Lift Laws You Need to Know

"Normal" vehicles in North Carolina are limited to 6 inches of lift. Exceptions are made for passenger vehicles constructed on a truck chassis that have special features for occasional off-road operation.

"Normal" vehicles in North Carolina are limited to 6 inches of lift. Exceptions are made f

North Carolina
(North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 20)
Summary:
North Carolina's statutes even address how to display the Confederate Flag. Liftwise, "passenger" vehicles (donks?) are limited to 6 inches of lift. Pickups need written permission to go higher; SUVs built on a truck chassis and used "for occasional off-road operation" could be exempt depending on who is doing the interpreting.

Vehicle Elevation (§20-135.4):
"The manufacturer's specified height of any passenger motor vehicle shall not be elevated or lowered, either in front or back, more than 6 inches by modification, alteration, or change of the physical structure of said vehicle without prior written approval of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles." North Carolina defines private passenger automobile as "a four wheeled motor vehicle designed principally for carrying passengers, for use on public roads and highways, except a multipurpose passenger vehicle which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation."

Source
North Carolina General Statutes
www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/Statutes/StatutesTOC.pl?Chapter=0020

Shot at the 4-Wheel Jamboree in Anderson, South Carolina, this show Super Duty has a dropped bumper and lights, presumably to comply with the its state's vehicle code.

Shot at the 4-Wheel Jamboree in Anderson, South Carolina, this show Super Duty has a dropp

South Carolina
(South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 56)
Summary:
Like North Carolina, S.C. limits "passenger" motor vehicles to 6 inches of lift. "However, this shall not apply to motor vehicles commonly called 'pickup trucks' (§56-5-4445)."
Headlamps (§56-5-4450):
Mounted not higher than 54 inches nor lower than 24 inches.
Taillamps (§56-5-4520):
Mounted not higher than 60 inches nor lower than 20 inches.

Source
South Carolina Legislature
www.scstatehouse.gov/code/titl56.htm

Georgia
(Georgia Code, Title 40)
Summary:
Maximum lift is 2 inches "above or below the factory recommendation (§40-8-6)." Since Mopar lift kits are sold at Dodge and Jeep dealerships and are covered by a warranty, does that constitute "recommendation?" Can you go 2 inches above the tallest "factory"-offered lift kit available at a Dodge or Jeep dealership? Let us know if you have firsthand experience with these issues. Also, driving on the street in Georgia is illegal "if the (vehicle's) springs relative to the suspension system are broken."

Source
Georgia Code
www.lexis-nexis.com/hottopics/gacode/

Florida
(Florida Statutes, Title 23)
Summary:
Lifting isn't specifically addressed by Florida; bumper and light heights are. Trucks more than 5,000 pounds "net shipping weight" are apparently exempt. For legal-trivia buffs, the Florida Legislature calls its website Online Sunshine.

Bumper Height-"net shipping weight," not GVWR (§316.251):
"Every motor vehicle of net shipping weight of not more than 5,000 pounds shall be equipped with a front and a rear bumper such that when measured from the ground to the bottom of the bumper the maximum height shall be as follows":

Headlamps (§316.220):
Mounted not higher than 54 inches nor lower than 24.

Source
Florida Statutes
www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Index&Title_Request=XXIII#TitleXXIII

This YJ, with 4-inch Superlift springs and 35-inch BFGs, can legally be driven to and from the Gray Rock ORV Park (notice its license plate).

This YJ, with 4-inch Superlift springs and 35-inch BFGs, can legally be driven to and from

Alabama
(Code Of Alabama, Title 32)
Summary:
Alabama doesn't have any specific lift or height laws.
Headlamps (§32-5-240):
Mounted not higher than 54 inches nor lower than 24.
Taillamps (§32-5-240):
Mounted not higher than 60 inches nor lower than 20.

Source
Code Of Alabama
www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/coatoc.htm

Tennessee
(Tennessee Vehicle Code, Title 55)
Summary: Tennessee uses frame and bumper heights to regulate lifts. Bumpers "or other energy-absorption system" are required for street driving; "drop bumpers" are allowed. Also, front lift blocks are illegal.

Bumper Height/Suspenion Modifications (§55-9-215):
"No person shall operate a four-wheel drive recreational vehicle of a type required to be registered under the laws of this state upon a public highway or street modified by reason of alteration of its altitude from the ground if its bumpers, measured to any point on a load-bearing member on the horizontal bumper bar, are not within the range of 14 to 31 inches above the ground, except that no vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground or expose the fuel tank to damage from collision or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation, and that no part of the original suspension system be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of the suspension system; provided, that nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy-duty equipment to include shock absorbers and overload springs. ... In the case of a four-wheel drive vehicle where the 31-inch limitation is exceeded, the vehicle will comply with this section if the vehicle is equipped with a drop bumper. The drop bumper must be bolted and welded to the frame of the vehicle and be made of a strength equal to a stock bumper. ... No person shall modify or cause to be modified by the use of lift blocks the front end suspension of a motor vehicle."

Source
Tennessee Code
michie.lexisnexis.com/tennessee/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=main-h.htm&cp