How strict are German Police with modified cars and TUV?
Discussion
I'm due to attend Ultrace with my R33 GTR in April. The organisers recently made an announcement that I've put below.
Most of the people who I was going to travel with have decided to not go to the event due to the risk of having the cars impounded, but in all fairness their cars are alot more modified than mine with more camber on some, air ride on others and so on.
Reading online, as long as my car is UK compliant, looks sensible enough to not trigger them to put it through a TUV test I should be fine?
I've driven through Germany several times with my car's and not had any issues before, but not used this car during a specific event over there that will have some extra scrutiny so looking for some advise please.
Most of the people who I was going to travel with have decided to not go to the event due to the risk of having the cars impounded, but in all fairness their cars are alot more modified than mine with more camber on some, air ride on others and so on.
Reading online, as long as my car is UK compliant, looks sensible enough to not trigger them to put it through a TUV test I should be fine?
I've driven through Germany several times with my car's and not had any issues before, but not used this car during a specific event over there that will have some extra scrutiny so looking for some advise please.
king hell that looks great! 
I haven't been to specific car events in Germany but i've been going to the Nurburgring for the last 5 years and i've seen numerous German Police traffic cars and never had an issue with a modified car or seen anyone else have an issue. Obviously if it looks dangerous or the driver is being an arse I would expect they will get pulled over and maybe then the problems will start, but drive within the law and be sensible and I imagine you will be fine
The rules are quite strict as Germany is very much society focused. Generally speaking though unless you have a loud 'modified ' exhaust, heavy sub woofer action, stretched tyres or 'kool' stance they Generally leave you alone. As always it's the clowns in the scene who attract the most attention, it's not unknown for the police to sit in their patrol cars smiling and nodding approval as you drive past but alternatively, well you just have to roll the dice.
My son was in Nurburg in 2024 in his Megane RS250.
Got pulled and taken to police station - had to remove the yellow tints from his headlights and also the quick release for his steering wheel before they would let him go. Had to pay a 100-ish euro fine and they wanted him to sign a form (in German) admitting guilt for a future court case, which he politley declined to do.
Wasn't doing anything silly with his driving while off track so I suspect it was a wrong place/wrong time type thing.
Got the results a couple of months later - court fine was what he'd already paid. Has been back several times (in that same car and the M2 comp that replaced it). Been all good since then.
Got pulled and taken to police station - had to remove the yellow tints from his headlights and also the quick release for his steering wheel before they would let him go. Had to pay a 100-ish euro fine and they wanted him to sign a form (in German) admitting guilt for a future court case, which he politley declined to do.
Wasn't doing anything silly with his driving while off track so I suspect it was a wrong place/wrong time type thing.
Got the results a couple of months later - court fine was what he'd already paid. Has been back several times (in that same car and the M2 comp that replaced it). Been all good since then.
So the event is in Dusseldorf and apparently the police in that town are really hot on modified cars. Although the car is heavily modified it looks relatively stock externally, the only external bits that I may be pulled up on is the exhaust and wheels, which do not have TUV certification.
I've been to the 'ring a few times and never had a issue and also believe the police are usually more relaxed there compared to other areas of Germany.
I've been to the 'ring a few times and never had a issue and also believe the police are usually more relaxed there compared to other areas of Germany.
As your car isn't registered in Germany the parts do not need to TUV certified. You are not doing the German MOT equivalent over there so TUV certification isn't relevant.
However, if the police stop you and decide something is not roadworthy then you may have an issue. The main things they are likely to check at the roadside are ride height, tyres, window tints, exhaust noise. Obviously don't drive in a way that will attract undue attention.
However, if the police stop you and decide something is not roadworthy then you may have an issue. The main things they are likely to check at the roadside are ride height, tyres, window tints, exhaust noise. Obviously don't drive in a way that will attract undue attention.
EmilA said:
Valid point, the list of what isn't modified is easier. The roof has just been painted and untouched. Everything else is modified with a bunch of HKS, Nismo, Mine's etc parts
Is it roadworthy in the UK? Including things like exhaust noise, emissions, wheel/tyre combination on car type approved, bodywork protrusions, stock lighting?EmilA said:
Yes it has a valid MOT.
Note that the example given above for the case where people were stopped and had several cars seized had a 'valid MOT'...(From a dodgy garage given they had several issues visible in photos that were both MOT failures and roadworthiness failures that owners claimed were from mods that predated MOTs...)
edit: Though I will agree that from image, your vehicle looks like its been modded by someone who knows what they are doing with a result that is legal, rather than something a typical 10 year old should be able to recognise as not roadworthy in <30s...
AFAIK the actual issue is if the vehicle isn't roadworthy then they can refuse to release it without getting German MOT (So fixed to pass TUV rules) or proof its being trailered out of Germany (read - evidence you have paid reputable company to collect and trailer to the UK), regardless of UK MOT status etc...
Edited by qwerty360 on Monday 26th January 15:50
EmilA said:
Yes it has a valid MOT.
That's an answer to a different question. Let me ask it again, in a different way. If you took it for an MoT right now (I know its 6:15pm and they all go home at about 4pm....), to a test centre of my choosing (ie not a mate of yours or a garage you have a relationship with), would it pass?
beautiful colour as well. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff