No, squatted trucks—vehicles modified to sit lower than legal height limits—violate Chile’s Decreto Supremo 102/2019 under the Reglamento de Tránsito, which mandates minimum ground clearance for safety. The Subsecretaría de Transportes and Carabineros de Chile enforce these rules, with recent 2026 inspections targeting modified vehicles in Santiago and Valparaíso. Non-compliance risks fines up to 1.5 UTM (~$120 USD) and mandatory restoration.
Key Regulations for Squatted Trucks in Chile
- Ground Clearance: Vehicles must maintain ≥200mm clearance under DS 102/2019 (Art. 5.3), enforced by Conaset crash-test standards.
- Modification Bans: Altering suspension systems to reduce height is prohibited under Ley 18.290 (Traffic Law), with penalties under Art. 192.
- Inspection Obligations: All vehicles undergo Revisión Técnica (RTI) checks; squatted trucks fail automatically, triggering impoundment by Carabineros.
Local municipalities like Santiago and Antofagasta have intensified Operativos de Fiscalización since 2024, collaborating with SERNAC to curb unsafe modifications. Exemptions require engineering certification from DICTUC or IDIEM, rarely granted for aesthetic purposes.