【2025 latest】Hong Kong Vehicle Modification Guide | A Complete Guide to Legal Modification, Vehicle Inspection and Insurance

Yes and no. First of all, it is not absolutely illegal to modify a car. However, the laws on modified cars in Hong Kong are much stricter than those in other countries.Section 53 of the Road Traffic Ordinance 'No person shall alter or cause or permit any other person to alter any motor vehicle or trailer so as to render it in such condition that it would, when used on a road, contravene any of the provisions of this Ordinance as to its construction, weight, equipment, brakes, steering wheel or tyres.'

That is to say, if the modification you make to the vehicle violates the road traffic regulations, it is an illegal modification. But if the modified vehicle still complies with the regulations, it is legal.

In 2025, the law was amended and relaxed, such as requiring LED headlights to meet the standards and in-car display devices that can only be used when parking, which can be said to be in line with international standards.

There are actually detailed regulations on the legality of modifications in different categories.

Some modification examples

To know whether the modification is legal, the easiest way is to refer to the Transport Department's ‘Do's and Don'ts’ List and ‘Guidelines for changes requiring prior notice’. It is recommended that when making major modifications, you should first obtain written permission from the vehicle manufacturer and then report the upcoming works to the Transport Department. If the police suspect that a vehicle is equipped with illegal parts, they have the right to request the relevant car to be sent to the inspection center for inspection at any time. Violators may be fined more than 10,000 yuan, or even ordered to restore the vehicle to its original condition or undergo a ‘fat man’ inspection.

Of course, the police and insurance companies cannot be informed immediately after the modification is completed. Some Hong Kong car owners will add illegal parts or modify the car without notifying the vehicle manufacturer.

Although the Transport Department's guidelines state that ‘the engine may be replaced with that of the same make, model and size. Other modifications will not normally be approved unless very strong documentary evidence is provided,’ if you search for ‘modified engine’ on Google, you will still find many relevant search results.

Although it is easy to modify your car in Hong Kong, it actually involves certain risks. If the police suspect that your car has been illegally modified or has been installed with illegal parts, which may violate any road traffic regulations, they have the right to require you to send your car to the Vehicle Testing Centre under the Transport Department for inspection at any time.

We have recently received several cases where car owners were stopped by police at roadblocks while driving modified cars. The police suspected that the cars were modified and asked the owners to send their cars to the testing center for inspection. In the end, the owners were fined nearly $15,000 because the installed parts were illegal.

Other risks associated with modified vehicles include the protection provided by auto insurers and insurance plans for modified vehicles.

Any illegally modified vehicle will not be covered under any circumstances. A legally modified vehicle may not be covered, depending on the terms of the insurance company and the insurance plan you purchase. Most insurance companies will require you to provide a list of modifications and all installed parts before signing the policy. The insurance company will then decide on a case-by-case basis whether to cover the modified parts of the car - mainly depending on the risks associated with the modification. It should be noted that once a car has been modified, the premium you need to pay will generally be higher.

If you already have car insurance and later wish to make modifications to your car, we recommend that you contact your insurance company first and tell them about the changes you intend to make. Most insurance companies will add additional clauses to your policy, assuming that all parts or modifications are legal. These clauses will mainly list the amount of cover you will receive for each modification, as well as other details. Generally speaking, this will increase your insurance premiums.

We have encountered customers who modified their vehicles without informing the insurance company after purchasing car insurance. This is actually very risky, especially if a traffic accident occurs. First, the police may charge you with illegal vehicle modification; if convicted, the insurance company will most likely refuse to pay any compensation, leaving you responsible for all losses.

Moreover, in the event of an accident, the insurance company will only provide compensation based on the value of the original parts of the car. If you install a $12,000 audio and entertainment system, the insurance company will only pay the cost of the audio equipment provided by the vehicle manufacturer, which is likely to be much less than the value of the audio system you installed.

Of course, no one wants the above situation to happen. So, if you plan to modify your car, remember to contact your insurance company first to discuss the details. Fast Insurance can not only provide you with assistance, but also recommend the most suitable insurance plan for your legally modified vehicle.