Vermont DMV Vehicle Equipment Advisory

A wide range of after-market vehicle equipment is readily available to the consumer, however; not all of it is legal. Although many vehicle equipment items are lawful to sell, they are not legal when placed on a vehicle. This means you could be ticketed for operating a vehicle with illegal after-market equipment and your vehicle could be subject to rejection during a Vermont State Inspection. Here are some of the items to be aware of:

• After-market equipment placed on, in or in front of any lamp (except transparent covers which are part of original manufacturer’s equipped headlamps)...i.e. – smoked or colored light covers, etc.
• Any after-market lamp failing to have the letters DOT horizontally or vertically on the lens
• After-market undercarriage glow light(s) placed on or under the vehicle, whether flashing or steady burning
• After-market license plate glow light(s) placed on a vehicle, whether flashing or steady burning
• Any additional auxiliary or after-market light(s) not designed to enhance safety and have not been approved by the Commissioner, are placed on or in the vehicle, whether flashing or burning
• Any additional after market lamp showing a color contrary to law…i.e. – blue, green, etc.
• Window tinting to the immediate left or right of the driver’s position
• Windshield decals
• Tires in which the tread portion exceeds the fender well
• After-market exhaust systems causing excessive noise
• Trucks with lift kits failing to have mud flaps
• Hanging items from the rearview mirror
• Smoked or tinted license plate covers

View Vermont State Inspection Criteria ( 174.13KB)

View the Vermont Periodic Inspection Manual in its entirety ( 6.36MB)