I put different headlights in my car but I read somewhere that the German police will stop every person with some kind of “tuning” done to their car. Should I convert it back to stock?
Btw the lights are yellow not green
by mrflebfleb
20 comments
I’m not sure about the headlights but the yellow number plate is definitely illegal /s
You should ask Tüv, Dekra etc. Even your air filter is probably illegal if not checked by them
Depends, if you want to register the car in germany, there needs to be a ABE or it has to be entered in the registration documents. If you just want to drive from the netherlands to germany for a visit than it should be ok.
As far as I know, if an EU registered car complies with the legal standards for the car in the EU country it’s registered in, the police in another EU country can not fine you if they don’t like it.
That said, EU rules stipulate that all pars on a car (new or aftermarket) need to have a [E number](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECE-Pr%C3%BCfzeichen) stamped onto the part. eg E1 for German manufacturers, E4 for Netherlands, E11 for UK, etc.
Are those headlights legal in the Netherlands? (or just tolerated without the necessary E number?)
And what can they do anyway? German plates are classified as legal documents by vertue of the state seal that the stick into them at registration. If the police finds the care unfit to use, they remove that seal and by doing so make it illegal to use on public roads. Dutch plates don’t have a seal like that. All they can do is complain and write it a fine that you can basically ignore as your car is actually EU road legal.
Also you are unable to sell and then register a car in Germany that no longer complies to EU homoligasation. (as in tuned with parts that don’t have an E number
PS: I’m not a lawyer and this is just what I know. Don’t sue me if you do end up having issues…
if you have a ABE for it there shoulb be no problem.
But let me tell you something, you dont do your engine a favor with the placement of the placemt of the airfilter. There the engine only sucks more hot air in which only reduces the performance
In Germany front lights have to be “white light”, or when originally yellow when the vehicle model got it’s first registration (like French Oldtimer) If you modify the Light you need an ABE or it needs the personal(for this vehicle) permission from TÜV / DEKRA what will be written in the papers of the Vehicle.
If they have an ece homologation they are fine. I drive a heavily modified classic car and have never been stopped by police in a decade. There might be police controls at the border though.
As far as I know, signed agreements between all EU-members state that an operating license issued in any member state is valid in all of them even if local authorities wouldn’t permit similar modifications. So, as long as all safety-related functions are working properly, your car is in compliance with Dutch legal requirements and you have the proper paperwork on you to prove it, German cops will have to swallow it even though they love to be a real pain in the ass of every German tuner.
Still doesn’t mean they can’t or wouldn’t give you a hard time if they really wanted to, but it would be limited to checkups against your paperwork only – not random technical examinations you have to pay for out of your own pocket because Polizeimeister Anus over there who just finished his training three weeks ago doubts the validity (not even authenticity) of the official, legal documents you just handed to him and thinks he knows more about cars than an actual engineer who signed off your mods.
Are your headlights legal in NL?
Schwarze Schrift auf gelbem Grund – Halte Abstand, bleib gesund!
Not sure about lights but if you made modifications on your exhaust pipe it won’t go under the radar.
If they have a german ABE, or ECE it should be fine. But if they pull you over, you will be impounded for that air intake 100%. And as soon as they see the front Lights, they will ask you to Pop the hood.
Source: have owned modified cars for a looong time.
As ppl mentioned: Either ABE or an E in a circle on them.
If you get a TÜV certificate and they approve all the aftermarket stuff you are fine they will add it too you “ Fahrzeugschein“ and „ Fahrzeugbrief“ than you are GTG
But I don’t know if you are European as in Netherlands citizens and you go on and live in Germany. In mind you have all the paperwork for the changes in the Netherlands with the title. Approval ect than you shouldn’t have an issue at all. Like you are even allowed to drive a UK car in Germany with opposite steering there’s no issue.
With a car, registered in Europe, you can drive across Europe without worrying about TÜV or the local police.
I personally drive an imported US-Truck from the 80s, registered in Romania to avoid road tax in NL and GER. Sometimes, I get pulled over due to the soot from the exhaust or the noise. But legally, the German police can’t do me anything
Did not expect a 206cc on my Reddit today, I’ll be honest. Hi car twin!
open air filter … is this legal ?
If you want to move here you should make sure that your headlights have a ABE or Teilegutachten but if you are only visiting the police can’t do much except if your car poses a danger to other people.
