Want to pimp your wheels? Stay in line with the law

GEORGE NEWS - Members of the public have been approaching the traffic department about being fined for "drop suspensions", also known as pimping their vehicles.

In the light of this, George traffic chief Janine Wells asked traffic examiners to put together a user-friendly list that sets out the legal requirements one has to comply with if you want to avoid fines for your pimped vehicle:

Requirements for lowering a vehicle

Either front or rear, the suspension travel must not be reduced by more than one third of that specified by the vehicle manufacturer
The vehicle must also retain 100mm ground clearance, which is measured between any part of the vehicle and the ground
Coil spring must not be shortened by cutting and no suspension components are to be subjected to heating

Replacement coil springs must have:

Clearance between the coils when the suspension is at full bump
The same or greater load capacity as the original spring
The same end as the original spring

When the ride height of a vehicle is lowered, the vehicle must still comply with other legal requirements - eg, lowering the vehicle will affect the height of the vehicle's lights and reflectors and these must remain within specific legal boundaries (for example, headlamps must be at least 500mm above the ground).

Raising vehicle height

Vehicle ride height can be increased by a total of 50mm without a roadworthy inspection.

Ride height can be raised by three methods, or a combination thereof, to a maximum of 50mm:

Suspension lift - fitting longer travel springs
Body lifting by raising the body of the chassis
Fitting larger diameter tyres (maximum 25mm)

When doing a modification to the vehicle, it must comply with the National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996.

Reg 31(1): When a motor vehicle is altered or reconstructed in such a manner and to such an extent that the motor vehicle licence or licence disc issued in respect of such motor vehicle no longer correctly describes such vehicle, such licence and licence disc shall become null and void on the date of the completion of such alteration or reconstruction and liability for the licensing of such motor vehicle shall arise on that date.

Reg 43(2): Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in these regulations, a motor vehicle contemplated in Sub regulation (1) modified, shall not be registered unless such manufacturer, builder or importer holds a letter of authority for such motor vehicle.

To have a roadworthy modified vehicle the following is required:

It must comply with the National Road Traffic Act, namely a letter of authority must be provided by the builder, manufacturer or importer to indicate fitment when roadworthy is done at a testing station
When ownership has changed, the new owner must make sure he receives the necessary documentation including registration papers as well as builder's certificate
All other requirements in respect to vehicle height, light height, tyre size and coils must be complied with

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