Vehicle Mod Laws in Virginia

Replacing the exhaust system is legal in Virginia, 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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Virginia 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 Virginia. 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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No colored glass, colored plastic, bracket, holder, mounting, frame, or other covering may alter or obscure the alpha-numeric information, the color of the plate, the state name, or any character indicating the month or year the registration expires.

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Virginia keeps car bumpers within 14–22 inches; truck maximums run 28–31 inches by weight class.

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Virginia requires any lighting device that is not required, permitted, or Superintendent-approved to be either covered and unlit, or fitted with a clear lens and clear reflector and unlit, while on a highway.

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Virginia's minimum bumper height for lowered cars is 14 inches — the 22-inch figure is the car maximum, not the minimum.

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Underglow may not be used on public roads in Virginia. Any lamp that is not required, permitted, or approved must be both covered and unlit while on the highway — this applies to every color, not just red and blue.

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Virginia has no general fender-coverage requirement or tire-protrusion limit for passenger cars.

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It is unlawful to operate with any sign, poster, or colored or tinted film on the windshield except as required by law. No sun-shading film may be applied except to replace the manufacturer-installed sunshield in the uppermost area, and clear UV film meeting FMVSS 205 is excepted. A printed windshield banner is not legal in Virginia.

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Front side windows: minimum 50% VLT. Rear side and back windows: minimum 35% VLT. Darker limits apply behind the driver on some larger vehicles.

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