Unlawful Vehicle Modifications: State Laws
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
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) |
| Alaska |
(AK Statutes scroll to section 28.05.081) |
| Arizona | Equipment (ARS Title 28 scroll to 28-921 to 28-966) |
| Arkansas | Size and Load Regulations (AR Code Title 27, Ch. 35) |
| California | Division 12 - Equipment of Vehicles (scroll down) (California Vehicle Code) |
| Colorado | Regulation of Vehicles and Traffic: Equipment (CRS Title 42 scroll to 42-4-201 to 42-4-239) |
| Connecticut | Motor Vehicles: Equipment (GSC Ch. 246 scroll to section 14-80 to 14-106) |
| Delaware | Equipment Requirements (DE Code Title 21, Ch. 43, Subchapter I) |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Vehicle Code (scroll to Title 50) |
| Florida | State Uniform Traffic Control: Equipment (FS Ch. 316 scroll to 316.217 to 316.455) |
| Georgia | Vehicles and equipment (Georgia Code §sect; 40-8-7 to 40-8-90) |
| Hawaii | Street rod vehicle requirements (HRS section 286-26.5) |
| Idaho | Vehicle Equipment (ID Statutes Title 49, Ch. 9) |
| Illinois | Equipment of Vehicles (625 ILCS 5, Chapter 12) |
| Indiana | Motor Vehicle Equipment (Indiana Code Title 9, Article 19) |
| Iowa | Vehicle Equipment (IA Code Ch. 321 scroll to 321.384 to 321.481 ) |
| Kansas | Equipment of Vehicles (KS Statutes Ch. 8, Article 17) |
| Kentucky | Vehicle Equipment (KRS Chapter 189 scroll to sections .020 to .205) |
| Louisiana | Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation: Equipment (LRS Title 32 scroll to 32:301 to 32:369) |
| Maine | Equipment (MRS Title 29-A Chapter 17) |
| Maryland | Equipment of Vehicles (MD Transp. Code Title 22) |
| 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 Ch. 169; scroll to 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. § 60-6, 220 et al.) |
| Nevada | Equipment of Vehicles (NRS 484.541 to 484.646) |
| New Hampshire | Equipment of Vehicles (NH Statutes Ch. 266) |
| New Jersey | Motor vehicle equipment (NJ Statutes 39:3-46 to 39:3-84) |
| New Mexico | Motor Vehicles: Equipment (NMS Ch. 66, Article 3 scroll to 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) |
| Ohio | Traffic Laws: Equipment (ORC Chapter 4513) |
| Oklahoma | Vehicle equipment (OK Statutes Title 47 scroll to 47-12-101) |
| Oregon | Vehicle Equipment Generally [PDF] (OR Vehicle Code Ch. 815) |
| Pennsylvania | Equipment Standards [PDF] (PA Vehicle Code Ch. 41) |
| Rhode Island | Equipment and Accessories Generally (RI Code Ch. 31-23) |
| South Carolina | Equipment and Identification (SC Code Title 56, Ch. 5 scroll to Article 35) |
| South Dakota | Vehicle and Accessory Specifications (SD Codified Laws Ch. 32-15) |
| Tennessee | Equipment - Lighting Regulations (TN Code Title 55, Chapter 9) |
| Texas | Vehicle Equipment (TX Transp. Code Ch. 547) |
| Utah | Vehicle Equipment and Modifications (UT Code scroll to 41-6a-1603 to 41-6a-1641) |
| Vermont | Operation of Vehicles: Equipment (23 VSA Ch. 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 scroll to WVC 17C-15-1 to 17C-15-50) |
| Wisconsin | Equipment of Vehicles [PDF] (WI Code Chapter 347) |
| Wyoming | Equipment (WY Statutes Title 31, Chapter 5, Article 9) |
Next Steps: Hire a Traffic Ticket Lawyer
You've put a lot of time and money into making your vehicle the car you've always wanted. But if you've been accused of unlawfully modifying your vehicle, you'll want legal advice. A good first step is to contact a traffic ticket attorney in your area today.
Next Steps
Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible.