Washington has some of the most detailed street legal laws of any state. Suspension lifts are allowed as long as they are safe and the vehicle’s bumpers remain below the bumper height limit. Aftermarket wheels and tires, performance shocks, aftermarket bumpers, and grille guards are allowed.
 Code |
Washington details its street legal laws in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). |
RCW Title 46 WAC Title 204 |
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 Dimensions |
In Washington, vehicles must be no bigger than 102 inches wide, 14 feet tall, and 40 feet long. |
RCW 46-44-010 RCW 46-44-020 RCW 46-44-030 |
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 Tires |
All tires on vehicles driven in Washington must be safe. There is a minimum tire tread depth requirement of 1/16 inch. Tire grooving as allowed only on tires that are designed to be grooved. |
RCW 46-37-420 RCW 46-37-424 RCW 46-37-425 |
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 Wheels |
Washington’s laws require that all wheels be in safe condition. Lug nuts must not extend outside of the wheel and tire. |
RCW 46-37-369 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Brakes |
Vehicles driven in Washington are required to have functional brakes on all 4 wheels. All vehicles need to be able to stop from a speed of 20 mph within 30 feet. A secondary, mechanical, parking brake is required. |
RCW 46-37-340 RCW 46-37-351 |
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 Steering |
Washington has a maximum allowed vehicle turning radius of 32 feet and a minimum steering wheel diameter of 12 inches. |
RCW 46-37-375 WAC 204-10-022 |
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 Suspension |
There are no specific suspension lift limits in Washington. Body lifts are allowed, but they cannot be home made. Anti-sway bars are mandatory. |
RCW 46-37-375 WAC 204-10-036 |
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 Frame |
The street legal laws in Washington require that a vehicle’s frame be no lower than the sidewall height of its tires. Replacement or aftermarket frames must be FMVSS certified. |
WAC 204-10-036 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bumpers |
Washington requires that bumpers be at least 4.5 inches tall. Bumper height is limited according to the vehicle’s GVWR.
( Measured to the bottom of the bumper. ) |
RCW 46-37-513 WAC 204-10-022 |
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 Fenders |
Fenders and mud flaps that cover the full width of a vehicle’s tires are required in Washington. Mud flaps must extend downward to at least the centerline of the wheel. |
RCW 46-37-500 WAC 204-10-022 |
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 Lights |
In addition to headlights and tail lights, vehicles in Washington are allowed to have additional lights installed. When a vehicle is equipped with extra lighting, no more than 4 front lights can be on at one time while driving.
( Measured to the center of the light. ) |
RCW 46-37-040 RCW 46-37-050 RCW 46-37-180 RCW 46-37-270 |
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 Windows |
Windshields are not required in Washington as long as the driver wears glasses or safety goggles. Windshield wipers are required if the vehicle is equipped with a windshield. |
RCW 46-37-410 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Exhaust |
In Washington, vehicles are required to be equipped with mufflers. Exhaust cutouts and bypasses are not allowed to be installed. |
RCW 46-37-390 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Engine |
Engine modifications and engine swaps are not covered in Washington’s laws. |
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 Emissions |
5 counties in Washington currently require emissions testing. |