Have you ever wondered what types of vehicles are street-legal in your state or in neighboring states? Or maybe you’re wondering how your state’s vehicle laws stack up against the other states?
In the infographic below, we’ve gathered data on the state laws that define what you’re legally allowed to ride on the road. However, in doing this research, we found that the laws can be very complex even at a state level, with changeable restrictions depending on which municipality you’re in, the type of road you’re driving on, the type of vehicle, and even specs about the vehicle itself, such as maximum rpm.
In the info below, we’ve compiled and streamlined information on what’s street-legal. Some of the results may seem obvious, such as Alaska not having vehicle noise limits. However, some results may surprise you, like North Dakota permitting fewer vehicle types.
To be clear, laws may change, and you should check with local authorities to make sure you are following the rules for your vehicle in your location.
Paste this Image on Your Site!
Simply copy and paste the code below and you can share this infographic on your site:
Types of Street-Legal Vehicles
To assess what’s street-legal in each state, we considered ATVs, mopeds, scooters, and other alternative vehicles such as snowmobiles, golf carts, motorized bicycles, custom cars, golf carts, and more. Then we ranked each state by the types of vehicles that are permitted on the roads. Here are the results:
Tier 1: Fewer Vehicle Types Permitted
- Maine
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
Tier 2: Some Vehicle Types Permitted
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Tier 3: More Vehicle Types Permitted
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
Tier 4: Even More Vehicle Types Permitted
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Illinois
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- Utah
- Washington
- Wyoming
Vehicle Noise Limits by State
It’s not just vehicle types that are regulated; noise limits play a large part in what’s allowed on the streets. For classification purposes, noise limits are typically defined by decibel maximums or vehicle modification limits.
Notably, many state laws used language about “reasonable noise limits” or vehicles that are “not excessively loud.” The subjective nature of these specifications means that it’s prudent to be smart about your vehicles volume. For example, don’t crank your vehicle as loud as it can go at 3 AM (when your neighbors are sleeping, and likely to be unhappy if woken!).
Again we caution you to check with the local authorities before taking to the road. Laws may change, and there may be variable noise limits on local roads, for your specific vehicle, or at the speeds you intend to drive at. Here are the state by state results:
Least Severe Sound Limits
- Georgia (No limits, but cannot be excessive)
- Alaska (Set by municipality)
Muffler Required
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Delaware
- Louisiana
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- West Virginia
Muffler Required: Limits on modifications such as cutoffs or bypasses
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky (Mufflers without cutouts required for highways)
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina (Bypasses or cutouts not allowed on highways)
- South Dakota (Cutouts not allowed on highways)
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sound Limits: High Decibel
- California
- Idaho
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
For an example of a high decibel sound limit: in New Hampshire, all motorcycles must be under 92 db when idling, and there is a max of 100 db for 3 and 4 cylinder motorcycles at 5,000 rpm.
Sound Limits: Moderate or Wide Range
- Alabama
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Nevada
- North Dakota
Sound Limits: Low Decibel
- New York
- Ohio
- Washington
For an example of a low decibel sound limit: in Ohio, passenger cars can not exceed 70 db when traveling less than 35 mph and 79 decibels when traveling more than 35 mph.