Complete Guide to Vehicle Modification Laws in North Dakota
North Dakota gives enthusiasts a fair amount of freedom to customize their vehicles, but several modifications come with specific legal limits worth understanding before you start wrenching. This guide covers the most common mods — from lift kits to underglow — and lays out exactly what the law allows. The figures below were verified against primary statute text (September 2026), so you can treat this as a reliable starting point for planning your build.
Lift Kits
Status: Conditional
North Dakota allows lifted vehicles, but there are hard caps on how tall your ride can get. The state limits body height to a maximum of 42 inches, measured from level ground to the cargo-area floor, and bumper height to a maximum of 27 inches, measured to the highest point on the bottom of the bumper. If you run a drop bumper, it's allowed as long as it's at least 3 inches tall, spans the full body width, is load-bearing, and is attached to the frame. These rules are laid out under N.D.C.C. § 39-21-45.1. Check the lift kit laws page for the full text before finalizing your setup.
Aftermarket Exhaust
Status: Conditional
Swapping your exhaust system is perfectly legal in North Dakota, but you need to keep a few things in mind. A muffler in good working order is required, and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited. There's no statutory "no louder than stock" rule here — instead, the standard is that the exhaust must not produce excessive or unusual noise. Also worth noting: removing the catalytic converter remains prohibited under federal law regardless of state rules. This falls under N.D.C.C. § 39-21-37. There's no specific North Dakota statute addressing aftermarket exhaust modifications beyond this general noise and muffler requirement. See the aftermarket exhaust laws page for details.
License Plate Frames
Status: Conditional
License plate frames are legal in North Dakota as long as they don't hide anything important. Each plate must clearly display the assigned number, the state name, and the annual tab. There's no express ban on plate covers, but any cover that obscures these elements would violate the visibility requirement. This is governed by N.D.C.C. § 39-04-11. For the full rule, visit the license plate frame laws page.
Exhaust Noise
Status: Conditional
North Dakota does not set a statewide decibel limit for passenger cars. That said, you still need a muffler in good working order, your exhaust can't produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses are off-limits. This is covered under N.D.C.C. § 39-21-37 — the same statute governing aftermarket exhaust setups. More detail is available on the exhaust noise laws page.
Window Tint
Status: Conditional
North Dakota's tint law splits requirements by window position. Front side windows must allow at least 35% VLT. Rear side windows and the back window can be tinted to any darkness. There's one important exception & exemption: if you tint the rear windows to any darkness, you're required to have exterior mirrors on both sides of the vehicle. This is all governed under N.D.C.C. § 39-21-39. Full details are on the window tint laws page.
Lowering
Status: Legal
Good news for the low-and-slow crowd — North Dakota has no statute limiting how low a vehicle may be. That said, general equipment rules still apply, including proper headlamp height, functioning lighting, and making sure nothing drags on the road. The only statute in play here, N.D.C.C. § 39-21-45.1, deals with maximums only, meaning it doesn't restrict how far down you go. Learn more on the lowering laws page.
Light Bars & LED Lighting
Status: Conditional
Light bars and auxiliary LED lighting are allowed in North Dakota, but there are usage and mounting limits. No cover is required for these lights, but auxiliary driving lamps mounted below 16 inches or above 42 inches may not be lighted while on a highway — a rule that effectively restricts use of most roof-mounted bars on public roads. You're also limited to a maximum of 4 front lamps lit at one time, and to 2 each of spot, fog, auxiliary passing, and auxiliary driving lamps. These rules come from N.D.C.C. §§ 39-21-17 and 39-21-25. Check the light bar laws page for specifics.
Headlight & Taillight Tint
Status: Illegal
Unlike many of the mods on this list, smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is flatly illegal in North Dakota. Headlights must emit white light and taillights must show red at the required visibility distance — tinted film that dims or discolors either violates these requirements. Film is not permitted on these lights under any circumstance described in the statute. This is enforced under N.D.C.C. §§ 39-21-03, 39-21-04, and 39-21-26. See the headlight tint laws page for more.
Wheel & Tire Protrusion
Status: Conditional
Stock vehicles in North Dakota face no fender requirement. However, if your vehicle has been constructed, reconstructed, or modified, fenders must cover the entire tire tread width, extending 15 degrees forward to 75 degrees rearward of the wheel centerline. Regardless of modification status, the tire may never contact the body, fender, or chassis. This rule comes from N.D. Admin. Code § 37-12-02-02(4), with exemptions referenced in N.D.C.C. § 39-21-52. Visit the wheel protrusion laws page for the complete rule.
Underglow
Status: Conditional
Underglow lighting is legal in North Dakota, including while you're driving — but there are color and behavior restrictions. Specifically, no red or green light may be visible from the front, and the lighting cannot flash. Outside of those two restrictions, underglow use while driving is permitted. This is covered under N.D.C.C. § 39-21-26. For more, check the underglow laws page.
Window Banners
Status: Conditional
North Dakota's windshield rules make printed or opaque window banners a no-go. The law states that no sign, poster, or non-transparent material may obstruct the driver's clear view, and windshield material must pass at least 70% light — with one exemption: non-reflective sunscreening above the AS-1 line or within the top 5 inches of the windshield is allowed. Because the law requires transparency, a printed or opaque banner is not legal, but a clear tint strip is allowed. This is governed by N.D.C.C. § 39-21-39(1), (4), (5). See the window banner laws page for full details.
Every modification above links to its full law page with exact limits, statute citations, and exceptions — or browse every North Dakota 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.