Converting a truck into a passenger vehicle is a concern for many vehicle owners and transport businesses. However, not everyone is fully aware of the current legal regulations regarding motor vehicle conversions. This article from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình, a website specializing in trucks and related regulations, provides the most detailed and up-to-date information on converting trucks into passenger vehicles and vice versa, based on the latest legal documents.
What is Motor Vehicle Conversion?
To clearly understand the conversion of a truck into a passenger vehicle, it is first necessary to grasp the concept of motor vehicle conversion. According to Clause 4, Article 3 of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT, motor vehicle conversion is defined as follows:
Motor vehicle conversion is the alteration of the structure, shape, layout, operating principle, parameters, or technical characteristics of a part or the entire system or assembly of a motor vehicle.
It is important to note that replacing systems or assemblies with the same type of parts from the same manufacturer (same part code) is not considered a conversion.
Motor vehicle and conversion activities, complying with current legal regulations.
Regulations on Converting Trucks into Passenger Vehicles and Vice Versa
So, is it permissible to convert a truck into a passenger vehicle? Clause 4, Article 4 of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT, as amended by Clause 1, Article 2 of Circular 42/2018/TT-BGTVT, clearly stipulates this issue in the regulations for motor vehicle conversion:
The conversion of motor vehicles and motor vehicles after conversion must comply with technical standards, regulations, and regulations on technical safety quality and environmental protection for motor vehicles participating in traffic and must comply with the following regulations:
…
4. It is not allowed to convert motor vehicles of other types into passenger vehicles and vice versa, except for passenger vehicles with 16 seats or less (including the driver’s seat) into specialized vehicles or VAN trucks.
…
Thus, according to current regulations, converting a truck into a passenger vehicle and vice versa is not allowed, except in the special case of converting passenger vehicles with fewer than 16 seats into specialized vehicles or VAN trucks. This means that if you own a truck and intend to convert it into a passenger vehicle for other purposes, you should carefully consider this regulation to avoid violating the law.
Other regulations related to motor vehicle conversion that you should note include:
- Vehicle Usage Time: Do not convert or change the intended use of motor vehicles that have been in use for over 15 years.
- Imported Specialized Vehicles: Do not convert imported specialized vehicles into other types of vehicles within 05 years, and do not convert imported refrigerated trucks into other types of vehicles within 03 years from the date of first registration.
- Imported Truck Beds: Do not convert the truck bed of newly imported, manufactured, or assembled trucks that have not been used for 06 months from the date of the first inspection (except for conversion into training vehicles, testing vehicles, or installing covers on open-top truck beds).
- Suspension, Brakes, Steering: Restrict the conversion of suspension, brakes, and steering systems of motor vehicles, except for certain special cases specifically regulated.
- Two-Story Bunk Beds, Luggage Compartments: Do not convert or install two-story bunk beds on passenger vehicles and do not convert or increase the size of the luggage compartment of passenger vehicles.
- Tractor Trucks: Do not convert tractor trucks into other types of motor vehicles (except for specialized vehicles).
Agency for Acceptance of Motor Vehicles After Conversion
After carrying out motor vehicle conversion according to the approved design, another important question arises: which agency will accept the vehicle after conversion?
Clause 1, Article 10 of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT stipulates:
1. Motor vehicles after conversion construction according to the approved design must be accepted by the Vietnam Register or motor vehicle registration units (hereinafter referred to as the acceptance agency) according to the responsibilities specified in Clause 2, Clause 3 of this Article and issued with a Certificate of technical safety quality and environmental protection of converted motor vehicles according to the form specified in Appendix V issued with this Circular (hereinafter referred to as the Conversion Certificate).
Accordingly, the Vietnam Register or Motor Vehicle Registration Units are the competent agencies to accept motor vehicles after conversion. The acceptance responsibilities of each agency are specifically defined as follows:
- The Vietnam Register accepts complex conversion cases that have a significant impact on the structure and technical safety of the vehicle, including:
- Conversion of the steering wheel position of right-hand drive vehicles.
- Conversion of the entire cab, body, or passenger compartment of passenger vehicles.
- Conversion from imported used truck chassis without truck beds.
- Conversion of the fuel supply system of motor vehicles (except for some minor cases).
- Conversion of all types of motor vehicles into specialized vehicles.
- Motor Vehicle Registration Units accept the remaining conversion cases that are not the responsibility of the Vietnam Register.
After acceptance is successfully completed, the converted motor vehicle will be issued a Certificate of technical safety quality and environmental protection of converted motor vehicles (Conversion Certificate), according to the form in Appendix V of Circular 85/2014/TT-BGTVT.
Thus, this article has provided detailed information on the regulations for converting trucks into passenger vehicles, which cases are allowed and not allowed, as well as the process and agency for accepting vehicles after conversion. Hopefully, this information from Xe Tải Mỹ Đình will be helpful for you in understanding and complying with the laws regarding motor vehicle conversion.
