Registering Your Nova Scotia Vehicle With Custom Modifications: What's Allowed And What's Not

Law Articles

If you're in the process of completing custom modifications to your vehicle, there's plenty you can do to make it truly "yours."  Mods can be a fun way to ensure that your vehicle grabs attention and is comfortable to drive. Before you move forward with customization, it's important to understand whether your idea is permissible under Nova Scotia law. While the Registry of Motor Vehicles accepts many different modifications, certain changes will disqualify you from approval to drive on the road. Learn more in the article below.

Tinted Windows

People tint their windows for a wide variety of reasons. For some, it's about privacy from other vehicles on the road. For others, it's more about shading from the harsh sun while driving, ensuring that glare doesn't blind you. In Nova Scotia, tinting can be a very effective way to protect your eyes from snow blindness during the winter. You can tint your windows here, but only within certain parameters.

For safety reasons, you may tint all windows except for the front door windows on any vehicle. The reason for this rule is that police must be able to see you clearly through the passenger or driver's side window if you are stopped.

Specialized Mufflers

While some people install specialized mufflers for the way they sound, others do it because it lessens the environmental impact of exhaust. Still others use them because they can provide a slight performance boost. If you're considering this, you should know that specialized mufflers are broadly allowed throughout all areas of Nova Scotia. 

The one exception to this rule is related to excessively loud mufflers. To make matters worse, there are no specific decibel ratings used to judge whether an after-market muffler is "too noisy." This is generally judged on the spot by an officer before issuing a ticket. While it is possible to have your car registered successfully with an after-market muffler installed, you should be aware that you may run into legal problems down the road if you do so.

Exterior Lighting Kits

If you've watched movies like "Gone in 60 Seconds" and fallen in love with the lighting kits found on certain cars, you may be tempted to do the same thing to your own vehicle. Exterior lighting kits are also fairly common in Nova Scotia, but the Registry of Motor Vehicles has strict guidelines on placement and color. 

To start with, headlights must fall under certain guidelines for both color and brightness. Any other color other than pure white or slightly off-white yellow is not allowed. All vehicles must have red brake lights on both the back and front of the vehicle.

If you're driving a large truck or 18-wheeler, the rules become extremely complex. In fact, the regulations are so extensive that it's best for you to contact the Motor Vehicle Safety Enforcement Branch to clarify whether your lighting will pass inspection.

Finally, underglow lighting is fully illegal in Nova Scotia, too.

Flashing Lights (Other Than Turn Signals Or Reverse Lighting)

Civilian vehicles aren't permitted to make use of flashing blue, red, or yellow lights. The reason for this relates to the fact that these colors, when flashing, most often indicate police, fire, rescue, or maintenance crews. Using them in a civilian vehicle can confuse drivers on the road, and unscrupulous drivers sometimes try to take advantage of this.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, so don't be surprised if you see what appears to be a civilian vehicle using a police or fire light. In most cases, this occurs because the person driving the vehicle is an off-duty police officer, volunteer fire fighter, or other public servant who happens to be driving a civilian vehicle.

As a general rule, a permanently attached flashing light will disqualify you from registration and may even get you charged. If you are a public servant, you may be able to keep a detachable flashing light in your vehicle but not on. Check with your specific employer for instructions.

Registering your vehicle in Nova Scotia can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but understanding the above restrictions and rules can help to make the process less difficult. Above all else, your vehicle must be safe to drive on the road. If you have questions about registering a vehicle with custom modifications, contact your local service department today or click here for info.

6 April 2015