Camber kits: UK vs US vs Germany
No market sets a numeric camber limit. What they regulate is the consequence: uneven tyre wear, coverage, and whether the adjusting hardware itself is approved.
All three markets reach the same verdict, conditional. What differs is the rule each one uses to get there, which is the third column.
| Market | Verdict | The rule that decides it |
|---|---|---|
United Kingdom DVSA / GOV.UK |
Conditional | Judged on tyre wear and clearance Tread must not fall below 1.6 mm anywhere including the inner edge, wear must not expose cord, and wheels must not foul the bodywork or suspension. |
United States EPA, NHTSA and state codes |
Conditional | Legal to fit, no numeric camber limit Suspension and steering must remain safe and predictable. Extreme static camber can fail state safety inspections and tyres must not wear to unsafe tread. |
Germany StVZO / KBA |
Conditional | Factory adjustment free, kits need a certificate Camber plates, eccentric bolts and adjustable arms need a certificate and an immediate change inspection. A materials report alone is not enough. |
Germany draws a line the others do not: adjusting camber at factory adjustment points is free, but adding hardware to gain adjustment is not.
Why the answers differ
Are camber kits legal?
No market here sets a numeric camber limit, which surprises people who expect a degree figure. What is regulated instead is the consequence: uneven tyre wear down to unsafe tread, especially on the inner edge where you cannot see it, and clearance between wheel and bodywork. Germany draws a line the others do not, and it is a useful one. Adjusting camber at the factory adjustment points is free and needs nothing, but adding hardware to gain adjustment, camber plates, eccentric bolts, adjustable arms, requires a certificate and an immediate inspection. In other words the setting is unregulated and the part is not. The US notes that extreme static camber can still fail a state safety inspection on tyre condition alone.
Verdict at a glance
The same three markets, grouped by where they land.
Conditional
ConditionalUnited Kingdom, United States and Germany. Permitted, but only once the condition in the table above is met.
Sources
Primary legislation and regulator guidance behind each market's verdict.
- UKMOT inspection manual: 5. Axles, wheels, tyres and suspension (GOV.UK)
- UKRoad Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, reg. 100 (maintenance and use so as not to be a danger)
- USVehicle modifications and equipment (NHTSA)
- Germany§ 19 StVZO - Erteilung und Wirksamkeit der Betriebserlaubnis (gesetze-im-internet.de)
- Germany§ 36a StVZO - Radabdeckungen, Ersatzräder (gesetze-im-internet.de)
Other cross-market comparisons
This is a comparison of national rules, not legal advice for your vehicle. Rules change, and the US row in particular summarises federal law where one exists and the common pattern across states where it does not. Confirm the position in your own state or region before you buy or fit anything. Sources last reviewed July 2026.