Squatted trucks are illegal in at least six states: North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Each of those states uses the same core rule. If the front of your truck sits four or more inches higher than the rear because of suspension, frame, or chassis changes, you cannot legally drive it on a public road. Penalties start with fines and escalate to license suspension or revocation after repeat convictions. Alabama has a similar bill pending. Every other state leaves the modification unregulated at the state level, though federal equipment rules and insurance terms still apply.
States That Ban Squatted Trucks
North Carolina was first. House Bill 692 took effect on December 1, 2021, making it unlawful to operate a private passenger automobile on any highway or public road if the front fender has been raised four or more inches above the rear through suspension, frame, or chassis alterations.1North Carolina General Assembly. House Bill 692 – Prohibiting Certain Modifications to Passenger Vehicles
Virginia followed in 2022. Its statute, § 46.2-1063, prohibits driving a passenger car or pickup on public highways if the front bumper is four or more inches higher than the rear due to suspension, frame, or chassis modifications. Virginia also sets absolute bumper height limits: 14 to 22 inches from the ground for passenger vehicles, with weight-class-specific ceilings for trucks that top out at 31 inches for vehicles rated up to 15,000 pounds.2Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-1063 – Alteration of Suspension System; Bumper Height Limits
South Carolina’s ban took effect on November 12, 2023, under Section 56-5-4445. The law prohibits operating any passenger vehicle, including pickup trucks, if the front or rear fender has been raised or lowered four or more inches compared to the other end.3South Carolina Department of Public Safety. “Carolina Squat” Law
Mississippi passed Senate Bill 2250, with penalties taking effect on January 27, 2025. The threshold matches the others: the front fender cannot sit four or more inches above the rear because of suspension, frame, or chassis changes. Mississippi uses a five-year lookback when counting prior offenses.4Mississippi Legislature. SB2250 – As Passed the Senate – 2024 Regular Session
Tennessee restricts altered vehicles under § 55-9-215, which caps passenger vehicle bumpers at 22 inches from the ground and requires four-wheel-drive recreational vehicle bumpers to sit between 14 and 31 inches.5Justia. Tennessee Code 55-9-215 – Operation of Motor Vehicle Without Adequate Energy Absorption System Prohibited Tennessee has also enacted a specific squat ban that classifies driving a squatted vehicle as a Class B misdemeanor.
Arkansas is the most recent. Act 492 was signed on April 8, 2025, and is codified at § 27-35-214. It covers passenger cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and panel trucks, measures the front-to-rear bumper differential, and sets the violation threshold at four inches. The offense is strict liability, so intent is not a defense.6Arkansas State Legislature. Act 492 of the 2025 Regular Session
Alabama introduced House Bill 35 during its 2026 session. The bill would ban vehicles with a front fender raised four or more inches above the rear and would take effect October 1, 2026, if signed. It has cleared a House committee but has not been enacted. The proposal includes an exemption for modifications made for commercial or agricultural purposes.
How the Four-Inch Rule Is Measured
Most state laws use fender height. You measure vertically from the ground, through the center of the wheel, up to the bottom of the fender, then repeat at the other axle. If the front is four or more inches taller than the rear, the truck is squatted.1North Carolina General Assembly. House Bill 692 – Prohibiting Certain Modifications to Passenger Vehicles
Virginia and Arkansas measure from the bumpers instead. The four-inch differential still governs, but the reference points sit lower on the vehicle, so a truck that is borderline under a fender measurement can read differently under a bumper measurement. If you drive through multiple states, check both.2Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-1063 – Alteration of Suspension System; Bumper Height Limits
South Carolina has an older, separate rule that bans raising or lowering an entire vehicle more than six inches from stock height, but pickup trucks are exempt from that particular limit.7South Carolina Legislature. 2023-2024 Bill 363 – Carolina Squat
What the Penalties Look Like
Every state that bans the modification uses an escalating structure. Fines rise with each offense, and a third conviction typically costs you your license.
- South Carolina: $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, $300 plus a 12-month license suspension for a third or subsequent offense.7South Carolina Legislature. 2023-2024 Bill 363 – Carolina Squat
- Mississippi: $100, then $200, then $300 with a 12-month license suspension. Only offenses within five years of each other count.4Mississippi Legislature. SB2250 – As Passed the Senate – 2024 Regular Session
- Arkansas: $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second or subsequent offense within 12 months, and a 12-month license suspension on a third offense within 12 months.6Arkansas State Legislature. Act 492 of the 2025 Regular Session
- North Carolina: The statute does not specify fine amounts for the first two offenses, but a third conviction within 12 months triggers a mandatory license revocation of at least one year.1North Carolina General Assembly. House Bill 692 – Prohibiting Certain Modifications to Passenger Vehicles
- Tennessee: Driving a squatted vehicle is a Class B misdemeanor.5Justia. Tennessee Code 55-9-215 – Operation of Motor Vehicle Without Adequate Energy Absorption System Prohibited
The license consequence is the piece drivers most often miss. Two convictions with modest fines can feel like ordinary traffic tickets, and then the third stop takes the license for a year. Court costs and administrative fees add to the totals in most jurisdictions.
Insurance Risk Even Outside Ban States
Illegal or undisclosed modifications create claim problems regardless of where you live. Insurers routinely evaluate whether aftermarket changes violated policy terms or worsened a loss before paying out. If a squatted truck is involved in a crash, the carrier may deny coverage entirely, particularly when the modification was illegal in that state or was never disclosed at underwriting.
The exposure runs in both directions. If someone hits your squatted truck, their insurer may argue the modification contributed to the crash by, for example, blinding the other driver with misaligned headlights or reducing your own forward visibility. That argument does not guarantee a denial, but it gives the insurer leverage to dispute fault or reduce a payout. Disclosing the modification to your own carrier in advance will not eliminate the risk, but it removes non-disclosure as a basis for denial.
How to Tell If Your Truck Is Legal
Park on a flat, level surface. In fender-measurement states, run a tape measure vertically from the ground through the center of each wheel up to the bottom of the fender. Take the reading at the front axle and the rear axle. If the front exceeds the rear by four inches or more, the truck would fail in any state with a squat ban.3South Carolina Department of Public Safety. “Carolina Squat” Law
In Virginia and Arkansas, measure from the ground to the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar at each end. Virginia also enforces absolute bumper ranges, so a truck that passes the four-inch differential test can still violate the height caps of 14 to 22 inches for passenger cars or the weight-class limits for trucks.2Virginia Code Commission. Virginia Code 46.2-1063 – Alteration of Suspension System; Bumper Height Limits
If your numbers put you close to the limit, or if you plan to drive through several states, the cleanest fix is to level the truck by raising the rear or lowering the front. Adjustable coilovers and airbag kits make the change reversible, so a street-legal stance on public roads and a squatted stance at off-road events or shows can coexist on the same vehicle.