Motor Vehicles Act Section 52 — Alteration in motor vehicle
CHAPTER IV REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Civil
Summary
Sub-section (1) says that a vehicle owner cannot change the vehicle in any way that makes the details on the registration certificate differ from what the manufacturer originally specified. However, if the owner modifies the engine or any part of it to run on a different type of fuel or energy source, such as battery, compressed natural gas, solar power, liquid petroleum gas, or any other fuel, by installing a conversion kit, this modification must be done according to conditions that may be prescribed. The Central Government may also set specifications and conditions for approving, retrofitting, and other matters related to vehicle alterations, and in such cases, the manufacturer's warranty will not be considered void just because of the alteration or retrofitting. Additionally, the Central Government may grant an exemption for altering vehicles in a way other than what is specified above, for any specific purpose.
Sub-section (1A) states that a vehicle manufacturer must, when directed by the Central Government, alter or retrofit safety equipment or any other equipment in line with the standards and specifications set by the Central Government.
Sub-section (2) says that, despite what is in sub-section (1), any person can alter or have altered a vehicle they own to convert it into an adapted vehicle, but only with the later approval of the registering authority. This alteration must comply with conditions that the Central Government may prescribe.
Sub-section (3) provides that if a vehicle has been altered without the approval of the registering authority, the owner must report the alteration to the registering authority in whose jurisdiction they live within fourteen days of making the alteration. The owner must also send the registration certificate to that authority along with the prescribed fee so that the registration details can be updated.
Sub-section (4) says that if a registering authority that is not the original one makes any such entry, it must communicate the details of that entry to the original registering authority.
Sub-section (5) states that, subject to the provisions in sub-sections (1), (2), (3), and (4), a person holding a vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement cannot make any alteration to the vehicle without the written consent of the registered owner. The explanation clarifies that for this section, "alteration" means a change in the structure of a vehicle that results in a change in its basic feature.
Official Text
(1) No owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer:
Provided that where the owner of a motor vehicle makes modification of the engine, or any part thereof, of a vehicle for facilitating its operation by different type of fuel or source of energy including battery, compressed natural gas, solar power, liquid petroleum gas or any other fuel or source of energy, by fitment of a conversion kit, such modification shall be carried out subject to such conditions as may be prescribed: 4[Provided further that the Central Government may prescribe specifications, conditions for approval, retro fitment and other related matters for the alteration of motor vehicles and in such cases, the warranty granted by the manufacturer shall not be considered as void for the purposes of such alteration or retro fitment.] Provided also that the Central Government may grant exemption for alteration of vehicles in a manner other than specified above, for any specific purpose. 5[
(1A) A manufacturer of a motor vehicle shall on the direction issued by the Central Government, alter or retrofit safety equipment, or any other equipment in accordance with such standards and specifications as may be specified by the Central Government.] 6[
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person may, with the subsequent approval of the registering authority, alter or cause to be altered any vehicle owned by him to be converted into an adapted vehicle:
Provided that such alteration complies with such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(3) Where any alteration has been made in motor vehicle without the approval of registering authority 7***, the owner of the vehicle shall, within fourteen days of the making of the alteration, report the alteration to the registering authority within whose jurisdiction he resides and shall forward the certificate of registration to that authority together with the prescribed fee in order that particulars of registration may be entered therein.
(4) A registering authority other than the original registering authority making any such entry shall communicate the details of the entry to the original registering authority.
(5) Subject to the provisions made under sub-sections (1), (2),
(3) and (4), no person holding a vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement shall make any alteration to the vehicle except with the written consent of the registered owner.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “alteration” means a change in the structure of a vehicle which results in a change in its basic feature.]