Maine Lift Laws and Vehicle Equipment Laws

The Maine Revised Statutes (MRS) cover the street legal laws for the state.

Vehicle size in Maine cannot exceed 102 inches wide, 13 feet 6 inches tall, and 45 feet long for a single vehicle.

Maine’s laws require that tires must be in safe operating condition, without any bulges or exposed cords. There is a set minimum tread depth of 1/16 inch. Tires can be grooved as long as they are not cut below the original tread depth. 2020 Update: The previous law requiring tire size remain within 2 inches of the manufacturer’s recommended tire size appears to have been removed.

Maine’s code makes no reference to wheels.

Vehicles with brakes on all 4 wheels must be able to stop within 30 feet from a speed of 20 mph. A secondary, mechanical, parking brake is required.

Maine does not have any specific rules for a vehicle’s steering system.

The only suspension laws on Maine’s books state that the original suspension system cannot be disconnected and overload springs and heavy duty shock absorbers are allowed.

2020 Update: Maine has a minimum frame height of 10 inches (or factory frame height, whichever is lower). The maximum vehicle frame height is as follows:

( Measured to the bottom of the frame. )

There is no information on bumpers in the Maine statutes.

Fenders are required to cover the full tire tread width in Maine.

In addition to headlights and tail lights, vehicles in Maine are allowed to have several additional lights installed.

( Measured to the center of the light. )

The Maine code does not specifically state that windshields or windshield wipers are required.

In Maine, vehicles are required to have mufflers. Exhaust cutouts and bypasses can be installed if a permit is obtained.

Nitrous oxide is prohibited for street use in Maine.

Only Cumberland County requires emissions testing in Maine.