Vehicle Mod Laws in Rhode Island

Replacing the exhaust system is legal in Rhode Island, 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.

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Rhode Island 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.

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Smoked or tinted film on headlights and taillights is illegal in Rhode Island. 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.

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Frames are legal if nothing is obscured; the plate must be clearly visible, maintained free from foreign materials, and legible at 100 feet.

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Rhode Island prohibits elevating or lowering the chassis or body more than 4 inches from the manufacturer's specified height on vehicles at or under 10,000 lb GVWR.

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Rhode Island requires no cover; the limit is four auxiliary, spot, or front lamps over 300 candlepower lit at one time on a highway.

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Rhode Island prohibits elevating or lowering the chassis or body more than 4 inches from the manufacturer's specified height, by any means or device, on vehicles up to 10,000 lb GVWR.

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Underglow is legal in Rhode Island, including while driving, subject to color and flashing limits: No red or blue (reserved for emergency vehicles), no flashing, and the license plate must remain visible.

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Rhode Island directly addresses this: no vehicle may operate without fenders covering the front wheels, and no passenger vehicle may operate with tires extending beyond the fenders or body unless it also has flaps or suitable guards reducing spray to the rear and sides.

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Non-transparent or sunscreen material may not cover the front windshield; the only exemption is transparent material limited to the uppermost 6 inches. Because the material must be transparent, a printed or opaque banner is not legal in Rhode Island — only a clear tint band.

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Front side windows: minimum 70% VLT. Rear side and back windows: minimum 70% VLT. Darker limits apply behind the driver on some larger vehicles.

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