Is it legal? Traffic official responds to loud car 'pops and bangs'

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Brandon Almazan, co-owner of Pro-Fit Exhausts.

Listen below: 

How 'street legal' are those extremely loud vehicles that announce their presence from blocks away?

Modifications like removing mufflers or altering exhaust systems to make cars louder are often done by backyard mechanics rather than accredited fitment centres. These changes are not only disruptive but also frequently fall outside legal noise limits.

Almazan comments on the growing trend among petrolheads to modify their cars for aggressive 'pops and bangs', raising questions about legality, safety, and the impact on communities.

RELATED: Car 'pops and bangs' at Kroomboom and Jan Smuts cause 'unbearable disturbance'

"Most cars get modified after they leave the showroom. The problem in South Africa I think is that there are regulations concerning noise levels on vehicles but I don't think they're strict enough or enforced properly..."

- Brandon Almazan, co-owner - Pro-Fit Exhausts

"It's [exhaust modification] done at proper exhaust shops and you cater for what the client wants, but at the same time, you give them advice and say, a loud exhaust is not a good thing because you need to have silencers... I think it's a trend now... some of them don't sound nice at all."

- Brandon Almazan, Co-Owner - Pro-Fit Exhausts

"It's just a trend now... everyone wants a loud exhaust. Some of these newer car brands have a controlled valve on their exhaust so you can make it loud or quiet..."

- Brandon Almazan, Co-Owner - Pro-Fit Exhausts

"... I think it's a phase everyone's going through, but I don't think it's a good thing for the vehicle, especially for petrol cars."

- Brandon Almazan, Co-Owner - Pro-Fit Exhausts

CapeTalk reached out to the City's traffic services about this issue.

"The City's traffic services address unusually loud or noisy vehicles from a modifications perspective as opposed to the measurement of sound or volume. If the manufacturer's specification of the vehicle has been altered, then a notice to discontinue the use of the vehicle or a suspension notice is issued, effectively rendering the vehicle unroadworthy. The owner will then have 14 days to repair the vehicle, take it to its nearest roadworthy testing centre, and if the vehicle passes, a new license token will be issued. In the 2024-2025 financial year, the traffic service suspended 4,310 vehicles on various issues relating to roadworthiness, including illegal modifications."

- Maxine Bezuidenhout, Assistant Traffic Chief - City of Cape Town

To report a vehicle with excessive engine noise or loud revving, call the City traffic services on: 021 480 7700.

Make sure to include the exact location, time of the incident, and a detailed description of the vehicle.

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