20 comments
I’m not sure about the headlights but the yellow number plate is definitely illegal /s
You should ask Tüv, Dekra etc. Even your air filter is probably illegal if not checked by them
Depends, if you want to register the car in germany, there needs to be a ABE or it has to be entered in the registration documents. If you just want to drive from the netherlands to germany for a visit than it should be ok.
As far as I know, if an EU registered car complies with the legal standards for the car in the EU country it’s registered in, the police in another EU country can not fine you if they don’t like it.
That said, EU rules stipulate that all pars on a car (new or aftermarket) need to have a [E number](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECE-Pr%C3%BCfzeichen) stamped onto the part. eg E1 for German manufacturers, E4 for Netherlands, E11 for UK, etc.
Are those headlights legal in the Netherlands? (or just tolerated without the necessary E number?)
And what can they do anyway? German plates are classified as legal documents by vertue of the state seal that the stick into them at registration. If the police finds the care unfit to use, they remove that seal and by doing so make it illegal to use on public roads. Dutch plates don’t have a seal like that. All they can do is complain and write it a fine that you can basically ignore as your car is actually EU road legal.
Also you are unable to sell and then register a car in Germany that no longer complies to EU homoligasation. (as in tuned with parts that don’t have an E number
PS: I’m not a lawyer and this is just what I know. Don’t sue me if you do end up having issues…
if you have a ABE for it there shoulb be no problem.
But let me tell you something, you dont do your engine a favor with the placement of the placemt of the airfilter. There the engine only sucks more hot air in which only reduces the performance
In Germany front lights have to be “white light”, or when originally yellow when the vehicle model got it’s first registration (like French Oldtimer)
If you modify the Light you need an ABE or it needs the personal(for this vehicle) permission from TÜV / DEKRA what will be written in the papers of the Vehicle.
If they have an ece homologation they are fine. I drive a heavily modified classic car and have never been stopped by police in a decade.
There might be police controls at the border though.
As far as I know, signed agreements between all EU-members state that an operating license issued in any member state is valid in all of them even if local authorities wouldn’t permit similar modifications. So, as long as all safety-related functions are working properly, your car is in compliance with Dutch legal requirements and you have the proper paperwork on you to prove it, German cops will have to swallow it even though they love to be a real pain in the ass of every German tuner.
Still doesn’t mean they can’t or wouldn’t give you a hard time if they really wanted to, but it would be limited to checkups against your paperwork only – not random technical examinations you have to pay for out of your own pocket because Polizeimeister Anus over there who just finished his training three weeks ago doubts the validity (not even authenticity) of the official, legal documents you just handed to him and thinks he knows more about cars than an actual engineer who signed off your mods.
Are your headlights legal in NL?
Schwarze Schrift auf gelbem Grund – Halte Abstand, bleib gesund!
Not sure about lights but if you made modifications on your exhaust pipe it won’t go under the radar.
If they have a german ABE, or ECE it should be fine. But if they pull you over, you will be impounded for that air intake 100%. And as soon as they see the front Lights, they will ask you to Pop the hood.
Source: have owned modified cars for a looong time.
As ppl mentioned: Either ABE or an E in a circle on them.
Do you have a Roadworthiness Certificate and the Proof of Test? If yes there should be no problem https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/road-safety-member-states/roadworthiness-certificate-and-proof-test_en
If you get a TÜV certificate and they approve all the aftermarket stuff you are fine they will add it too you “ Fahrzeugschein“ and „ Fahrzeugbrief“ than you are GTG
But I don’t know if you are European as in Netherlands citizens and you go on and live in Germany. In mind you have all the paperwork for the changes in the Netherlands with the title. Approval ect than you shouldn’t have an issue at all. Like you are even allowed to drive a UK car in Germany with opposite steering there’s no issue.
With a car, registered in Europe, you can drive across Europe without worrying about TÜV or the local police.
I personally drive an imported US-Truck from the 80s, registered in Romania to avoid road tax in NL and GER. Sometimes, I get pulled over due to the soot from the exhaust or the noise. But legally, the German police can’t do me anything
Did not expect a 206cc on my Reddit today, I’ll be honest. Hi car twin!
open air filter … is this legal ?
If you want to move here you should make sure that your headlights have a ABE or Teilegutachten but if you are only visiting the police can’t do much except if your car poses a danger to other people.