Lift Kits in Tennessee
For passenger vehicles altered in altitude, Tennessee caps bumper height at 22 inches above the ground, measured to any point on a load-bearing member of the horizontal bumper bar. Four-wheel-drive recreational vehicles must fall within 14 to 31 inches.
Verified against primary sources · September 2026
What the law says
Modifying the front-end suspension with lift blocks is prohibited. Freight vehicles, designs that intrinsically preclude conformity, and vehicles with unaltered, undamaged stock bumpers are exempt.
Specific Limits
- Squat rule
- front fender may not sit 4 or more inches higher than the rear fender
- Lift blocks
- prohibited on the front suspension
- Squat penalties
- Class B misdemeanor: $250 / $500 / $500 plus 12-month license revocation on the third offense in 12 months
- Bumper max altered vehicles
- 22 in
- Four wheel drive recreational
- 14-31 in
Statute
Tenn. Code § 55-9-215; squat: 2024 Pub. Ch. 541 (Tenn. Code tit. 55, ch. 8, pt. 2)
Read the statute →Frequently Asked Questions
Are lift kits legal in Tennessee?
What are the exact lift kits limits in Tennessee?
Street-legal lift kits picks
Gear that helps you mod without a ticket in Tennessee.
A modest lift that stays under most state frame- and bumper-height limits.
Shop on AmazonGoing taller? Check your state's bumper and frame height caps before you order.
Shop on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, Is My Mod Legal earns from qualifying purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear that helps you stay street-legal.