Fit-out, technical inspection (STK) and insurance

Is a fit-out a vehicle modification?

The Act on the Conditions of Operation of Vehicles on Roads defines a modification as a change to essential parts of the vehicle's mechanism or structure. This includes, for example, a change of body, a change of body type that alters the purpose and manner of use of the vehicle, or a change of vehicle category. The law does not expressly mention a fit-out made of aluminium profiles, so there is no blanket rule that a shelving fit-out “requires approval” or “does not require” it. What decides is the nature of the fit-out and the specific vehicle. The sensible approach is therefore to discuss it at the design stage and, if necessary, ask the municipal authority of the municipality with extended powers or a testing station in advance.

When it is a modification

A modification of a registered vehicle is approved, on written application, by the municipal authority of the municipality with extended powers. The application includes a description of the modification, a technical description, drawings of parts without type approval, and a technical report issued by a testing station or technical testing body. After approval, the changes are reflected in the vehicle's data in the register of road vehicles. A well-documented design helps with both the application and the report, which is why you receive a 3D model with a made-to-measure fit-out.

What the vehicle inspection station checks

During the technical inspection, it is assessed whether the condition of the vehicle matches the approved specification. An unapproved change to the structure or body, or a change in the vehicle's dimensions or weight, is usually a defect. For vehicles where it is required, the partition between the load area and the passenger area is also checked. A vehicle with unapproved changes may be technically unfit, so it is better to have everything in order from the start than to deal with the consequences at an inspection or in an insurance claim.

Electronic registration document (ISTP)

The vehicle registration document is now kept electronically in the Ministry of Transport's information system of registration documents (ISTP). The paper registration document (registration certificate part II) has no longer been issued since 2024. After professional installation, we enter the fit-out in the electronic registration document (ISTP of the Ministry of Transport).

A notice we give you in advance

Anyone who offers a change that could make a vehicle technically unfit must warn the operator of this. So expect us to tell you, for every fit-out, whether and how it needs to be handled at the authority.

Weight is a legal issue, not just a practical one

The Road Traffic Act states that when transporting cargo, neither the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle nor the maximum permitted weight per axle may be exceeded. The weight of the fit-out is therefore counted in the total weight and reduces the amount you may legally load. The maximum permitted weight of the vehicle cannot be changed by making the fit-out lighter. It can be changed only by converting it to a special-purpose vehicle.

Mandatory equipment and the fit-out

A fit-out must not obstruct access to mandatory equipment. For N1 vans this means the first-aid kit, warning triangle and spare wheel with its accessories, or a substitute solution where the regulations allow it. A fire extinguisher is not mandatory for N1 vans, but if you carry one, it should be in a fixed holder. At the design stage we therefore plan where the equipment will be stored and how you will reach it.

Load securing and responsibility

The driver and the consignor are responsible for the safe placement and securing of the load, not the fit-out itself. A fit-out is, however, a tool that makes securing easier and without which it is hard to secure a load well. A reference to the standards and what you can expect from them can be found in the chapter Safety and load securing.

Insurance

We recommend informing your insurer about the fit-out. Conditions vary, but the insurer should know about the change to the vehicle and ideally also about what you carry. Tools and equipment in the vehicle may not be covered by ordinary vehicle insurance, so it is worth checking your policy. Storing items in a fit-out makes it easier to prove what was in the vehicle and that it was secured.

How we do it

During the design we discuss with you what will need to be dealt with, and, depending on the vehicle and the assembly, we tell you whether approval is needed. After professional installation, we enter the fit-out in the electronic registration document (ISTP of the Ministry of Transport). You receive the documentation for the fit-out, i.e. the 3D model, in a form you can present to the authority, testing station or insurer.