Suspected illegal tuning: what can the police confiscate at the scene?
With the start of the tuning season (Tuning-Saison), German police step up their checks on modified cars, especially at typical meeting points such as shopping centre car parks or tuning hotspots like Carfreitag (theguardian.com). But what actually happens if your vehicle is stopped because of suspicious modifications? Here are the key points:
Common examples of illegal or non-approved modifications include:
installing a sports exhaust (Sportauspuff) that is louder than the values registered in the vehicle documents (typically around 77 dB static noise) (duennes.de),
chip tuning or other electronic performance upgrades without official registration or approval,
parts fitted without TÜV approval or ABE, such as:
non-approved lights or powerful LED bars,
unapproved spoilers, splitters or diffusers,
excessive lowering of the suspension that endangers ground clearance or vehicle stability.
As a rule, any modification outside the scope of the StVZO (German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations) that causes the vehicle’s type approval (Betriebserlaubnis) to lapse is considered illegal – and may lead to the car being taken off the road immediately.
Under German enforcement rules, the police may order a temporary seizure (Sicherstellung) if modifications:
cause the Betriebserlaubnis (type approval) to expire,
significantly impair traffic safety,
or serve as evidence of an administrative offence or crime related to the technical condition of the vehicle (bussgeldkatalog.org).
Parts that can be seized on the spot include, for example:
the entire exhaust system or electronic sound-control valves,
suspension components and lowering kits if they are deemed dangerous,
self-made or non-approved add-ons such as certain splitters, spoilers or lights without proper documentation.
In cases of serious suspicion or numerous undocumented modifications, the police may even seize the entire vehicle, taking it to a test centre or TÜV facility until the situation has been clarified.
In addition to seizing individual parts or the whole vehicle, drivers may face:
fines of up to €300, depending on the nature of the modification and the level of risk,
points in the German driving record (Flensburg) (reddit.com),
in cases of repeated offences or serious violations:
temporary withdrawal of the driving licence,
further legal consequences, especially where noise, handling or emissions are clearly outside permitted limits.
Loud, show-oriented or extremely low setups are increasingly the focus of police and regulatory authorities.
At the Tuning World event in Friedrichshafen, more than 50 cars were seized because required certificates and documents were missing – for example, for excessively loud sound systems or illegal lowering (stern.de).
In Berlin, the driver of a C-Class with a hybrid spoiler and an unapproved exhaust was stopped; officers decided to seize the car immediately because the modifications were undocumented and lacked approval.
These cases show clearly that the police now take suspected illegal tuning much more seriously, especially at major events and meet-ups.
Only use parts that come with approved documentation (ABE, Teilegutachten) and have been checked and registered by TÜV, DEKRA or another authorised inspection body.
Keep copies of all approval papers and certificates in the car, particularly when driving to meets or tuning events.
Do not try to talk your way out with phrases like “it was already like that when I bought it” – that excuse no longer works (duennes.de).
After any major modification, have your car checked by a qualified expert or certified workshop to ensure legal and technical compliance.
If the police suspect that your car is illegally or unsafely tuned, they can seize parts or even the entire vehicle and prohibit you from continuing your journey until an official inspection has been carried out.
The risk goes far beyond a simple fine: you may lose your trip, face points on your record, or even have your licence suspended.
Smart tuning always starts with proper documentation and legally compliant work – that is the only way to stay safe and legal on the road.
The editorial team behind this article strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors or incomplete details cannot be completely ruled out. Please therefore regard the information here as an initial guide, and always contact the competent authorities and official bodies for binding, up-to-date advice.
