Legalities of car modifications

I was searching the AF forums and I came across a person that made a homemade engine part. This person was fined a major amount of money for this mod. What types of mods are [il]legal? Is nitrous legal on the street?

:dogpile:

In the United States:

Most of these laws are going to be state specific ... so depending on where you live, it will make a difference.

Modifying or eliminating emmissions devices falls under federal lay and is illegal.
Running leaded fuel on the street is also highly illegal (from the Federal level). I believe the fine is like $10,000.

Alterations to safety devices also falls under federal (seat belts, air bags, etc ...). Not sure what the details are of all of them, but from what I understand, it is perfectly legal for the owner of a car to remove an airbag, but it is 100% illegal to pay some to take it out (shop, dealer, etc ...)

when i got my b/c the shop said it was illegal :screwy:

Well, say your Civic CR-X. Can you add Nitrous, Forced Induction, and racing seats with a custom shifter?

It would depend on your state's laws.

Where can I find the information regarding these laws?

I would look online and see your state publishes their Vehicle Code. If not, you would need to get a copy of the actual book ... or check it out at the library.

does your state have inspections? if so, start with botl ons and save the old parts....if it doesnt pass, slap the old parts back on.

In CT Nitrous, Forced Induction, and racing seats with a custom shifter is all legal. Except it is illegal to use the N20 on the street.

Hehe :) n2o... ooo... im searching for the 2f2f push buttons for the n2o

lol get him guys :grinno:

Hehe, don't become disillusioned but you won't be thrown in your seat and things around you won't be blurred in motion and so on :D :D

nitrous is illegal here in germany I think :sleep:
at least, there are no complete laws for that, cops will look at a big bottle with "flammable" signs on it and charge me for transportation of dangerous load without license.

it's possible to get papers/permission for your car in some garages/auto repair shops here in germany - normally the TÜV (Technical Monitoring Association), a government-ruled institution, does that. So, if you're a friend of the garage's boss... :evillol: - maybe thats possible in the states too?

I'd buy a sleeper anyways. no neons, no stickers, no evil bodykits, no lowering kit - cops won't become distrustfully

In most places it is illegal to use N2O on the street. You can have it hooked up; you just have to have the valve on the bottle closed. The truth is that a police officer can write you a ticket for anything on your car that is not stock. Most officers won't do this unless you've pissed them off. At least that is how it is here in Utah. However, like J&H said, check out your states websites or go find the actual law book that describes laws on motor vehicles.

It's illegal in NY to use nitrous on the street's. Turbo's should be fine as long as you notify the insurance company and let them know you have it,

A minor modification that's illegal (location pending) is removing the catalytic converter from your car. It can also void your vehicle warranty if you have a new car..unless of course you've modded it void everything about the car including the corrosion warranty!

The only reason i get away with it, is because my car is too old to be inspected for emission control, or i never would have cut it off.

Best thing to do is like what JekylandHyde said:

... check it out at the library.


The only way you're gonna know for sure is if you find out exactly what it is in your state/province/whatever.

Good luck, and happy tuning! :smokin:

I agree with landyacht study the rules or laws of you place. It is the only way to find out what you can or can not do. As for nitrous on the streets I think it is illegal everywhere!

In Washington, at least from what I understand, N2O is illegal, but mods like racing seats, harnesse aren't. But I'm 100% sure on N20 because one of my friends had his car taken away from him because he had N20 and it was considered not a street legal ride....

[QUOTE=landyacht]A minor modification that's illegal (location pending) is removing the catalytic converter from your car. It can also void your vehicle warranty if you have a new car..unless of course you've modded it void everything about the car including the corrosion warranty!

The only reason i get away with it, is because my car is too old to be inspected for emission control, or i never would have cut it off.

what happens when u take the converter off cuz my shield to it just fell offff!!!!

yup, everythig depends on the state you live in. shit, out here in cali, you almost cant even lower you car and shit. evvvvvvvverything must be carb legal, and have sticker showing. motor swaps have to be seen and approved by a state ref. fuck it sucks out here