Traficom and the finnish Vehicle Act Change Starting from June 1, 2024
What does the much-talked-about vehicle law change mean for car enthusiasts in Finland?
For those who aren’t familiar with this topic – let’s be clear, this only applies to our customers in Finland. Each country has its own regulations when it comes to our international market.
But for those living in Finland – a few wise words of caution to avoid unpleasant surprises when it’s time for the yearly MOT.
The Vehicle Act change that came into effect on June 1, 2024 brought new clarifications and restrictions to tuning and modifying vehicles in Finland. These changes particularly impact engine tuning and the so-called emissions manipulation – at the same time, there might be more stricter interpretations for many other components as well and the certifications they require.
While the initial reaction from enthusiasts is often grumbling and growling whenever the scrutiny tightens, one can’t argue that there’s actually some logic behind it. Especially in the heavy-duty industrial sector, tampering with emission devices causes significant local pollution and creates an unfair competitive advantage between the companies in the industry. And let’s be honest, who wants to breathe in black smoke, even if it might look cool in the rearview mirror?
How do tuning parts affect inspections and legality?
The law change has raised a lot of questions, especially regarding software modifications and exhaust components – which we’ll dive into below. You can find the full content of the Vehicle Act through Traficom’s online services.
Is car tuning and modifying dead, over, kaput?
Not at all. First of all, it’s important to remember that motorsport and racing aren’t affected by these regulations. In addition, Futurez is committed to serving car enthusiasts smartly, even with street machines – our team is constantly searching and selecting parts that come with the necessary papers and approvals to keep everything safe and legal.
How does the law change affect passenger cars and car enthusiasts – Software and exhausts?
While the main focus is on heavy-duty vehicles, the impact is significant for passenger cars too. Here are a couple of examples of things to keep in mind to avoid problems and even hefty penalties.
Car software tuning, engine remapping.
Contrary to popular belief, engine tuning and car remapping are STILL allowed, but now with more restrictions. For older vehicles with earlier emission standards, race cars, and for example, fuel type conversions, remapping, engine swaps, and even aftermarket turbocharging are still mostly allowed – but traditional remapping for modern cars is now largely explicitly banned, especially for vehicles from 2009 onwards.
“Luckily, my remap is legal because emissions didn’t increase” – Not necessarily.
Whether your emissions change or not is secondary. Remapping is no longer allowed regardless of emissions because after the change, it’s practically impossible to ensure the car meets its requirements – even if the change is as small as one data bit.
Currently, in Finland there is no facility or authority in the country that can verify or confirm compliance. So, in this sense this is a dead end.
An exception comes in a form of few providers who have developed complete solutions and gone through a lengthy approval process, such as with the international TÜV organization.
As a side note, E85 fuel conversions or converting to Flexfuel vehicles have a slightly different situation – ask our customer service for more information about your specific vehicle.
Exhaust upgrades, downpipes, cat-back, and catalytic converters
Another hot topic. After the law change, the vehicle’s downpipe must be ECE-approved for that specific vehicle, and the same applies to its exhaust system.
NOTE: In other words, just having a race catalytic converter is NOT allowed for street use, even if it passes the emissions test – if it lacks the mentioned model approval.
Only ECE-approved products in our selection are suitable for street use, and please note that other products are only intended for racing vehicles, project builds, or international sales. We do not sell these products for vehicles used in street traffic.
Engine tuning and exhaust upgrades: Legal options for 2024
- Depending on the vehicle, there are limited approved solutions available. Ask us for advice.
- E85 / Flexfuel conversions are still allowed.
- For older vehicles, the rules are different, and more extensive modifications are possible.
- Always use ECE-approved downpipes.
- Use an ECE-approved exhaust for sound upgrades.
- Do not remove or tamper with emission devices like EGR, DPF, OPF, or Adblue – save yourself the trouble.
Noteworthy: Transmission upgrades
Your transmission has its own control unit, and adjusting its settings can have a significant impact on your car’s performance and drivability. Improving transmission function is not prohibited under current interpretations of the law.
Check out our updates for VAG vehicles – a highly effective upgrade for your car, even if you’re just cruising with stock power.
→ TVS Engineering transmission upgrades for DSG gearboxes
In conclusion, the Vehicle Act change aims to clarify safety and environmental regulations, although opinions may vary on how successful the outcome is. Legal car building and tuning are still possible, but modifications require careful planning, the right quality components, and proper markings/documents.
