Complete Guide to Vehicle Modification Laws in Arizona
Arizona is generally considered a modification-friendly state, with no statewide limits on ride height and a reasonable approach to lighting and exhaust rules. That said, several categories carry specific conditions you'll need to follow to stay street legal. The figures in this guide were verified against primary statute text (September 2026), so you can rely on the exact numbers below when planning your build.
Window Tint
Status: Conditional
Arizona regulates tint darkness based on window position. Front side windows must allow a minimum of 33% VLT. Back windows and rear side windows may be any darkness, giving you full flexibility on the rear of the vehicle. This is governed under A.R.S. § 28-959.01. Check the window tint laws page for full details before tinting your front doors.
Lift Kits
Status: Conditional
Arizona has no statutory lift, frame-height, or bumper-height limit, so you're free to raise your truck without hitting a height ceiling. However, raising a pickup causes it to lose the rear splash-guard exemption, meaning splash guards become required within 8 inches of the ground and must span the full tread width. Separately, headlamps must be maintained between 22 and 54 inches in height regardless of suspension changes. These rules fall under A.R.S. §§ 28-958.01 (splash guards) and 28-924 (headlamp height). See the lift kit laws page for specifics.
Lowering
Status: Legal
Arizona has no statute limiting how low a vehicle may be lowered. The only practical constraint is the 22-inch minimum headlamp height requirement that applies to all vehicles, plus general equipment rules. There is no dedicated lowering statute — A.R.S. § 28-924 governs headlamp height only. Learn more on the lowering laws page.
Underglow
Status: Conditional
Underglow lighting is legal in Arizona for on-road use under specific conditions. Lights visible from the front must be amber or white — red, or red-and-blue combinations, are not permitted from the front. Flashing is prohibited, except for emergency vehicles, school buses, snow removal equipment, and standard signals. Lamps exceeding 300 candlepower must be aimed within 75 feet, and no more than 4 such front lamps may be lit at once. These requirements come from A.R.S. §§ 28-946(B) and 28-947(A)-(C). Full details are on the underglow laws page.
License Plate Frames
Status: Conditional
License plate frames and covers are permitted in Arizona as long as they do not obstruct any portion of the license plate number, letters, or registration validation stickers. Numbers, characters, year tabs, and the jurisdiction name must all remain visible — a frame that covers "Arizona" at the top of the plate is illegal. This is regulated under A.R.S. § 28-2354. Visit the license plate frame laws page for more.
Exhaust Noise
Status: Conditional
Arizona sets no statewide decibel limit for passenger cars. Instead, the law requires a muffler in good working order, prohibits exhaust from producing excessive or unusual noise, and bans cutouts or bypasses. This standard is found in A.R.S. § 28-955. See the exhaust noise laws page for the full rule.
Light Bars & LED Lighting
Status: Conditional
Arizona does not require a cover for auxiliary lamps like light bars. The key restriction is on usage: no more than 4 front lamps over 300 candlepower may be lit at any one time while on a highway, and they must be aimed so no part of the beam strikes the roadway beyond 75 feet. These rules are set out in A.R.S. §§ 28-946(B) and 28-947(A). More detail is available on the light bar laws page.
Headlight & Taillight Tint
Status: Illegal
Smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is not permitted in Arizona. Headlights must emit white or amber light, and taillights must show red, as required for visibility — tint that dims or discolors either violates these requirements. This is enforced under A.R.S. §§ 28-925, 28-931, and 28-947. Learn more on the headlight tint laws page.
Wheel & Tire Protrusion
Status: Legal
Arizona sets no fender-coverage rule for passenger cars, so wheel and tire protrusion is not directly restricted. However, rear fender splash guards are required on trucks, trailers, and buses, and on pickups up to 10,000 lb GVWR if they have been modified from the original bumper height. This falls under A.R.S. § 28-958.01. Full details are on the wheel protrusion laws page.
Window Banners
Status: Conditional
Window banners are restricted by the same statute that governs tint. Transparent material is allowed only on the topmost portion of the windshield, with its bottom edge at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat, and it may not be red or amber. Because the material must remain transparent, a printed or opaque banner is not legal in Arizona — only a clear tint strip along the top of the windshield is allowed. This falls under A.R.S. § 28-959.01. See the window banner laws page for more.
Aftermarket Exhaust
Status: Conditional
Replacing your exhaust system is legal in Arizona, but a muffler in good working order is required and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited. There is no statutory "no louder than stock" rule — instead, the standard is that the exhaust must not exceed noise levels that would be unreasonable under normal operating conditions, and the muffler must be in good working order and constantly operated. Separately, catalytic converters cannot be removed or bypassed on vehicles originally equipped with them, a restriction imposed by federal law. This is governed by A.R.S. § 28-955. Check the aftermarket exhaust laws page for the complete rule.
Every modification above links to its full law page with exact limits, statute citations, and exceptions — or browse every Arizona mod law in one place, free.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. Data is AI-extracted from public statutes and may contain errors. Always verify with local authorities.