Kerala MVD Permits Seven Types of Vehicle Modifications with Prior Approval

The Kerala Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) has officially permitted seven specific categories of vehicle modifications, provided owners first obtain prior approval from the Registering Authority and get the change recorded in the Registration Certificate (RC).

What can now be done

The updated directions from the Transport Commissionerate allow owners to carry out these modifications with proper clearance:

• Body colour change — allowed if the shade complies with State Transport Authority norms and CMVR Rule 121.
• Engine replacement — permitted only with a new unit of identical specification, model, capacity, and power from the same manufacturer. Engine swaps across different models remain strictly prohibited.
• Chassis/frame replacement — allowed only with a new unit of the same type and make, with no conversion to a frame meant for a different vehicle class.
• Structural body alterations — allowed in line with CMVR Rule 112.
• Fuel change and propulsion conversion — permitted using government-approved retrofitting kits under Section 52 and CMVR Rule 112.
• Adapted vehicles for persons with disabilities — permitted under Section 52(2) and CMVR Rule 112A.

Who can do the work

All technical retrofits and adaptations must be carried out exclusively by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), authorised dealers, or state-approved workshops. Registering authorities will process applications based on manufacturer specifications and Type or Prototype approvals.

The department has made it clear that any modification falling outside these seven designated categories — or undertaken without prior clearance — remains illegal under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The move gives vehicle owners and garages long-awaited clarity on what is and is not permissible in Kerala.