Jeep Door Laws By State

Everyone has taken off the doors to their Jeep Wranglers, right? The way Jeep has made the Wrangler so easy to convert into a dune buggy is one of the reasons why people buy them. This isn’t typically an issue in the USA but once you are driving down the road it quickly hits you that you don’t have any side mirrors and can only see through your rear-view mirror. Not a problem for most people but it could be an issue with some law enforcement in some states. It isn’t taking off the doors that are the issue it’s the fact that the side mirrors have to go with them. For most states, there are no laws against taking off your doors.

Provided below is a list of the states and their respective code regarding rearview mirrors.

Jeep Door Laws by State

Table of Contents

The states that require one mirror to be attached to the vehicle:

• Alabama,
• Arkansas(one none obstructed)
• Colorado (unless you have obstructions to the review windows or towing any load or cargo)
• Connecticut, Delaware, Florida(unless rear view is obstructed)
• Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa
• Idaho(unless view is obstructed)
• Illinois (unless the rear view is obstructed)
• Maryland, Massachusetts
• Michigan(depending on size)
• Minnesota (unless the rear view is obstructed)
• Montana
• Nevada(depending size)
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin

States That Require Two Mirrors:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana (no obstructed views)
• Missouri(inside and drivers side)
• New Jersey(inside and drivers side mirror +1 if rear view is obstructed)
• New York(interior and drivers side)
• North Carolina(inside and drivers side)
• Oklahoma
• Virginia(if rear is blocked then side mirror is required)
• Washington
• Wyoming

States That Require Three Mirrors:

States That Do Not Make Mention Of A Rear-View Mirror Requirement (This Does Not Mean They Are Not Required In Certain Cases):

• Indiana( unless rear view is obstructed)
• Maine (Unless rear view is obstructed)
• Mississippi(unless rear view is obstructed)
• New Hampshire (unless rear view is obstructed)
• Nebraska(if rear view is obstructed then two are required on both sides)
• Vermont (unless towing)
• West Virginia(unless obstructed)

Understand that this does not constitute as legal advice. Any legal advice should come from a lawyer or someone else recognized by your state to provide up-to-date information. Laws can change as well so it is recommended to review your state’s codes and statutes.

See this link for a quick resource for all the states. Law.justia.com

Options For Side Mirror Replacements For Your Jeep

If you are in one of the states that require side mirrors, then there are two options to choose from. The first is the side mirrors that install into the door hinges or a mirror that attaches to tube doors if you decide to put something in between you and the trail. There may be some more options, but these are the most popular.

The option to attach to the door hinges is typically a quick installation process and you are on the road. Just understand that these are not a like-for-like replacement of your door mirrors as Jeep created those specifically for your vehicle according to their specifications. Practice with them and adjust them prior to heading out on public roads.

Conclusion

Rip your doors off and start enjoying the freedom since there are no laws for your Jeep Doors! Whether you are on the trail or not it makes driving around so much more exciting.

Even if your state doesn’t require mirrors they are recommended as they do aid in being able to see the entire road behind you. If you really don’t like them then once you get to the trail you can take them off! Be safe!