{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1063.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1063.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1063.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1063.html"}],"law_id":79311,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79311,"structure_id":16622,"section_number":"46.2-1063","catch_line":"Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail","history":"1973, c. 498, \u00a7 46.1-282.1; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 342; 1986, c. 570; 1989, c. 727; 1991, c. 688; 1992, c. 864; 1993, c. 73; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 269; 2022, c. 31.","full_text":"No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. No part of the original suspension system of a motor vehicle shall be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of its suspension system. However, nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the driving on a public highway of a motor vehicle with normal wear to the suspension system if such normal wear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.\n\t\tNo person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a truck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fall within the limits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight rating category. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,500 pounds or less shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 31 inches. Bumper height limitations contained in this paragraph shall not apply to trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 15,000 pounds. For the purpose of this section, “truck” includes pickup and panel trucks, and “gross vehicle weight ratings” means manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight ratings established for that vehicle as indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal, or other device affixed to the vehicle by its manufacturer.\n\t\tIn the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been lowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be operated on a public highway if it has been modified by any means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any manufacturer’s spacers and bushings, above the vehicle’s frame rail or manufacturer’s attachment points on the frame rail.\n\t\tNo passenger car or pickup or panel truck shall be operated on a public highway if the suspension, frame, or chassis has been modified by any means so as to cause the height of the front bumper to be four or more inches greater than the height of the rear bumper.\n\t\tThis section shall not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicles when driven off the public highways in races and similar events. Such motor vehicles may be lawfully towed on the highways of the Commonwealth.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":283964,"text":"No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. No part of the original suspension system of a motor vehicle shall be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of its suspension system. However, nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the driving on a public highway of a motor vehicle with normal wear to the suspension system if such normal wear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.\n\t\tNo person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a truck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fall within the limits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight rating category. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,500 pounds or less shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 31 inches. Bumper height limitations contained in this paragraph shall not apply to trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess of 15,000 pounds. For the purpose of this section, “truck” includes pickup and panel trucks, and “gross vehicle weight ratings” means manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight ratings established for that vehicle as indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal, or other device affixed to the vehicle by its manufacturer.\n\t\tIn the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been lowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be operated on a public highway if it has been modified by any means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any manufacturer’s spacers and bushings, above the vehicle’s frame rail or manufacturer’s attachment points on the frame rail.\n\t\tNo passenger car or pickup or panel truck shall be operated on a public highway if the suspension, frame, or chassis has been modified by any means so as to cause the height of the front bumper to be four or more inches greater than the height of the rear bumper.\n\t\tThis section shall not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicles when driven off the public highways in races and similar events. Such motor vehicles may be lawfully towed on the highways of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":16622,"edition_id":1,"name":"Steering and Suspension Systems","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12828,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:28:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:28:08","permalink":{"id":229667,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16622,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/8\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12828,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12828,"identifier":"10","token":"46.2\/III\/10","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":79311,"structure_id":16622,"section_number":"46.2-1063","catch_line":"Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail","url":"\/46.2-1063\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1063","metadata":false},{"id":72947,"structure_id":16622,"section_number":"46.2-1064","catch_line":"Modification of front-end suspension by use of lift blocks","url":"\/46.2-1064\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1064","metadata":false},{"id":87464,"structure_id":16622,"section_number":"46.2-1065","catch_line":"Steering gear; installation, sale, etc., of repair kit or preventive maintenance kit for use on part of steering gear prohibited","url":"\/46.2-1065\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1065","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":72947,"structure_id":16622,"section_number":"46.2-1064","catch_line":"Modification of front-end suspension by use of lift blocks","url":"\/46.2-1064\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1064","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1063\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1973. