Massachusetts Lift Laws

For those of you having problems in MASS with inspections, it would help if the inspectors read the full extent of the RMV Inspection standards. I randomly was awake tonight, so I did some digging for you.

The RMV Inspection standards state that you can have up to 35% light transmission window tint on the Windows immediately adjacent to the driver and passenger. Although it doesn't say this, specifically; it states that it must comply with 49 CFR 571.205 with regards to transparency. 35% Combined Light Transmission is within that.

Regarding ride height. Yes, the RMV standards do state you cannot alter ride height any more than 2" +/-. HOWEVER, there is a separate clause for 4 wheel drive trucks. It says that 4x4 trucks must comply with 540 CMR 6.00. What is this you ask? Well it's a formula, which goes as follows:

(Vehicle Wheel Base x Vehicle Track Width) / 2200 = Maximum Mechanical Lift

Track width is measured on the widest axle, from center of tread.

Example:

2013 DCLB

If I have a wheel base of 140.6" and a track width of 63".
(140.6x63) /2200= Lift
8857.8/2200=4.026"

So according to this, a 2013 DCLB can have a maximum mechanical lift height of 4".

This does not take into account that you can also widen your track width by up to 4" (2" each side) through the use of offset wheels, as per 540 CMR 6.00. If you take that into account, you can have a total mechanical lift of 4.28" which we will call 4 1/4" on a 2013 DCLB.

A 2013 ACLB with a WB of 127.4, with offset wheels, can have a maximum mechanical lift of 3.65".

In addition, you are only permitted to plus size your tires the equivalent of the maximum mechanical lift. So, if you are allowed 4" of mechanical lift, you can upgrade your tires from 31" to 35", as an example.

This would mean that a truck that is allowed 4" of mechanical lift, is allowed up to an additional 2" of lift from tires; for a total of 6". This is known as combined height. Remember, the additional 2" can ONLY be from tires. So 6" lift kits are a no go.

The combined height measurement is taken from the ground to the bottom of the door, lowest portion where it meets the body OR where it reasonably would be for vehicles lacking doors (jeeps). You cannot exceed those measurements over stock height.

540 CMR 6.00 alsp stipulates that on order to be deemed non-compliant, your vehicle would have to exceed the limit by over 1". So, if you just happen to measure at 6.5" in the combined lift height above, your vehicle still passes; according to the law.

Know the ENTIRE regulation before going for an inspection. Most techs, though knowledgeable, fail to comprehend the law in its entirety. They then, err on the side of "I'm not fucking sure, so It's illegal".

Hope this is somewhat helpful to someone.

 

Nice work!

 

Fun read. Glad we don't have inspections.

 

This in no way affects me, but major kuddos to you for digging into this! Great job!

.....now I'm wondering if Oregon has any similar lift laws....

 

This will be printed off, and kept in my glovebox! thanks for the info!

 

That's a good idea, i should do the same or print the page form the laws

 

here is a link for those interested
https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/10/19/540cmr6.pdf

 

Great work! I had come up with similar numbers for my 2010 ACLB, so I think I should be alright! Time to move up to a 3" lift kit...

 

Got anything on exhaust decibel levels? Kept getting hassled over that. All i was told at inspection stations was its too performance sounding.....

 

From a search and some reading. There is no decibel limit.......just simply now allowed to modify it??? Which makes zero sense because v8 mustangs, chargers, camaros, some trucks, all have a decently loud exhaust from factory.......soo why can't it be modified.

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter90/Section16

 

A stock v8 tundra was louder than my v6 with an exhaust..... moving to nh as soon as possible

 

Completely understand. I had an 03 Altima 2.5 with a dual tip axle back that shot the packing material out.....I loved how it sounded, inspection not so much lol

 

This is great info, now I can only imagine the headache trying to explain this to the inspector

 

Heard that motor, thing gets surprisingly loud! We just had a supercharged taco come through with a trd exhaust and CAI and i will be damned that thing was fucking loud, and thats OEM equipment!

 

Shouldn't require explaining, it's written in black in white within the standard that their license requires them to follow. Their job is to apply the regulation as written, not make their own.

 

Can anyone confirm whether or not this has helped them in an inspection?

 

Im looking to add 33 inch tires on my 2018 ram 1500 and a 2 inch leveling kit to the front but I’m not 100% sure if that will pass in mass. I want to add some height to the truck but obviously it needs to be legal. Can anyone help me out with ideas or if that is even possible.

 

Go to the first post on this thread. You can do a calculation. Based on a ram being larger than a tacoma you should be more than fine with that

 

Yeah my biggest thing is that I’m going from 20inch tires to 33 inch tires which is a big jump

 

That 20" is the wheel size not the tire size.

On the tire it should say something like 275 60 20 or whatever. There are calculators online to see the real tire size in inches