Vehicle modifications: What passes the road test, according to the N.B. RCMP

RCMP say certain vehicle changes, like suspension mods or tinted windows, may break the law and invalidate insurance policies. Laura Brown has more.

FREDERICTON, N.B. – The New Brunswick RCMP is working on initiatives to educate more drivers on what vehicle modifications pass the road test – and the ones that don’t.

Whether it’s lifting or lowering, changes to suspension, or tinted windows, police are trying to help more people understand why certain modifications can be unsafe.

“We just noticed that a lot of the times people have questions about what they can modify, what they can’t modify, and what is safe to do,” said RCMP Cpl. Hans J. Ouellette. “That’s pretty much what spurred this on.”

He said some modifications can change the way a vehicle operates on the road, affecting its handling and centre of gravity. To spot potential safety issues, officers look for wheels that extend beyond the body of the vehicle, which can increase the risk of debris being thrown into traffic behind.

As a former member of the traffic unit, Ouellette says he’s seen trucks with tires so large, the vehicle is at risk of a rollover.

“You may be bringing a danger to yourself and others on the road that you might not quite realize when you’re doing the modification,” he said. “If you’re bringing your centre of gravity up, you may be making the vehicle more apt to tip on a corner.”

Tinted rear windows are allowed, but according to the vehicle inspection manual, a vehicle must be rejected if there’s “any treatment coating or application of coloured spray or material, or any opaque or reflective material has been applied to the windshield, side wings, side windows to (the) right or left of the driver.”

In part, that’s to protect an officer, so that they can see any risks to their lives within a vehicle. It also allows for a driver to be seen and potentially identified, in dangerous situations like fleeing a scene, or distracted driving.

If you’re pulled over and an officer suspects the modification is unsafe, the driver could be asked for an updated vehicle inspection or even an engineering certification.

Ouellette said “car culture” is strong in the province, and they don’t want to take away from that.

“We understand there’s a lot of people out there that really love this. You don’t got to look too far,” he said. “You see the big car shows that happen in Fredericton, the shows that happen in Moncton and all around the province. But what I think is really important is that there’s a way that you can still do that, still be safe and still remain within the regulations.”

Andy MacNeil owns an auto repair shop in Taymouth, N.B. He has lots of customers come in, asking for certain modifications – although MacNeil says those requests have dropped lately, likely because people can’t afford to make changes due to inflationary costs in other areas of their lives.

“Really if it’s done properly, there’s really no reason why they shouldn’t be done,” he said.

He knows the vehicle inspection guide like a well-oiled machine and can tell a customer what gets the go-ahead down to the dimensions on a fender.

He also owns a drift race car that he tows to events, he says it’s a little low to take on N.B. roads. For it to be roadworthy, the wheels cannot touch the body.

“There are some people who are interested in modifying the vehicle and don’t know very much about (it), and that’s why they’ve approached the garage to do it,” he said. “And then the other side of things, there’s people who do know a lot about it, and that’s why they’ve also approached the garage to do it. So, it’s done properly.”

Some from N.B. feel the RCMP should focus on other areas of crime, even expressing their opinions under social media posts on the topic.

However, Ouellette says the RCMP is responsible for people’s safety, including on the road.

Changes could nullify insurance

The Canadian Automobile Association calls specific modifications and specialty or antique vehicles, a big economy in Atlantic Canada. Julia Kent says the changes can impact insurance.

“You need to let your insurance company know in advance of getting those modifications done and paid for, because you want to know if your insurance is going to be impacted in any way, whether it be cost or maybe your car will no longer be insurable,” she said.

Some aftermarket accessories and parts can cause a vehicle to no longer be insurable.

Car thefts have become more common in recent years, especially in Ontario and while anti-theft accessories can save a vehicle, it does depend on the part, Kent says.

“We are seeing provinces like Ontario where it is commonplace to install anti-theft devices in vehicles aftermarket. And these actually make the insurance null and void and no longer applicable,” she said. “So you really need to check in advance of installing and taking care of any modifications in your vehicle.”