For the car enthusiast and/or hobbyist it is often fun to flavor your own car with various modifications. How far can you go before you have to inform the RDW or make an appointment for a re-inspection? We list the applicable rules.
Making adjustments to your car is not always without obligation. Within certain limits you can work at will, as long as you make sure that your four-wheeled friend gets through the apk. In the cases below it is necessary to involve the RDW. A change inspection at the inspection station generally costs €57.00, provided no additional inspection is required.
Engine change
In the event of a change to the engine, the RDW must approve the vehicle individually. This concerns, for example, a change in the engine code or the engine type, the fuel type, the number of cylinders and the cylinder capacity. Do you keep the original engine, but the power changes by more than 20 percent compared to the registered value in the vehicle registration register? Even then you will have to go to the judge.
In addition, in some cases a recalculation of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption is necessary for cars that have been WLTP tested. In which cases this inspection is necessary depends on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Change of steering or braking system
Are you converting the steering or braking system of the car? Then you also have to have the car retested. This applies, for example, to cars that have a manual control for gas and brake for use by the disabled, but also to training cars with a double control.
Restoration
The restoration of a historic vehicle must be approved when one or more main parts, such as the chassis or the powertrain, are replaced by new or existing parts. This can have consequences for the identity of the vehicle. The original identity, and therefore the original registration number, can be preserved if the replaced main parts are of the same specification as those of the original vehicle and are manufactured by the relevant car manufacturer or by a third party if the former is no longer possible. The powertrain only needs to be of the same model and type as the original vehicle.
Install or remove gas installation
Do you want your car to run on LPG? Then there will be a change to the registration certificate. If you have the installation done by an RDW-approved company, that company will also take care of the adjustment of the registration certificate by the RDW. If you do the installation yourself or have it done by a company that is not recognized by the RDW, you have to go to the inspection station.
If you have just removed the gas installation from the car, it must also be inspected again. In that case, the entire gas installation must be removed and the RDW checks whether the engine functions properly on petrol. The headlight adjustment is also looked at, because the removal of the gas tank changes the weight distribution.
Change weight
If you increase the weight of the vehicle and the permitted maximum mass exceeds the technical maximum mass, you must make an inspection appointment. The requirements are not small, because in order to pass the inspection you must bring a statement from the manufacturer that your car can technically handle a higher weight.
A re-inspection is not necessary if you lower the weight of the car or increase it below the technical maximum mass. In both cases, passing on the new weight is only an administrative matter and the RDW assesses the application without an inspection.
Different color
Tired of the current color of your car? In the event of refinishing or wrapping, you must inform the RDW using the ‘Request color change’ form. You must enclose a color photo with that application in which the vehicle can be seen for at least 50 percent and the registration number is clearly visible. When you can distinguish 1 or 2 main colors, you must pass them on.
If you cannot determine the main colour, for example because the car is wrapped in a striking multicolored pattern, the RDW will determine what the main color of the car will be. A bonus: changing the color on the registration certificate is free.
Conversion to camper van
With your car on holiday, but no longer want to stay in hotels or tent or caravan? When converting a passenger car or delivery van to a camper van, you must have it inspected by the RDW. Various requirements are attached to this conversion, we wrote an extensive article about this earlier.
Remove particulate filter
Removing the particulate filter fitted by the manufacturer from an older car? Then you must inform the RDW in writing using the form ‘request to remove soot filter data’. The particulate filter may only be removed under certain conditions. In the case of passenger cars, it is only allowed if the date of the first admission is before 1 January 2011 and the ’emission particles (light)’ has a value that is less than or equal to 0.005 grams per kilometer or has no value.
Replace odometer
Replacing or repairing the odometer must be reported to the RDW. You must write down the mileage before the counter is replaced. After that, it should be checked whether the counter is working properly, after which you should note the mileage again. Your garage can also take care of this process for you.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl