While a lot of our blogs focus on exterior upgrades, there are plenty of things you can do for the interior as well. One of the most commonly discussed interior upgrades is the replacement of your steering wheel, which can not only enhance the aesthetic of your cabin, but can provide better grip and control in off-road situations as well.
There is some misinformation out there that has led to a lot of our customers asking whether or not aftermarket steering wheels are even legal here in Oklahoma. We’re here to set the record straight and make sure you’re armed with all the information you need before deciding whether or not to scoop out your stock steering wheel and replace it with something more exciting.
Steering System Modifications Are Not Illegal
We’ll cut right to the chase, there are no specific laws outright banning aftermarket steering wheels here in Oklahoma. In fact, vehicle modification rules in this state are quite relaxed compared to some other areas in the country. However, there are some things to consider. Just because there is no law against aftermarket steering wheels as a whole, does not mean that there aren’t still standards and regulations in place that could make certain specific upgrades illegal.
Airbag Compatibility
The most important thing to consider when choosing an aftermarket steering wheel is its compatibility with your airbags, because that’s the first thing that can make a chosen steering wheel illegal. A majority of modern vehicles are equipped with a driver-side airbag that is housed right inside the steering wheel, and removing or disabling this airbag can not only create safety hazards for you, the driver, but can also land you in legal hot water.
Federal law requires functional airbags in vehicles that were originally equipped with them, which means removing it could result in fines or liability in the event of an accident for which you might not have otherwise been liable. In other words, if your vehicle features an airbag inside your steering wheel, you need to find an aftermarket steering wheel that’s compatible with that airbag to remain within the purview of state and federal law.
Other Things to Consider
While there are no true regulations beyond airbag compatibility where your steering wheel is concerned, there are some other things to consider. For example, you should also make sure that this new steering wheel is going to be compatible with your horn. Vehicles are required to have a working horn that is audible from at least 200 feet away, so you’ll want to make sure that the aftermarket steering wheel can also accommodate this.
In addition, though this has nothing to do with legality, you should also consider your steering-wheel mounted controls. If your vehicle features paddle shifters, radio controls, driver-assistive safety feature buttons and so on mounted on your steering wheel, you may want to ensure that your aftermarket upgrade offers these as well.
Lastly, you’re going to want to make sure that whatever steering wheel you go with is mounted properly and securely. This is crucial, not only to ensure legal compliance but to make sure you remain as safe as possible as well.
Find Your Steering Wheel at Glover Customs
Now that you understand the legal ramifications of upgrading your custom vehicle with an aftermarket steering wheel, are you still interested? If so, feel free to reach out to us right here at Glover Customs. One of the best ways to ensure that your vehicle not only remains compliant with state and federal laws, as well as insurance standards, but that it is going to be as safe as can be for you and those you drive — is to have professionals like our expert technicians handle installation. Feel free to give us a call to discuss your vision, as we’d love to help bring it to fruition!