Lighting Regulations and Laws in Oklahoma for Modified Vehicles

When working on your custom build, lighting is certainly going to end up being something you want to upgrade in some manner. Whether to enhance your personalized vehicle with extra aesthetic appeal or improved functionality, lighting is an aspect that gets upgraded in a vast majority of custom builds. With lighting in particular, however, it’s essential to understand state regulations and laws when it comes to modified vehicles. So, in today’s blog we’re going to dive into some of these rules and restrictions to help you keep your vehicle street legal.

There are a few regulations that you need to keep in mind when making lighting modifications to your custom build. It’s important to ensure that all of your lighting modifications are made in compliance with these standards to avoid penalties and ensure your safety and others’ on the road.

• Headlights
  • There are two requirements for modifying headlights, with the first being that they emit white light and the second being that they are properly aligned. These requirements help to avoid blinding oncoming drivers, and should be checked after any changes to suspension or vehicle height.
• Fog Lamps
  • A vehicle is only allowed to have a maximum of two fog lights, and they can only be used while actually experiencing conditions like fog, rain or dust. In addition, they must be mounted at a height that does not interfere with the visibility of other drivers.
• Auxiliary Driving Lights
  • You’re also allowed to have a maximum of two auxiliary driving lights, but you’re required to use them responsibly — which includes never using them within 1,000 feet of another vehicle.
• Off-Road Lights
  • While you’re allowed to add off-road lighting to your vehicle, you are not legally permitted to illuminate them while driving on actual public roadways. In other words, you can only use your off-road lights while off-road.

Now that you know all about the main regulations that you’ll be required to follow, it’s time for us to dive into a little more detail on the bumper and headlight requirements. You’ll want to keep these regulations in mind not just when making lighting adjustments, but when installing your lift kit or otherwise upgrading your suspension system.

• Bumper Height
  • In order to ensure that bumpers are effective in absorbing impact during collisions, the law here in Oklahoma specifically states that the front and rear bumpers of passenger vehicles must be between 16 and 30 inches from the ground.
• Headlight Placement
  • Regulations for headlight placement are in place to ensure that your vehicle is providing adequate illumination in dark conditions, without causing glare for other drivers on the roadways. If you lift or lower a vehicle, you’ll need to make adjustments to ensure that your headlights are properly aligned and in compliance with the laws.
• Vehicle Height
  • One final area of note is that there are restrictions for your vehicle’s overall height. The maximum allowable height for a vehicle here in Oklahoma is 14 feet, which must be measured from the ground to the highest point of the vehicle.

One type of lighting modification that we haven’t touched on yet but that is prevalent among modified vehicles is the lightbar. These are especially popular with off-road enthusiasts, but regardless of how or why you want to add one to your vehicle it’s important to be aware of the state’s restrictions on their use.

• Much like auxiliary driving lights, lightbars are not permitted to be illuminated while driving on public roadways. They are intended exclusively for off-road use, so you must keep them turned off when you’re on the highway or driving through city streets.
• In addition, any lightbars installed on your vehicle must be mounted securely in such a way that prevents them from becoming a hazard during operation. They must be placed within the vehicle’s height restrictions and should not obstruct the driver’s view out the windshield.
• Finally, light bars are only permitted to emit white or amber light, and they should not be excessively bright.

We hope that all of this information has helped you keep your custom build in compliance with Oklahoma regulations and laws. It’s important to follow these rules to ensure your own safety and the safety of others, to avoid fines and expensive penalties and to make sure your vehicle is street-legal to retain your insurance coverage. If you have any questions about these regulations or the legality of your modified vehicle, don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Glover Customs.