Laws and regulations differ from state to state, when it comes to modifying your vehicle. To avoid any costly headaches, it is wise to know the laws and regulations before investing in modifications that might wind up costing you more than the parts and installation. For certain you want to avoid fines and tickets. Regulations vary from state to state. For example, California and New York are known for having very stringent laws when it comes to modifying vehicles, while states like Texas and Florida are more lenient. Even though the state of Texas is less restrictive when it comes to modifying your vehicle, there are still regulations and guidelines in place that you will need to be aware of before investing in modifying your vehicle.
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Guide to Legal Car Modifications in Texas
The state of Texas is known for having less stringent laws and restrictions when it comes to modifying your vehicle. But even with more opportunities to modify than in other states, if you want to keep your vehicle street legal in Texas, here is a guide to follow, that will help keep you out of trouble.
Tips: In the state of Texas, laws, and regulations may be different from county to county. Always check with local county laws in Texas to make sure you are following any municipal ordinances that may differ from the state-level laws.
Vehicle Exhaust System
An engine is a pump, and when it comes to getting the most performance out of it, the better it breathes the better it performs. Modifying your exhaust is one of the first steps to making your engine perform better, however be aware of the regulations before doing so.
● Exhaust Noise Laws
Unlike many other states, Texas does not have a well-defined exhaust noise law, so a loud exhaust won’t preclude you from passing a vehicle inspection. This doesn’t mean your exhaust can be as loud as you want, an officer of the law could still potentially cite you, and issue you a ticket for extra loud exhaust noise that may be outside of the guidelines. Check with your local city ordinance to ensure you are within the acceptable noise guidelines. What sounds reasonable to you may not be what the law says is reasonable.
● Exhaust Emission Laws
Any modifications you make to your exhaust system that changes emissions must abide by Texas emission laws. A key point is, that any modifications made must not affect the amount of emissions your vehicle produces and must be within accordance with the law. Talk to a professional, and make sure all modifications are within the specs to ensure your vehicle will pass inspection.
Vehicle Air Intake System
Any open-type intake system, such as a short ram or cold air intake, will directly affect the amount of emissions your vehicle emits. Texas law states that any aftermarket air intake system is required to be C.A.R.B.
(California Air Resources Board) approved. C.A.R.B. approved systems are issued executive orders and are approved by the state of Texas and won’t cause an inspection failure. These air intake systems are designed and engineered not to affect your vehicle’s emissions. A C.A.R.B. approved air intake comes with a certification sticker and must be placed easily visible under the hood during the vehicle’s inspection.
Vehicle Height
Everything is bigger in Texas, so why shouldn’t your truck be bigger too?
Texas is one of the most lenient states when it comes to modifying your vehicle’s height. There are no laws or restrictions when it comes to lift kits, performance shocks, such as monotube shocks, or Nitron shock absorbers, up-graded control arms, oversized tires, and bull bars. Pretty much the sky’s the limit with those types of modifications. If you looking for a quality brand, If it’s your dream to own your very own street-legal monster truck, Texas is where dreams are made of. However, you will still need to conform to a few guidelines.
● According to Texas law, a vehicle is not allowed to exceed 13.5 feet tall or 45 feet long. For reference, an average semi-truck measures 14 feet tall and 48 feet long.
● Vehicle headlights must be less than 52 inches from the ground, to prevent obstruction of other motorists’ vision.
Window Tinting
Texas first enacted vehicle window tinting laws in 2009. However, as long as you follow these guidelines, you won’t have any trouble with the law.
VLT (visible light transmission) is the amount of light able to get through your window.
● Front windshield: 25% VLT tint is allowed at the top 5 inches of the windshield, with less than 25% reflection.
● Front Passenger Windows: Must allow more than 25% of light through the window tint.
● Back Passenger Windows and Rear Window: There are no restrictions when it comes to the rear passenger, and rear window, any amount of darkness can be used.
Bull Bars
For most Texans, a bull bar is a rite of passage. A lifted 4×4 would simply not be complete without one. Bull bars are completely legal in the state of Texas, however, there is one warning, bull bars cannot have any white, blue, or red strobing lights attached.
Conclusion
In the great state of Texas, everything is bigger. They like their steak rare, and their trucks big. They live by a simple creed, “Go big, or go home”.
When it comes to modifying your vehicle, Texas is one of the most lenient states, with fewer laws and regulations than many others. If you are a car enthusiast, Texas is what dreams are made of. To keep your dream a reality, stay smart and always check the local laws and guidelines of the county you reside in. If you follow and abide by the rules and regulations that are in place, Texas is where dreams can become true for car enthusiasts like us.
