Complete Guide to Vehicle Modification Laws in Mississippi

Mississippi gives enthusiasts more freedom than many states in certain areas — like wheel and tire fitment — while cracking down hard on others, like windshield tint and lighting color. The figures in this guide were verified against primary statute text (September 2026), so you can plan your build with confidence. Below is a full breakdown of what's allowed, what's restricted, and what will get you a ticket.

Lift Kits

Status: Conditional

Mississippi doesn't set a bumper- or frame-height limit for lifted trucks, so you won't find a maximum lift inch measurement on the books. Instead, the state targets the "squat" stance directly: it's unlawful to drive a passenger vehicle whose suspension, frame, or chassis has been altered so the front fender sits 4 or more inches higher than the rear fender. Violations carry escalating penalties of $100 / $200 / $300, with a 12-month license suspension on the third offense. Overall vehicle height is addressed separately. Check lift kit laws for the full text.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-105 (overall height addressed under § 63-5-17).

Wheel & Tire Protrusion

Status: Legal

Good news for wide-wheel builds — Mississippi has no fender-coverage or tire-protrusion restriction for passenger vehicles. There's no protrusion limit written into the statute, giving owners flexibility with wheel offset and tire width. See wheel and tire protrusion laws for details.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-73.

Window Banners

Status: Illegal

Mississippi does not permit an aftermarket windshield strip of any kind. Tinted film, glazing, or any darkening material on the windshield is prohibited beyond the manufacturer-authorized sun shield, meaning a printed windshield banner is not legal to display in this state. There's no allowance for a top-strip banner or windshield decoration outside factory equipment. Full details at window banner laws.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-59.

Underglow

Status: Conditional

Underglow lighting is legal in Mississippi, and you're even allowed to run it while driving — but color and behavior are tightly restricted. Blue underglow is reserved exclusively for law enforcement, and red is restricted to emergency-use vehicles. Alternating flashing headlights are banned outright, and any flashing or oscillating underglow effect is prohibited regardless of color. In short: pick a non-red, non-blue color and keep it steady, not flashing. Learn more at underglow laws.

Statute: Miss. Code §§ 63-7-19, 63-7-20.

Aftermarket Exhaust

Status: Conditional

Swapping your exhaust system is legal in Mississippi, but the replacement must include a muffler in good working order. Cutouts or bypasses are prohibited — meaning straight-piping unmuffled exhaust to the outside air is off the table. The exhaust also can't create noise levels that amount to a public nuisance. Separately, federal law prohibits removing a catalytic converter from any vehicle that came equipped with one. More info at aftermarket exhaust laws.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-55.

Headlight & Taillight Tint

Status: Illegal

Smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is illegal in Mississippi. Headlights are required to emit white light, and taillights must show red at the required visibility distance — any tint or covering that dims or discolors either lamp violates this requirement. The law covers any tinting or covering that reduces lamp effectiveness or changes color from factory specifications, so aftermarket smoked lens covers and overlays are not permitted. See headlight and taillight tint laws for more.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-13.

License Plate Frames

Status: Conditional

License plate frames and covers are allowed in Mississippi, with one firm rule: nothing required on the plate can be obscured. That means no numbers, letters, or state identification may be hidden by a frame, sticker, paint, or bracket. The one exception carved out in the statute is that the county name may lawfully be covered — everything else must remain visible. Details at license plate frame laws.

Statute: Miss. Code § 27-19-31.

Light Bars & LED Lighting

Status: Conditional

Mississippi permits up to two auxiliary driving lamps mounted between 12 and 42 inches on the front of the vehicle, plus one spot lamp. These lights must be white or amber only, and they must be aimed so they don't shine into the eyes of approaching drivers. No cover is required for compliance. Anything exceeding these lamp counts, mounted outside the height range, or using other colors would fall outside the statute. Full rules at light bar and LED lighting laws.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-17.

Lowering

Status: Conditional

There's no minimum ride-height requirement in Mississippi — but since July 1, 2024, the same squat-stance law that governs lifted trucks now cuts both ways. The front fender may not sit 4 or more inches higher than the rear fender, which effectively outlaws rear-only lowering setups that create that imbalance. An even drop across the vehicle remains unregulated. Penalties mirror the lift kit rule: $100 / $200 / $300, with a 12-month license suspension on the third offense within 5 years. See lowering laws for the complete rule.

Statute: Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-105.

Exhaust Noise

Status: Conditional

Mississippi has no statewide decibel limit for passenger cars, so there's no specific dB figure 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. Enforcement here is more about maintaining proper equipment than passing a numeric sound test. More at exhaust noise laws.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-55.

Window Tint

Status: Conditional

For standard passenger cars, Mississippi requires a minimum of 28% VLT on front side windows, and the same 28% VLT minimum applies to rear side and back windows. Note that darker limits can apply behind the driver on some larger vehicles.

Differs by vehicle type:

• SUVs, vans, and trucks: Front side windows still need the 28% VLT minimum, but windows behind the front doors only need to meet the federal standard rather than the 28% state minimum.

Check window tint laws for the complete rundown by vehicle type.

Statute: Miss. Code § 63-7-59.

Final Notes

Every modification above links to its full law page with exact limits, statute citations, and exceptions — or browse every Mississippi 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.