Illegal Car Mods in California

It’s no secret that car enthusiasts love to customize their vehicle in ways that make them stand out either aesthetically or by its performance. However, sometimes the attempt of making the ideal car is not entirely street legal and car enthusiasts may have installed an illegal car modification, which can entail unintentional consequences.

While the legality of certain car mods will vary on a piece-by-piece basis, many of these modifications are made illegal for safety reasons. Much like installing illegal motorcycle modifications, illegal car mods can potentially increase the chances of getting into a car accident and getting ticketed for offenses you may not even realize. Some mods such as illegal tints and exhaust are common but serious charges that are well known, but some might surprise you. For instance, something as simple as hanging an air freshener from your rear view window can get you a fix-it ticket in California.

Window Tints

One of the most common illegal car mods in California, window tints are a thin layer of film that reduces UV rays and light from passing through the window when applied. For car enthusiasts, they use it not only to make it look more sleek, but it also adds a layer of security to your car, making sure nobody from the outside can see what is inside your car.  

While window tinting laws will vary from state-to-state, California Vehicle Code 26708 states that all motor vehicles can only fully tint the side rear windows and the rear windshield, while the front side windows and the top four inches of the front windshield can only be tinted at 30%. Due to the specificity of California’s window tinting laws, many car enthusiasts are unaware of it and are likely to receive a ticket for this violation, because it prevents law enforcement officers from doing their duty to identify dangerous drivers on the road. 

Vehicle Body Lift Heights Vehicle Heights

A vehicle body lift upgrade is referred to as a modification that increases the distance between the vehicle’s body and frame. This makes the vehicle taller than its initial design and creates space for larger tires should car modders wish to do so. While car body lifts are illegal in California, if they exceed the regulated requirements then it will be considered to be an illegal car mod. According to California Vehicle Code 24008.5, all passenger vehicles cannot exceed the maximum frame height of 23 inches and for all household cars. Should drivers get pulled over due to an illegal body lift height then they can be ticketed to a number of fines and penalties depending on the issuing officer. 

Hanging Item From Rearview Mirror 

While it may seem like a harmless addition to your car’s interior, hanging an item on your rearview mirror is a ticketable offense according to California Vehicle Code 26708. The code states that all vehicles cannot have any kind of object or material placed on the front, side, and rearview mirror, because any addition can potentially obstruct the driver’s field of vision when they are operating the vehicle. 

This includes items such as air fresheners, parking passes, handicap placards, fuzzy dice, and even religious and sentimental ornaments like graduation tassels, and rosemary beads. While this is not heavily enforced, those who have failed to comply with this law can result in a fine that averages around $25, however, the severity of the fine will be dependent on the assessing officer. 

Exhaust Modifications 

Another popular illegal car mod that often gets customized, an exhaust modification is when a car owner modifies the exhaust system in order to amplify the sounds when they are revving the car’s engines. According to California Vehicle Code 27151, car exhausts cannot be louder than the legal limit of 95 decibels or else it can result in the driver getting fined for disturbing the peace. Due to the nature of this illegal car mod, local law enforcement can exercise the severity of the fine based on their judgment.  

Headlight Color 

California Vehicle Code 25950 states that a car’s headlight color should be either white or yellow and any other color than those two will result in a traffic violation and a ticket, depending on the assessing officer and the severity of the violation. This is meant to prevent any confusion from occurring for other drivers on the road, because using a different headlight color can not only alter your visibility and perception of what is in front of you, but it can potentially blind other drivers on the road which may result in a car accident. The only exception to the rule is when the color of the fog lamps affect the shade of your headlights, but as long as it is within the color spectrum between white and yellow, it is acceptable.   

License Plate Alterations

Altering your issued license plate is another popular illegal car mod that can potentially result in fines and violations depending on the assessing officer. California’s Vehicle Code 4464 states that a vehicle cannot alter the original markings of a license plate. This includes doing a custom paint job or vinyl wrapping your license plate to either change the color or overall design. 

The only way to change the color and/or design of your license plate is unless you request one of the preapproved designs from the DMV and fill out the proper paperwork for it. Once you do so, you can receive your new custom license plate within several months. Vinyl license plate wraps are also another customizable option for those who wish to maintain the original shape of their vehicle. 

Is It Illegal to Modify Your Car in California?

When it comes to customizing your car in California, there is a very fine line that can potentially turn your custom car mod into an illegal mod if it doesn’t meet standard regulations according to California Vehicle codes. So it is important that you check if your car mod goes against any vehicle codes or regulations or else you risk getting pulled over and receiving a ticket for something you place time and money into. 

However, if you are subjected to an unlawful car stop and would like to seek legal representation of the matter, contact us today by calling (213) 927-3700 or by filling our contact form to schedule a free consultation with our compassionate and talented legal team.