1 New light vehicle compliance - allowable modifications
The modifications detailed in this bulletin do not require low volume vehicle certification and can be carried out prior to a warrant of fitness being issued.
Fitting or modification to: | Modification allowed provided that: |
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Isolation shields (to separate vehicle occupants for the purpose of medical isolation) (Note 13) | The shield:
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Bull bars and nudge bars | The bars are frontal impact compliant (FIC), display a FIC tag, and the fitting of the bars does not weaken the vehicle structure. |
Blocks for leaf springs to adjust their ride height (up or down) |
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Body kits and components (including running boards, plastic bumper skins, side skirts, rear spoiler, front air dam, mud flaps, bonnet projections, utility flat decks, utility tray bodies, utility canopies/tray liners/tonneau covers) |
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Wheels | The wheels:
Note: Spare wheel is often OE and can be used for comparison. |
Tyres |
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Tow bars | The fitting of the tow bar does not weaken the vehicle structure. |
Springs and shock absorbers (including modification of ride height) |
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Overlays (Note 1) See below for overlays on windscreens, front side windows, rear and rear side windows, and sun roofs | Overlays do not:
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Windscreens (Note 1) | |
Stickers (Note 1) | Stickers are wholly within 100mm of the top or bottom edge, or 50mm of the side edges, unless required or permitted by legislation, eg:
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Anti-glare band overlay (Note 1) | The overlay:
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Clear or transparent stone guard overlay (Note 1) |
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Radio antennae | Antennae are wholly within 100mm of any edge. |
Front side windows | |
Transparent overlays (Note 1) | The overall visible light transmittance (VLT) is not reduced to below 35%. |
Stickers | Stickers are wholly within 100mm of the bottom edge, or 50mm of any other edge, unless required or permitted by legislation. |
Radio antennae | Antennae are wholly within 100mm of any edge. |
Rear and rear side windows (behind the driver’s seat) – class MA vehicles except stretch limousines and body transfer vehicles: | |
Transparent overlays (Note 1) |
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Stickers | The stickers are wholly within 100mm of any edge, unless required or permitted by legislation. |
Radio antennae | Antennae are wholly within 100mm of any edge. |
Rear and rear side windows (behind the driver’s seat) – any vehicle class except MA, but including stretch limousines and body transfer vehicles: | |
Overlays and other modifications | The vehicle is equipped on both sides with external rear-view mirrors. |
Stickers | Stickers may be applied anywhere on the glazing but, if not wholly within 100mm of any edge, the vehicle must be equipped on both sides with external rear-view mirrors. |
Radio antennae | In-service requirements for condition and performance are met. |
Note 1 Definitions
Windscreen means all glazing extending across the front of a vehicle that is not parallel to the vehicle’s longitudinal centreline, but does not include a wind deflector. No fitting or overlays of stickers are permitted to the windscreen except those previously mentioned.
Laminated glass means glazing consisting of two or more pieces of sheet glass, plate glass or float glass bonded together by one or more intervening layers of plastic material.
Overlay means a transparent, translucent or opaque self-adhesive or clinging film that is applied to large areas, or the whole, of a piece of glazing, including anti-glare band overlays, stone guard overlays.
Anti-glare band overlay means a tinted overlay that is transparent and that is applied along the top edge of the windscreen for the purpose of reducing glare from the sun.
Stone guard overlay means a clear overlay that is transparent and that is applied along the bottom edge of the windscreen for the purpose of preventing damage to the windscreen from stones and other debris thrown up by other vehicles.
Sticker means a self-adhesive or clinging film, with or without print on it, that is applied for purposes such as, but not limited to, advertising, identification, information, or for aesthetic or legal reasons.
Note 2
Damage includes any unrepaired damage and attempted visible repairs.
Note 3
Visible light transmittance (VLT) is the proportion of visible light that passes through glazing, measured perpendicular to the glazing. Overall VLT is the VLT of the glazing together with any overlays.
Note 4
Any OE opaque edging (usually black) is not considered part of the windscreen when determining the boundaries of the CVA, or the areas permitted for stickers, print on an anti-glare band, or radio antennae.
Note 5
Perforated overlays are usually made from printed-on materials. They are therefore not transparent and may be fitted only where stickers are allowed.
Note 6
Heating, drilling, welding or cutting the vehicle structure, modifying a roof bow, or modifying any part of the structure anchorage would be considered to weaken the structure. Cutting a single layer of unstressed panel of sheet metal (ie roof) is not considered to weaken the vehicle structure. Drilling a hole suitable for a child restraint top tether does not require LVV certification
Note 7
Strut or spring spacers always require certification.
Note 8
The only other allowable methods of adjusting vehicle ride height without LVV certification are leaf spring blocks (as per below requirements) or adjustment of OE equipment (torsion bars or OE adjustable air suspension).
Note 9
When determining if there is sufficient travel remaining, consider a case where the vehicle is laden and in use.
Note 10
Sufficient clearance must be maintained from the travel-limiting bump stop (not an OE spring aid). The spring aid and/or bump stop must not be modified. A spring aid is a low-density conformable material that is fitted inside a coil spring or above a leaf spring by a vehicle manufacturer to assist the spring and acts as the bump stop only once it is fully compressed. The spring aid may be contacted at any loading condition to increase the vehicle’s spring rate, but the vehicle must retain sufficient wheel travel as per Note 9. A bump stop is a small high-density rubber bumper that is designed to stop vehicle suspension or driveline components from coming into contact with the vehicle structure at the extremes of its suspension travel and is not designed to carry the load of the vehicle for sustained periods of time.
Note 11
Rebound wheel travel should be measured as the difference between the distance from the top of the tyre and the wheel arch with the vehicle resting on the ground and the top of the tyre to the wheel arch with the vehicle lifted so that its tyres are clear of the ground (suspension hanging in full rebound). This difference must be greater than 40mm.
Note 12
Does not include such items as exhaust pipes and exterior body panels that do not contribute to the structural strength of the vehicle.
Note 13
The NZ Transport Agency makes no representations about the effectiveness of these installations, whether they are required, or whether they are sufficient for the purposes of meeting health and safety or other requirements. It takes no responsibility for the installation and use of isolation shields.
Page amended 29 April 2020 (see amendment details).