[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/germany-vs-car-modification\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/germany-vs-car-modification\/","headline":"Germany vs Car Modification","name":"Germany vs Car Modification","description":"No stancing allowed! How German law differs when it comes to car modification. When it comes to car customisation here in the UK, we have it easy. Many other European countries, such as Germany, have much stricter regulations when it comes to car modification and the police are a lot more hands-on. Germany is quite the hot tourist destination for car enthusiasts thanks to the famous Nurburgring, Autobahn (motorways without speed limits) and also the beautiful roads of the countryside. […]","datePublished":"2020-05-18","dateModified":"2020-05-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Germany-vs-Car-Modification-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Germany-vs-Car-Modification-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/germany-vs-car-modification\/","about":["Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS","Modified Cars"],"wordCount":917,"keywords":["germany","modified","modified cars"],"articleBody":"No stancing allowed! How German law differs when it comes to car modification.When it comes to car customisation here in the UK, we have it easy. Many other European countries, such as Germany, have much stricter regulations when it comes to car modification and the police are a lot more hands-on.Germany is quite the hot tourist destination for car enthusiasts thanks to the famous Nurburgring, Autobahn (motorways without speed limits) and also the beautiful roads of the countryside. However, foreigners often end up running into the law due to their modifications being deemed unsafe and that the car is not using quality approved parts.It doesn\u2019t matter if your car is riding 1cm off of the ground with extremely cambered wheels or if it\u2019s just got aftermarket alloys and a small spoiler, most modifications in Germany will need papers to go with them if your car is registered in the country. Aftermarket parts are expected to have a certain standard, meaning if you\u2019re a keen eBay customer when it comes to buying aftermarket parts, you will need to be extra careful.Motorists in Germany can only fit TUV-approved parts to their cars. TUV stands for Technischer \u00dcberwachungsverein and translates to Technical Inspection Association. This organisation is responsible for carrying out safety inspections for cars, as well as many different types of machinery, from wind turbines to dams.An approved TUV inspector must approve the parts used on the car and also the way that they have been fitted and the papers that certify the modifications must be in the car in case the police pull you over.Although German motorists will only have to pay for a TUV test on their car once every two years, the test will cost between 100 and 200 depending on weight. So yes, it\u2019s half as frequent as our MOT but costs more than double!Luckily, for foreigners that are driving in Germany, it\u2019s a little less strict. Although you don\u2019t need to have TUV documents if you are a tourist, the police still have a right to inspect the car and make sure that they are satisfied the car is safe. This may sound reasonable but remember that German law is not kind to modified cars as the parts must be high quality and meet the approval.The Nurburgring website recommends that you carry any paperwork you have that suggests your modifications (brakes, suspension, roll cage etc.) are somewhat certified, if not by TUV then by FIA, CE or EC. In other words, if your part is from an unknown manufacturer in China and doesn\u2019t adhere to an established safety inspection organisation then you could be in trouble.This is exactly what happened in May 2019 to a group of Brits that were driving through Germany to Austria, where they were going to a motoring event called Worthersee. The convoy had stopped, probably at a service station, to get something to eat and whilst parked, the vehicles gained the attention of the police.         View this post on Instagram           Let\u2019s see what happens next. 9 cars seized, 22 people stranded, 300 miles from home, 700 miles from Austria. No hotels, no taxis – literally stranded, with a load of luggage at the side of motorway. Loads of tears, some laughs, and a load of German feds. Combined fines of over \u20ac6000 (tbc). Not the end of Austria just yet… if you can help us transport the cars from Cologne to the Belgian border or to Austria, please message @lewdeak @joshwaa___ @h3y_hb or anyone tagged. PLEASE SHARE  #candyshowroom A post shared by  Candy Showroom (@candyshowroom) on May 16, 2019 at 2:18pm PDTIn the end, nine cars were seized leaving 22 people stranded with their luggage and a pile of fines to pay. The story made the rounds in various outlets and people began to debate who was in the wrong. Either way, it certainly pays to know the laws of the country you are visiting and it just so happens, cops in Germany take stretched tyres and slammed suspension very seriously!         View this post on Instagram           Update: After conforming with the British Embassy, we\u2019ve been informed our cars will be allowed to be transported out of Germany mid next week. Unsure of what i\u2019ll do after that point, but its some good news. In the meantime, we\u2019re trying to sort hire cars to get ourselves over to Wothersee for now. All isn\u2019t lost just yet, not the way any of us wanted it to go, but thats life. A post shared by  Lewis Deakin (@lewdeak) on May 17, 2019 at 6:54am PDTIn the UK, cars with trumpet exhausts, aftermarket spoilers and tuned engines seem to be a dime a dozen whereas in Germany, you may not see them as often and people will even describe tuned car meets as a cop magnet.Furthermore, motorcycles are now being targeted by law enforcement as complaints of loud exhausts have increased. The German state of Baden-Wurttemberg is even proposing new steep fines and a ban on aftermarket motorcycle exhausts due to all the noise complaints. This has riled up the motorcycle enthusiasts of Germany because as you may have heard before, loud pipes save lives.Let us know if you know anyone that has had trouble with their vehicle modifications and the German police, in the comments.If you enjoyed this, you should read about how Kwik Fit have reported a huge surge in battery faults due to the current lockdown."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Germany vs Car Modification","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/germany-vs-car-modification\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]