Question: Where are Lamborghinis illegal?
Answer: Strictly speaking, Lamborghinis are not illegal in the United States. However, some of these high-performance vehicles don’t meet the specific requirements necessary to be legally driven on public roads.
Which Lamborghini models are illegal and why?
Though it’s legal to own a Lamborghini in the US, three models fail to meet the safety, emissions, and noise standards set by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). This means that while it’s not illegal to own them, it’s only legal to drive them on private roads, like racetracks.
Banned Lamborghini models include:
2000 and 2001 Strosek Diablo
The Strosek Diablo is a modified version of the classic Lamborghini Diablo. While the standard Diablo meets road regulations, the Strosek is capable of speeds that make it unsafe for public roads in the US, according to regulators. Additionally, design choices in this model—including the placement of the rearview mirrors—don’t align with US requirements.
Luckily, thanks to a bill passed in 1988, only the two most recent model year Strosek Diablos—2000, and 2001—are still banned from US streets. Those models produced from its inception in 1990 through 1999 are no longer banned.
Essenza SCV12
Designed exclusively for the track, the Essenza SCV12 has a powerful V12 engine, generating speeds that exceed what is considered safe for public highways. This model also doesn’t conform to US emissions standards and lacks essential safety features required for road vehicles, such as airbags and crash protection systems.
Because the Essenza SCV12’s isn’t safe for road use, it doesn’t have the vehicle identification number (VIN) required for registration. This Lamborghini model epitomizes the divide between race cars and street-legal vehicles.
Sesto Elemento
The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is a marvel of engineering, and it also fails to meet US road standards for safety. The Sesto Elemento’s body is constructed using advanced carbon fiber technology to reduce weight and increase performance, but this renders it too light to meet safety standards.
Lamborghini ownership challenges
Street legality is just one element of owning a supercar. Other challenges include import restrictions and stringent emissions standards.
- Import restrictions: If you want to import a Lamborghini, the vehicle must meet EPA emission standards and DOT safety regulations unless it is over 25 years old.
- California emissions standards: California residents are subject to strict pollution laws set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
