covered.

All vehicle lamps, such as head lamps, stop lamps and signal lamps, must meet internationally recognised standards. Tinting or masking of these lamps is not allowed as it may adversely affect their performance.

Most vehicles are originally equipped with towing points for recovery purposes. Tow hooks (as shown in the picture) are not allowed as the sharp and hard surface of the hook may aggravate injuries in the event of a collision.