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Car Tuning Legal Requirements

October 13th, 2007 by Shenron

Practically every state or locality has specific rules regarding what is legal and what is not when it comes to vehicles on its roads. In America, car tuning legal requirements can differ from location to location.

In order to fully find out what is legal in your location and what is not, you should contact your state motor vehicle agency or your local police department. However, for the most part, legal requirements usually revolve around three specific types of car tuning modifications. They are modifications to emissions, modifications to the sound of your vehicle and modifications to the exterior of your vehicle.

Beautiful Tuning Image - Mazda RX8

Car Tuning Legal Requirements for Modifications to Your Emissions

Practically all vehicles in the US require an emissions test on a regular basis, any car that fails an emissions test must be repaired or modified in order to be legally operated on public roads. For instance, if you modify your EPROM chip for maximum performance (acceleration and speed), this may affect the amount of emissions your car gives off, if the amount of emissions is too high, your vehicle may be illegal to operate on public roads.

Car Tuning Legal Requirements for Modifications to the Sound of Your Vehicle

Many car enthusiasts achieve more horsepower and a much more robust sounding engine by modifying the exhaust system of their vehicle. However, in doing so, your vehicle may be too loud or disruptive to the community you are driving your car through.

Car Tuning Legal Requirements for Modifications to the Exterior of Your Vehicle

A ground effects kit may make your car look extremely cool, but also may make your car too low to the ground, remove safety features such as lights, increase your headlamps to an unsafe level or show off neon colors that can be distracting to other drivers on the road. Each locality usually has certain laws on which types of modifications are illegal and which are not.

If your car is not legal to drive on public roads, you still can enjoy modifying your vehicle, except the only place you will be able to drive it is either on private land or on the track. It should be noted that for those that modify their vehicles to drive them on their local track, since your car is not street legal, you will have to transport your vehicle usually via trailer or flat bed.

Remember, each locality is different, so before you modify your vehicle, check to make sure what is and what isn’t street legal.

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| 4 Comments

4 Responses to “Car Tuning Legal Requirements”

  1. 1
    Car Tuning Central : Car Tuning Legal Requirements Says:
    October 13th, 2007 at 9:22 am

    [...] Car Tuning Legal Requirements [...]

  2. 2
    www.bestcarsforyou.info » Car Tuning Legal Requirements Says:
    October 13th, 2007 at 10:43 pm

    [...] Shenron wrote a fantastic post today on “Car Tuning Legal Requirements”Here’s ONLY a quick extractHowever, for the most part, legal requirements usually revolve around three specific types of car tuning modifications. They are modifications to emissions, modifications to the sound of your vehicle and modifications to the exterior of … [...]

  3. 3
    Crash Test - Badly Repaired vs Good (Fifth Gear) - Car Tuning Central Says:
    December 10th, 2007 at 9:22 am

    [...] You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video Related Posts: The guzzling Ferrari 512 BBAPR Porsche 911 TurboVolkswagen PassatAll the Right Car Maintenance ToolsCar Tuning Legal Requirements [...]

  4. 4
    Street Racing - Complete Guide | Car Tuning Central Says:
    April 6th, 2008 at 9:35 am

    [...] racing is an illegal auto racing sport in which two or more drivers race on public roads amongst other vehicles. Be cause of the [...]

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