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 498 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1973 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 605; in 1980, chapter 342; in 1986, chapter 570; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1991, chapter 688; in 1992, chapter 864; in 1993, chapter 73; in 2022, chapter 31<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":82819,"section_number":"46.2-1001.1","catch_line":"Special equipment required for converted electric vehicles","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1001.1\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":229669,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79311,"identifier":"46.2-1063","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1063","url":"\/46.2-1063\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1063\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/8\/46.2-1063","dublin_core":{"Title":"Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1063","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person shall drive on a public highway<\/span> any motor vehicle<\/span> registered as a passenger motor vehicle<\/span> if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. No part of the original suspension<\/span> system of a motor vehicle<\/span> shall be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of its suspension<\/span> system. However, nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the driving on a public highway<\/span> of a motor vehicle<\/span> with normal wear to the suspension<\/span> system if such normal wear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.\n\t\tNo person shall drive on a public highway<\/span> any motor vehicle<\/span> registered as a truck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fall within the limits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight rating category. The front bumper height of trucks<\/span> whose gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span> are 4,500 pounds or less shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches. The front bumper height of trucks<\/span> whose gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span> are 4,501 pounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches. The front bumper height of trucks<\/span> whose gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span> are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 30 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 31 inches. Bumper height limitations contained in this paragraph shall not apply to trucks<\/span> with gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span> in excess of 15,000 pounds. For the purpose of this section, “truck” includes pickup and panel trucks<\/span>, and “gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span>” means manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight ratings<\/span> established for that vehicle as indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal<\/span>, or other device affixed to the vehicle by its manufacturer.\n\t\tIn the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been lowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have been raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section shall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be operated on a public highway<\/span> if it has been modified by any means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any manufacturer’s spacers and bushings, above the vehicle’s frame rail or manufacturer’s attachment<\/span> points on the frame rail.\n\t\tNo passenger car<\/span> or pickup or panel truck<\/span> shall be operated on a public highway<\/span> if the suspension<\/span>, frame, or chassis has been modified by any means so as to cause the height of the front bumper to be four or more inches greater than the height of the rear bumper.\n\t\tThis section shall not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicles<\/span> when driven off the public highways<\/span><\/span> in races and similar events. Such motor vehicles<\/span> may be lawfully towed on the highways<\/span><\/span> of the Commonwealth.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nALTERATION OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM; BUMPER HEIGHT LIMITS; RAISING BODY ABOVE FRAME\nRAIL (\u00a7 46.2-1063)\n\nNo person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a\npassenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude\nfrom the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the\nlower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards,\nare not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the\nground.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in\ncontact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause\nthe wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. No part of\nthe original suspension system of a motor vehicle shall be disconnected to\ndefeat the safe operation of its suspension system. However, nothing contained\nin this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment,\nincluding shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothing contained in this\nsection shall prohibit the driving on a public highway of a motor vehicle with\nnormal wear to the suspension system if such normal wear does not adversely\naffect the control of the vehicle.\n\t\tNo person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a\ntruck if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to\nthe extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main\nhorizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, do not fall within the\nlimits specified herein for its gross vehicle weight rating category. The front\nbumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,500 pounds or\nless shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches, and their rear\nbumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 28 inches. The\nfront bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight ratings are 4,501\npounds to 7,500 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no more than 29\ninches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14 inches and no more\nthan 30 inches. The front bumper height of trucks whose gross vehicle weight\nratings are 7,501 pounds to 15,000 pounds shall be no less than 14 inches and no\nmore than 30 inches, and their rear bumper height shall be no less than 14\ninches and no more than 31 inches. Bumper height limitations contained in this\nparagraph shall not apply to trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings in excess\nof 15,000 pounds. For the purpose of this section, “truck” includes\npickup and panel trucks, and “gross vehicle weight ratings” means\nmanufacturer’s gross vehicle weight ratings established for that vehicle\nas indicated by a number, plate, sticker, decal, or other device affixed to the\nvehicle by its manufacturer.\n\t\tIn the absence of bumpers, and in cases where bumper heights have been\nlowered, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section\nshall be made to the bottom of the frame rail. However, if bumper heights have\nbeen raised, height measurements under the foregoing provisions of this section\nshall be made to the bottom of the main horizontal bumper bar.\n\t\tNo vehicle shall be operated on a public highway if it has been modified by\nany means so as to raise its body more than three inches, in addition to any\nmanufacturer’s spacers and bushings, above the vehicle’s frame rail\nor manufacturer’s attachment points on the frame rail.\n\t\tNo passenger car or pickup or panel truck shall be operated on a public\nhighway if the suspension, frame, or chassis has been modified by any means so\nas to cause the height of the front bumper to be four or more inches greater\nthan the height of the rear bumper.\n\t\tThis section shall not apply to specially designed or modified motor vehicles\nwhen driven off the public highways in races and similar events. Such motor\nvehicles may be lawfully towed on the highways of the Commonwealth.\n\nHISTORY: 1973, c. 498, \u00a7 46.1-282.1; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 342; 1986, c. 570;\n1989, c. 727; 1991, c. 688; 1992, c. 864; 1993, c. 73; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c.\n269; 2022, c. 31.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}