By Natalie Moritz | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq. | Last reviewed June 20, 2024
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Whether subtle or drastic, some vehicle modifications are illegal. Certain modifications are less obvious, like a window tint. Other customizations, such as a loud exhaust system or custom lighting, are hard to miss and can be easily heard or seen on public roads.
It is important to understand the laws in your state before customizing your car. This will ensure you don't complete an expensive modification you can't legally enjoy on public roads. It may also help you avoid a ticket from a police officer.
This article and linked materials will help you learn about:
Each state has different laws and regulations. Fines also vary from state to state. The chart in this article includes each state's automotive modifications and vehicle equipment laws.
"Stock" and "modified" are terms commonly used to describe the state of a vehicle. They characterize the extent a vehicle has been altered from its original factory specifications.
Aftermarket car modifications are enhancements made to a vehicle's parts or systems after it has left the factory. These modifications can include changes to any of the following components:
Aftermarket modifications offer the chance to customize a vehicle's performance or appearance. Be aware of several factors before making changes:
If you have modified your car, it may give an officer a valid excuse to pull you over. There are several modifications that officers look for on public roadways:
Most officers are looking for:
Traffic laws vary from state to state, but those listed above are the most typical.
The easiest way to avoid the police for this issue is to not modify your car. However, if you are cited for an unlawful modification, you may be able to remedy the situation. Read on to learn more.
Car owners can receive a mechanical violation traffic ticket for an unlawfully modified vehicle. In some states, citations for certain unlawful vehicle modifications are considered "fix-it" tickets or "correctable violations."
In California, for example, if you are given a fix-it ticket by a police officer, "yes" will be checked next to Correctable Violation. After the problem is fixed, like removing illegal under-car lights, you must get the signature of an authorized person such as a local law enforcement officer on the Certificate of Correction portion of the ticket.
If you are issued a fix-it ticket for an unlawful vehicle modification in your state, read the ticket to determine whether you can mail the proof of correction, rather than taking it to court.
If the court accepts your correction, the case will be dismissed. If you fail to fix the problem quickly after receiving a fix-it ticket, you will need to pay the fine. You may also be issued another ticket, which can go on your driving record.
Even if a vehicle modification is legal, driving with questionable vehicle modifications may result in separate legal charges.
For example, if you installed smoked taillights on your car, it might give a law enforcement reason to pull you over. If you happened to be driving over the speed limit, the officer could write you a ticket for speeding even if they could not legally ticket you for your taillight tint.
Different states have varying levels of regulation for car modifications. Use the chart in the following section to check your state's laws before making any custom modifications to your vehicle. Car modification laws can also change over time. Staying informed about the latest regulations is key to avoiding legal issues.
California is known for having the strictest car modification laws. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) oversees controlling and limiting air pollution.
CARB closely monitors “aftermarket" parts (parts not originally manufactured by the vehicle's original equipment manufacturer) before approving what will be installed on any vehicle. This applies to exhaust systems, cold-air intake, or other modifications that may affect fuel economy or emissions.
Other states known for strictly regulating car modifications include:
Conversely, states with less regulation for car modifications include:
While these states may have more lenient regulations, they may still require certain safety and equipment standards.
Find links to the relevant laws in your state in the chart below.
| State | Statute |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Regulation of Operation of Motor Vehicles: Equipment (AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5, Article 9) Window Tinting (AL Code Title 32, Ch. 5, Article 215) |
| Alaska | Vehicle Equipment Standards (AK Statutes section 28.05.081) |
| Arizona | Equipment (ARS Title 28, Ch. 3, Article 16 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 (CA 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 | Regulation of Traffic (D.C. Code Title 50, Subtitle VII, Ch. 22) |
| 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 | Vehicle Laws — Equipment of Vehicles (MD Transportation 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 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 | Lighting and Warning Equipment (R.R.S. Nebraska Statutes Chapter 60, Article 6q) |
| 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 Title 39, Ch. 3, Article 3) |
| New Mexico | Motor Vehicles: Equipment (NMS Ch. 66, Article 3, Part 9) |
| New York | Equipment of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (NY Vehicle & Traffic Code Title 3, Article 9, Section 375) |
| North Carolina | Motor Vehicle Act: Equipment (NCGS Ch. 20, Article 3, Part 9, 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 ( VT Statutes Title 23, Ch. 13, Subchapter 14) |
| 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) |
Consider your legal options if you've gotten a citation for an unlawful vehicle violation. Consulting with an experienced traffic ticket attorney in your area may help you avoid a costly fine. An attorney familiar with local laws for modified vehicles can assess if law enforcement applied the law correctly.
Contact a qualified traffic ticket attorney to help you get the best result possible.
Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions. Many traffic ticket attorneys offer free consultations.