California Vehicle Code 27150. (a) requires all vehicles to be equipped with a silencer at all times. If you can keep your vehicle`s exhaust noise low enough, you may be able to avoid police attention. However, if you receive a ticket, you will need to install a muffler before your vehicle can comply with California emissions laws. 95 dbA is the legal limit for vehicle exhaust noise in California. Police can «exercise judgment» to determine if your exhaust noise is above the legal limit. Most factory-installed exhaust systems do not exceed 75 decibels, even in powerful sports cars. Catback exhaust systems are completely legal in the state of California because the modification starts after the catalytic converter and does not affect any of your vehicle`s emissions-reducing components. If the catback exhaust system you`re looking at is supposed to make loud or unusual noises, that`s another matter. Now that we know that cat-back exhaust systems aren`t among the 10 illegal car modifications in Los Angeles, you`re probably wondering what costs are incurred in general.
Most valid cat-back exhaust systems, which are also road legal, are quite expensive. On average, you can expect to pay around $1,000, often before labor costs are included. Most of you probably remember the scene in American Graffiti where John Milner pauses on the main street to stop and remove the «headplugs» from his iconic Deuce coupe. Milner was referring to a Y-flange welded to his exhaust with a cap on one side and a complete exhaust on the other. Once the caps were removed, it was essentially like open heads – with them, the exhaust was passed through the mufflers to keep things quieter. It seems that little has changed since that time – we are still harassed by humans. Fortunately, this has become much easier than manually removing the exhaust caps. Of course, this is a viable option for more frugal amateurs – like Hedman Performance`s, pictured above (right). But with the advent of the electrical cavity, like Hooker`s above (left), it has become so easy to flip a switch to open or close your exhaust system and drastically change your car`s exhaust note. 27150.
(a) Every motor vehicle subject to registration shall at all times be equipped with an appropriate silencer, permanently operating and properly maintained to prevent excessive or abnormal noise, and the silencer or exhaust system shall not be equipped with a stop, bypass or similar device. The third thing you can do is try to repeal this law. You can do this by signing a petition to cancel AB:1824. The petition is available on Change.org. The website states that the petition reads as follows: «For the repeal of section 4 of AB-1824. Section 4 targets California car owners and creates a problem for citing and punishing law-abiding citizens, including the waste of law enforcement resources and time. This law has no effect on California emissions and does not clearly describe what a modified and excessively noisy exhaust or muffler system is. AB 1824 allows law enforcement agencies to impose immediate fines for emissions violations. Before 2019, police officers issued so-called «Fix it» tickets, which allow you to repair your vehicle`s exhaust system within 30 days, provide evidence and avoid paying fines.
Since 2019, fines are mandatory and can reach $1,000. Below are some frequently asked questions about California`s exhaust noise laws! AC doesn`t check for exhaust noise unless you get a ticket for a noise violation, so you can simply go to a status reference and prove that your car exceeds the noise limit, so a ventilated exhaust should be fine. In principle, this is a matter for the official and is decided on a case-by-case basis. Police officers are unlikely to carry a decibel counter in their squad car, so it makes sense that most of them would simply target modified cars. So if you`ve burned angled mufflers or a fender exhaust and your car is part of the Cacklefest on the main road, watch out for the guys in blue. California law requires that all vehicles be equipped with an appropriate muffler to avoid excessive exhaust system noise. It also prohibits the operation of a passenger vehicle (other than a motorcycle) or a truck with a gross laden weight (GVWR) of less than 6,000 pounds and an exhaust noise level greater than 95 decibels when tested under certain conditions. «Well, this part is not new – AB 1824 is more of a revision than a new law. This cat-back exhaust system costs $1,379.99 if you purchased it from CJ Pony Parts. On the other hand, if you buy a MagnaFlow Street Series Cat-Back Performance exhaust system directly from MagnaFlow, you can expect to pay around $850 without labor. This cat-back exhaust system is suitable for Ford F-150s and is actually quite easy to install yourself, which can save you money! It`s also worth taking a look at the payment plans.
Many manufacturers offer one that can make a cat-back exhaust system an option for you, even if you can`t buy one directly. If you avoided changing an exhaust system that you knew was illegal by playing repair tickets, you`ll have a much harder time doing it now. Even worse, some people are forced to go to the bar because an overzealous cop wanted to fill their quota. However, the lives of the majority of enthusiasts won`t change as a result of this law, but you might want to disconnect from the go pedal and rib of every police officer you see, just in case. I have a rear axle that is relatively quiet, but I`ve never had HPC or the police tweeted me to stop. In summary, all cars and other motor vehicles in California must be equipped with a muffler, and not all exhaust modifications must be designed to increase exhaust noise above 95 dbA. Complete California exhaust noise laws can be found in California Vehicle Code § 27150 – 27159 – Exhaust Systems. Below, we`ve highlighted two of the most important sections.
95 decibels. It may not seem like much, but it`s really strong. A jackhammer produces 100 dB, so if your car is quieter, everything should be fine. Most cars, even with a spare exhaust, are probably quieter than that. Note: You are responsible for inspection fees and necessary repairs, and you may also have to pay other fines or legal fees if you go to court. Keep in mind that most quotes have a deadline – quick repairs or changes can help you avoid additional penalties. If you have further questions, call the Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) at (800) 952-5210. Assembly Bill 1824 came into force in January 2019. This new legislation does not make California`s exhaust noise laws stricter. Instead, the bill only requires police officers to issue immediate tickets to offenders. There are also additional regulations, so we recommend checking out the California Vehicle Code for important sections related to exhaust noise levels. For example, section 2115.3 prohibits the installation of whistleblowers or similar devices that emit a high-pitched or shrill noise while the vehicle is in motion.
Of course, you can get advice from your local muffler store to make your decision. In fact, you can have the catalytic converter rear exhaust system installed that you bought elsewhere if you don`t want to install it yourself or just don`t want to be bothered by it. In addition, certain vehicles may benefit from special exemptions from these laws when participating in organized races or competitions (27150.c). In addition, the sound level of motorcycle exhaust is dependent on the year of manufacture, with motorcycles manufactured before 1970 having up to 92 dbA and up to 80 dbA after 1985 (full table linked to section 27202 of section 2.5 below). The amendment went into effect earlier this year, but there`s still a lot of confusion about recent changes to California`s exhaust noise law. Car enthusiasts in California wonder if the changes they made a few months ago (like last year) could cost them insane fines, while those in other states rejoice in the freedom they still enjoy. Although it sounds so bad, what about the law that has actually changed? What changes in exhaust gases are now illegal? We explain everything to you so that you understand exactly what the law says and what options you have if a police officer stops you. There are financial costs, even if your vehicle is compliant. It is best to avoid a ticket altogether.
If the arbitration center determines that your vehicle`s exhaust noise is not above the legal limit, the court may reject your quote. The best thing you can do to be absolutely sure that you are complying with the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resource Board (also known as CARB) is to look up the executive order number (also known as the EO number). The only parts that have an EO number are parts that are acceptable under CARB and California Environmental Protection Agency regulations. If you`re wondering what California`s new driving laws are for 2021 and whether they affect whether you should get a cat-back exhaust system, the answer is no.