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Is a muffler delete illegal? Can I get ticketed for it?

I was talking with some friends in a muscle car club. They were saying I should do a “muffler delete” on my classic Camaro. Do they mean getting rid of the muffler? Is a muffler delete illegal?

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Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Hey, first off, nice ride! And yes, your friends are basically suggesting you should remove the muffler completely. It would make your car louder, and some say it sounds better. But make no mistake, a muffler delete is illegal in all 50 states, without exceptions.
Each state handles muffler laws in their own ways, but every state requires motor vehicles must have a muffler. There’s no getting around it. And police can and will pull you over and ticket you for not having one (or, more specifically, for your car’s exhaust being too loud).
If you really want to improve your engine note without breaking the law, you could look into your state’s laws and consider getting an aftermarket muffler designed for performance. But be careful and read your state’s laws carefully to make sure the new muffler won’t result in you getting pulled over.
Getting ticketed can make your
car insurance
rates increase, especially if your state considers these noise ordinance violations to be moving violations. So not only does this cost you in terms of getting a ticket (which also adds points to your license), it can have long-term costs, too.
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