Alteration in motor vehicle
Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 deals with alteration in motor vehicle. No owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer: Provided that where the owner of a motor vehicle makes modification of the engine, or any part thereof, of a v The Act came into force on 01 Jul 1989.
1[52. Alteration in motor vehicle.-- (1) No owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer:
Provided that where the owner of a motor vehicle makes modification of the engine, or any part thereof, of a vehicle for facilitating its operation by different type of fuel or source of energy including battery, compressed natural gas, solar power, liquid petroleum gas or any other fuel or source of energy, by fitment of a conversion kit, such modification shall be carried out subject to such conditions as may be prescribed:
2[Provided further that the Central Government may prescribe specifications, conditions for approval, retrofitment and other related matters for the alteration of motor vehicles and in such cases, the warranty granted by the manufacturer shall not be considered as void for the purposes of such alteration or retrofitment.]
Provided also that the Central Government may grant exemption for alteration of vehicles in a manner other than specified above, for any specific purpose.
3[(1A) A manufacturer of a motor vehicle shall on the direction issued by the Central Government, alter or retrofit safety equipment, or any other equipment in accordance with such standards and specifications as may be specified by the Central Government.]
4[(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person may, with the subsequent approval of the registering authority, alter or cause to be altered any vehicle owned by him to be converted into an adapted vehicle:
Provided that such alteration complies with such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government.]
(3) Where any alteration has been made in motor vehicle without the approval of registering authority 5***, the owner of the vehicle shall, within fourteen days of the making of the alteration, report the alteration to the registering authority within whose jurisdiction he resides and shall forward the certificate of registration to that authority together with the prescribed fee in order that particulars of registration may be entered therein.
(4) A registering authority other than the original registering authority making any such entry shall communicate the details of the entry to the original registering authority.
(5) Subject to the provisions made under sub-sections (1), (2), (3) and (4), no person holding a vehicle under a hire-purchase agreement shall make any alteration to the vehicle except with the written consent of the registered owner.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, "alteration" means a change in the structure of a vehicle which results in a change in its basic feature.]
Section 52, The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 (Act 59 of 1988).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… In Vinu Vincent (supra), this Court held that a motor vehicle has to comply with the provisions of the Rules contained in Chapter V of the Central Rules as provided in Rule 92(1). Rule 92(1) has to be read as subservient to the provisions contained in Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Various provisions in Chapter V are additional safeguards to what is prohibited in Section 52(1). What has been specified originally by the manufacturers and once that has been entered in the particulars in the certificate of registration, cannot be varied. No vehicle can be altered so as …
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… Petitioner has submitted Ext.P2 application seeking registration of the motor vehicle. According to the petitioner, eventhough it is pending for quite some time the same is not considered for the reason that the petitioner has effected alteration in violation of Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the issue was considered by this court in W.P (C) No.25950/2013 and Ext.P3 judgment is rendered by a learned Single Judge wherein a similar circumstance was taken into account and certain proposition of law is laid down, which suits …
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… Addl. Registering Authority . This shall be done within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the judgment. Needless to say that if it is found that the conversion of the body of the vehicle does not offend Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 as explained in Justin Joseph v. Addl. Registering Authority , appropriate endorsement shall be made in the certificate of registration of the vehicle of the petitioner. Sd/- P.B.SURESH KUMAR, JUDGE. Kvs/- // true copy // …
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Another 3 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 52
What does Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act deal with?
Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act is headed "Alteration in motor vehicle". [52. Alteration in motor vehicle.-- (1) No owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer: Provided that where the owner of a motor vehicle makes modification of
How do I find court cases under Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: MV Act 52, section 52 MV Act, section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, and has it changed?
5 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 2: most recently SO 859(E) 25 Feb 2022 Implementation of Section 50-57 and 93 of MV(A) Act, 2019 (2022), then Central Motor Vehicles ( 10th Amendment) Rules, 2015. (2015).
When did Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act come into force?
Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, cited as MV Act 52, came into force on 01 Jul 1989, having been enacted on 14 Oct 1988. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions1948 words
- 88. Validation of permits for use outside region in which granted1560 words
- 51. Special provisions regarding motor vehicle subject to hire-purchase agreement, etc1199 words
- 150. Duty of insurers to satisfy judgments and awards against persons insured in respect of third party risks1102 words
- 96. Power of State Government to make rules for the purposes of this Chapter995 words
- 72. Grant of stage carriage permits868 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.