Complete Guide to Vehicle Modification Laws in Arkansas

Arkansas offers plenty of room for enthusiasts to customize their rides, but several categories come with real legal limits. The figures in this guide were verified against primary statute text (September 2026), so you can use it as a reliable starting point before you start wrenching. Below is a breakdown of the most common modifications, what's allowed, and what could get you a citation.

Light Bars & LED Lighting

Status: Conditional

Arkansas permits auxiliary lighting on the road, but the type and number of lamps are regulated. Drivers may run up to 2 each of spot, fog (12-30 in), auxiliary passing (24-42 in), and auxiliary driving lamps (16-42 in). However, no more than 4 front lamps over 300 candlepower may be lit at once. There is no cover requirement for these lamps. Mounting heights matter for each lamp type, so check specifics before installing a light bar. This is governed under Ark. Code §§ 27-36-214, 27-36-207, and 27-36-208. See the full light bars laws page for details.

Underglow

Status: Conditional

Underglow lighting is legal in Arkansas, including while driving, but color and behavior are restricted. Any front-visible light must be white or amber — red is not allowed from the front — and the lights cannot flash or rotate, which is treated as a Class A misdemeanor. Underglow also cannot be red or blue in color, cannot flash or strobe, and generally must stick to white or amber for auxiliary lighting. This falls under Ark. Code §§ 27-36-208 and 27-36-301. Full details are on the underglow laws page.

Aftermarket Exhaust

Status: Conditional

Swapping your exhaust system is legal in Arkansas, but the vehicle must retain a muffler in good working order. Cutouts and bypasses are prohibited, and any modification that makes the exhaust louder than the originally installed muffler is against the law. The original equipment catalytic converter and muffler system must be preserved (catalytic converter removal is also barred under federal law), and exhaust noise can't exceed reasonable levels — straight pipes are explicitly not allowed. This is codified under Ark. Code § 27-37-601. Learn more on the aftermarket exhaust laws page.

License Plate Frames

Status: Conditional

License plate frames are fine to run in Arkansas as long as they don't hide anything required on the plate. All plate characters must stay visible and legible, and covers are banned if they reduce readability or reflectivity. This is addressed under A.C.A. § 27-14-716. Check the license plate frames laws page for more.

Window Banners

Status: Conditional

Arkansas allows a 5-inch "eyebrow" strip measured down from the top center of the windshield, but the material must be transparent — meaning a printed or opaque banner is not legal here. Only a clear tint band qualifies. Window banners generally are limited to 5 inches from the top of the windshield or to the AS1 line, whichever is lower, and must not obstruct the driver's view. This falls under Ark. Code § 27-37-306. See the window banners laws page for the full rule.

Lift Kits

Status: Conditional

There's no lift-height cap in Arkansas, so you won't find a maximum inch limit for how high you can lift a vehicle. However, since Act 492 of 2025, it is a strict-liability offense to operate a passenger car, pickup, SUV, or panel truck if the front bumper sits 4 or more inches higher than the rear. Penalties escalate: $250 for a first offense, $500 thereafter, and a 12-month suspension on the third offense. This is governed under Ark. Code § 27-35-214, with overall height addressed in § 27-35-207. Full details are on the lift kits laws page.

Lowering

Status: Legal

Arkansas has no suspension, frame-height, or bumper-height statute specifically targeting lowered vehicles, so lowering your ride doesn't carry the same statutory risk as lifting it. Visit the lowering laws page for more.

Wheel & Tire Protrusion

Status: Legal

There's no statute in Arkansas limiting how far tires or wheels can protrude beyond the fenders on passenger vehicles. This is referenced under Ark. Admin. Code 27 CAR § 110-1803 (State Police Rule 17.3). More information is available on the wheel & tire protrusion laws page.

Exhaust Noise

Status: Conditional

Arkansas doesn't set a statewide decibel limit for passenger cars, so there's no specific dB number to hit. That said, a muffler in good working order is still required, exhaust can't produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses remain prohibited. This is covered under Ark. Code §§ 27-37-601 and 27-37-602. See the exhaust noise laws page for more.

Window Tint

Status: Conditional

Arkansas tint law sets minimums by window: front side windows require a minimum of 25% VLT, rear side windows require a minimum of 25% VLT, and the back window requires a minimum of 10% VLT. Darker limits apply behind the driver on some larger vehicles. This is governed under A.C.A. § 27-37-306.

Vehicle-specific differences:

• SUVs: Front side windows still require a minimum of 25% VLT, but vehicles other than passenger cars may use 10% on all windows behind the driver.
• Trucks: Same rule — front side windows need a minimum of 25% VLT, with 10% allowed on all windows behind the driver.
• Vans: Same rule applies — 25% VLT minimum up front, with 10% permitted on all windows behind the driver.

Check the window tint laws page for the complete breakdown by vehicle type.

Headlight & Taillight Tint

Status: Illegal

Smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is not permitted in Arkansas. Headlights must emit white light and taillights must show red at the required visibility distance — any film that dims or discolors them violates these requirements. Arkansas law prohibits any covering, coating, or other material that reduces the light output of headlights or taillights. This is codified under Ark. Code §§ 27-36-209 and 27-36-215. Full details are on the headlight & taillight tint laws page.

Every modification above links to its full law page with exact limits, statute citations, and exceptions — or browse every Arkansas mod law in one place, free.

This guide is for informational purposes only. Data is AI-extracted from public statutes and may contain errors. Always verify with local authorities.