A modified VW Passat sits parked on Parkstraße in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. The vehicle, equipped with homemade additions including solar panels, LED lights, and a trash bag hanging from a hook, was deemed unsafe by Westpfalz Police, who revoked its operating license. (Westpfalz Police)

Kaiserslautern police had to do a double-take Tuesday when they spotted an unusual sight parked on Parkstrasse: a heavily modified VW Passat sporting an array of home-made additions.

The vehicle, outfitted with an eclectic mix of solar panels, LED lights, and even a dangling trash bag, quickly caught the attention of a patrol unit, according to a Westpfalz Police report Wednesday.

Upon closer inspection, officers found a solar panel rigged precariously to the roof with metal pipes and screws, while another panel and LED light were secured to the hood using tape and hooks. The modifications didn’t stop there—plastic hooks attached to the rear windows held a trash bag on the passenger side and a wooden board seen in police images appears to provide room for additional attachments.

The 24-year-old driver, who was located through the vehicle’s registration, told officers he had been driving the car like this for some time without any prior complaints, according to the report. Officials did not say whether the driver explained the purpose of his custom modifications.

Unfortunately for him, police informed him that the vehicle’s operating license had been invalidated due to the unauthorized modifications. As a result, the driver was banned from further road use until the car is re-certified.

Authorities reminded the driver that simply removing the add-ons wouldn’t be enough to get the car back on the road — a full re-registration is now required to ensure the car meets German vehicle regulations.