FAQ – Equipment Issues
Equipment Issues
- Can I have tinting on the windows of my vehicle?
- Can I legally alter the height of my pickup truck with a lift kit or oversized tires?
- Can I have any cracks or stars in my windshield and still have it meet safety inspection standards?
- Can I use studded snow tires on my car?
- Do I have to have a front license plate on my vehicle? There isn’t a place to mount one.
- I want to install some “after-market equipment” on my vehicle, but I’m not sure whether it is legal or not. Who can I check with
Can I have tinting on the windows of my vehicle?
Utah Law permits the use of window tint on vehicles travelling on Utah roadways. The limitations are as follows. All windshields are prohibited from having window tint, or other non-transparent material placed below the AS-1 line or 4 inches down from the top of the windshield, whichever is lower. The driver and front seat passenger side windows must not allow less than 43 percent light transmittance. All other windows behind the front seat have no minimum light transmittance requirements. Although, if the windows behind the driver’s seat are tinted, the vehicle must have both the outside rear-view mirrors on the left and right side of the vehicle. Any window tint that is present on any vehicle must not be treated with a material, which presents a metallic or mirrored appearance when viewed from the outside of the vehicle. According to Federal Law, commercial vehicles are prohibited from having any window tint. If you have additional questions on this subject, please contact the Safety Inspection Section at (801) 965-4889 Option 1.
In this video, Sgt. Taylor provides information about light transmittance restrictions for the various windows in your vehicle. Click here to read statute 41-6a-1635.
Can I legally alter the height of my pickup truck with a lift kit or oversized tires?
Vehicles with a wheel base in excess of 100 inches may be lifted 4 inches with mechanical lifts and 4 inches with oversize tires. Vehicles with a wheel base of 100 inches or less may be lifted 2 inches with a mechanical lift and 2 inches with oversize tires. A body lift may not exceed 2 inches and is considered a mechanical lift. If oversize tires extend beyond the fender, they must be covered with a flexible fender extender. Flexible fender extenders may not be wider than 3 inches. If you have further questions on this subject, please contact the Safety Inspection Section at (801) 965-4889 Option 1.
In this video, Sgt. Taylor demonstrates two quick ways to determine if your vehicle’s lift is legal. Click here to read statute 41-6a-1603.
Can I have any cracks or stars in my windshield and still have it meet safety inspection standards?
Windshield cracks at any length may be present anywhere within the six inch border that surrounds the outside edge of a windshield. This border measurement is taken on the outside of the glass from the edge where the glass and the molding meet. The area of the windshield that falls on the inside of this border is known as the acute area.
A vehicle does not meet the standards for windshields if
- any crack intersects with another crack within the acute area
- there is any damage within the acute area that cannot be covered by a disc 3/4 inch in diameter (a 3/4 inch diameter disc is approximately the size of a penny)
- there is any damage in the acute area that is within 3 inches of any other damage in the acute area
- the windshield has outright breakage, which includes shattered glass on either the inside or outside surface, or any broken glass leaving sharp or jagged edges.
If you have additional questions on this subject, please contact the Safety Inspection Section at (801) 965-4889 Option 1.
Can I use studded snow tires on my car?
Utah law permits the use of studded snow tires between October 15th and March 31st.
Do I have to have a front license plate on my vehicle? There isn’t a place to mount one.
Utah law requires that every vehicle registered in Utah, other than a motorcycle, trailer, or semitrailer, must have a license plate securely attached to the front and rear of the vehicle. Federal standards require that every vehicle manufactured for sale in the United States must have the capability of mounting a license plate on the front and rear of the vehicle. If you contact the vehicle dealer, they can obtain the necessary kit for mounting a front license plate.
I want to install some “after-market equipment” on my vehicle, but I’m not sure whether it is legal or not. Who can I check with?
Whenever you have concerns regarding the legality of anything having to do with modifications to a vehicle registered in Utah, you may contact the Safety Inspection Section at (801) 965-4889 Option 1 for assistance.