Regulation 380: getting a car modification approved in Israel

What the regulation says

Regulation 380(a) of the Traffic Regulations: no person shall change the structure of a vehicle except under a written permit from the licensing authority. Regulation 380(d) defines a change of structure as including an engine of another make or model, changes to the body or axles, and installing special devices. "Including" means the list isn't closed. Regulation 382 adds that a car with an approved change may only be used once the change is recorded in its licence.

The permit fee in the regulations' first schedule is ₪274 (fees are indexed, so check it in January).

What counts as a change

The clearest official list is in the Ministry of Transport's procedure T-01-2022, which gives examples of a vehicle that has had a structural change: a special exhaust pipe, a body raised with non-original springs and shock absorbers, special wheels, and any mechanism or accessory not originally designed by the manufacturer.

No official page we found names engine-computer software (a Stage 1 remap) or lowering springs explicitly. The definition is open, so ask the licensing office and your insurer before you rely on "it's only software".

How approval works

Accessories (procedure H-05-2020). A licensed installer fits a part that has a prototype certificate from an accredited vehicle lab, and gives you the certificates. You then book an appointment at the licensing office to have the change recorded in the licence.
Big changes (procedure H-01-2019). Class changes, body building and chassis changes are done by a manufacturer authorised by the Ministry, followed by an individual inspection at an accredited vehicle lab.
Engine of the same model and capacity. Licensing institutes may approve it directly (form רש"ל 23); a duplicate licence costs ₪10, plus ₪27 if not done online.
Tyre sizes (procedure H-08-2020). No importer approval is needed if the size is listed in CAR-DATA; otherwise the licensing institute checks the manufacturer's or importer's approval.

Official pages don't publish a processing time, so ask the installer or licensing office when you book.

If you skip it

The law. Breaking a regulation made under the Traffic Ordinance is punishable under its sections 61F, 62 and 63; section 62 allows up to two years' imprisonment or a fine. We found no official page with a fixed fine for regulation 380 itself.
Noise. Under the noise regulations you may not cause loud noise from a motor vehicle beyond what its proper operation needs, or drive without an effective silencer. The fixed fines are ₪250 for loud noise and ₪350 for driving without a silencer, for an individual.
Insurance. The Insurance Contract Law requires you to tell your insurer of a material change immediately and in writing (section 17). If a claim comes first, the insurer may pay only a proportionally reduced amount, and nothing at all if the change was hidden to defraud or a reasonable insurer wouldn't have insured the car (section 18).

A practical order

Choose parts with a prototype certificate from an accredited lab, and an installer licensed to fit them.
Keep every certificate the installer gives you.
Record the change at the licensing office before you drive the car as modified.
Tell your insurer in writing, and keep the reply.
Keep the original parts if you may need to return the car to stock.

Sources

This is general information from the official texts, not legal advice. For your car, ask the licensing office, a licensed installer or a lawyer.

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