Vehicle Mod Laws in New York

Replacing the exhaust system is legal in New York, but a muffler in good working order is required and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited. Modifications that make the exhaust louder than the originally installed muffler are specifically prohibited.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

New York sets no statewide decibel limit for passenger cars. A muffler in good working order is required, exhaust may not produce excessive or unusual noise, and cutouts or bypasses are prohibited.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

Smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is illegal in New York. Headlights must emit white light and taillights must show red at the required visibility distance, and tint that dims or discolors them violates those requirements.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

Frames are legal if nothing is obscured, but plate covers are banned outright.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

New York sets no suspension-lift or frame-height limit, but passenger vehicles must have front and rear bumpers with some part of each between 16 and 20 inches above the ground.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

New York sets no cover requirement but a very low approval threshold: no lamp with a light source over 32 candlepower may be used unless the Commissioner has approved it. An unapproved light bar may not be used on the highway at all.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

New York's inspection standard requires part of the front and rear bumpers to sit within 16–20 inches of the ground.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

In New York, steady-burning white is the only safe civilian underglow color; colored and flashing accent lighting is effectively prohibited on the road.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

New York does not require tires or wheels to stay within the fenders, and its inspection standards contain no fender-coverage rejection item.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

The windshield must pass at least 70% light unless the material is limited to the uppermost 6 inches. New York uses inches, not an AS-1 line. Because the material must be transparent, a printed or opaque banner is not legal in New York — only a clear tint band.

Limits, exceptions & statute →

Front side windows: minimum 70% VLT. Rear side windows: minimum 70% VLT. Back window: any darkness. Darker limits apply behind the driver on some larger vehicles.

Limits, exceptions & statute →