Unlawful Vehicle Modifications: State Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated November 03, 2020
Whether it is dark window tinting, modifying your exhaust system so you can drag race, or altering your car's appearance by adding neon lights to the bottom, certain vehicle modifications are illegal. Each state across the U.S. has different laws and regulations, and fines vary from state-to-state. That's where FindLaw comes in. We've assembled a handy chart with links to all 50 state laws relating to illegal car modifications. For more information, see our Traffic Tickets section.
| State | Statute |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Regulation of Operation of Motor Vehicles: Equipment (AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5; scroll to Article 9) Window Tinting (AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5C) |
| Alaska | Vehicle Equipment Standards (AK Statutes section 28.05.081) |
| Arizona | Equipment (ARS Title 28; scroll to sections 28-921 to 28-966) |
| Arkansas | Size and Load Regulations (AR Code Title 27, Ch. 35) Equipment Regulations (AR Code Title 27, Ch. 37) |
| California | Division 12 - Equipment of Vehicles (California Vehicle Code, Division 12) |
| Colorado | Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic: Equipment (CRS Title 42, Article 4, Part 2) |
| Connecticut | Motor Vehicles: Equipment (GSC Ch. 246; scroll to sections 14-80 to 14-106) |
| Delaware | Equipment Requirements (DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter I) Lights (DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter II) |
| District of Columbia | Motor and Non-Motor Vehicles and Traffic (D.C. Code Title 50) |
| Florida | State Uniform Traffic Control: Equipment (FS Chapter 316; scroll to sections 316.217 to 316.455) |
| Georgia | Equipment and Inspection of Motor Vehicles (Georgia Code Title 40, Ch. 8) |
| Hawaii | Special interest vehicles (HRS section 286-26.5) |
| Idaho | Vehicle Equipment (ID Statutes Title 49, Ch. 9) |
| Illinois | Equipment of Vehicles (625 ILCS 5, Ch. 12) |
| Indiana | Motor Vehicle Equipment (Indiana Code Title 9, Article 19) |
| Iowa | Vehicle Equipment (IA Code Chapter 321, beginning with subdivision titled Lighting Equipment; scroll to sections 321.384 to 321.481) |
| Kansas | Equipment of Vehicles (KS Statutes Ch. 8, Article 17) |
| Kentucky | Vehicle Equipment (KRS Chapter 189; scroll to sections 189.020 to 189.205) |
| Louisiana | Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation (LRS Title 32; scroll to sections 32:301 to 32:369) Low rider vehicles (LRS section 32:297) Proper equipment required on vehicles; display of plate (LRS section 32:53) |
| Maine | Equipment (MRS Title 29-A, Ch. 17) |
| Maryland | Equipment of Vehicles (MD Transportation Code Title 22, section 22-101 et seq.) |
| Massachusetts | Operation of unregistered or improperly equipped motor vehicles (90 MGL section 9) |
| Michigan | Equipment (MI Vehicle Code sections 257.683 to 257.711) |
| Minnesota | Traffic Regulations: Equipment (MN Statutes Chapter 169; scroll to sections 169.47 to 169.75) |
| Mississippi | Equipment and Identification (MS Code Title 63, Ch. 7) |
| Missouri | Vehicle Equipment Regulations (MRS Chapter 307) |
| Montana | Vehicle Equipment (MCA Title 61, Ch. 9) |
| Nebraska | Vehicle equipment and violations (R.R.S. Nebr. section 60-6,220 et seq.) |
| Nevada | Equipment of Vehicles (NRS sections 484D.230 to 484D.545) |
| New Hampshire | Equipment of Vehicles (NH Statutes Chapter 266) |
| New Jersey | Motor vehicle equipment (NJ Statutes sections 39:3-46 to 39:3-84) |
| New Mexico | Motor Vehicles: Equipment (NMS Ch. 66, Article 3, Part 9) |
| New York | Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (NY Vehicle & Traffic Code Article 9) |
| North Carolina | Motor Vehicle Act: Equipment (NCGS Ch. 20, Article 3; scroll to sections 20-122 to 20-137) |
| North Dakota | Equipment of Vehicles [PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-21) Size, Width, and Height Restrictions [PDF] (ND Code Chapter 39-12) |
| Ohio | Traffic Laws: Equipment (ORC Chapter 4513) |
| Oklahoma | Vehicle equipment (OK Statutes Title 47; scroll to section 47-12-101) |
| Oregon | Vehicle Equipment Generally (OR Vehicle Code Chapter 815) Vehicle Equipment Lights (OR Vehicle Code Chapter 816) |
| Pennsylvania | Equipment Standards (PA Vehicle Code Chapter 41) Lighting Equipment (PA Vehicle Code Chapter 43) Other Required Equipment (PA Vehicle Code Chapter 45) |
| Rhode Island | Equipment and Accessories Generally (RI Code Chapter 31-23) Lighting Equipment and Reflectors (RI Code Chapter 31-24) |
| South Carolina | Equipment and Identification (SC Code Title 56, Ch. 5; scroll to Article 35) |
| South Dakota | Vehicle and Accessory Specifications (SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-15) Wheels, Tires, and Special Vehicles (SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-19) Weight, Size, and Load Restrictions (SD Codified Laws Chapter 32-22) |
| Tennessee | Equipment--Lighting Regulations (TN Code Title 55, Ch. 9) |
| Texas | Vehicle Equipment (TX Transportation Code Chapter 547) |
| Utah | Vehicle Equipment and Modifications (UT Code sections 41-6a-1603 to 41-6a-1641) |
| Vermont | Operation of Vehicles: Equipment (23 VSA Chapter 13; scroll to sections 1221 to 1391) |
| Virginia | Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety (VA Code Title 46.2, Ch. 10) |
| Washington | Vehicle lighting and other equipment (RCW Chapter 46.37) |
| West Virginia | Equipment (WV Code sections 17C-15-1 to 17C-15-50) Unsafe and improperly equipped vehicles (WV Code section 17C-15-1) |
| Wisconsin | Equipment of Vehicles (WI Code Chapter 347) |
| Wyoming | Equipment (WY Statutes Title 31, Ch. 5, Article 9) |
Next Steps
Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible.