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Is a muffler delete illegal? Can I get ticketed for it?
I was talking with some friends in a muscle car club. They said I should do a “muffler delete” on my classic Camaro. Do they mean getting rid of the muffler? Is a muffler delete illegal?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Hey, first off, nice ride! And yes, your friends are suggesting you should remove the muffler completely. It would make your car louder, and some say it sounds better. But make no mistake, a muffler delete is illegal in all 50 states, without exceptions.
Each state handles muffler laws in its own way, but every state requires motor vehicles to have a muffler. There’s no getting around it. And police can and will pull you over and ticket you for not having one ( specifically, for your car’s exhaust being too loud).
If you want to improve your engine note without breaking the law, you could look into your state’s laws and consider getting an aftermarket muffler designed for performance. But be careful and read your state’s laws carefully to make sure the new muffler won’t result in you getting pulled over.
More states require emissions testing on vehicles, and a muffler affects things like how much pollution your car puts into the air. You could be looking at failing the next state inspection, which means no license plate renewal, which then makes driving your car illegal for a completely different reason.
Getting ticketed can make your
car insurance
rates increase, especially if your state considers these noise ordinance violations to be moving violations. So not only does this cost you in terms of getting a ticket (which also adds points to your license), it can have long-term costs, too.MORE: The ultimate car tune-up checklist
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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