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Vermont Exhaust & Muffler Laws (2026)
Info: Your vehicle needs a muffler with baffle plates, and gutted mufflers, cutouts (which route exhaust around the muffler), straight pipes, and noise-amplifying changes are prohibited.
Your vehicle needs a muffler with baffle plates, and gutted mufflers, cutouts (which route exhaust around the muffler), straight pipes, and noise-amplifying changes are prohibited. Vermont has no decibel limit on the books (23 V.S.A. § 1221).
Official source: legislature.vermont.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Exhaust & Muffler in states bordering Vermont
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MassachusettsInfo
Your vehicle needs a muffler in good working order that prevents excessive noise, and cutouts, bypasses (which route exhaust around the muffler), removed baffles, and noise-amplifying exhaust are banned. Massachusetts sets no fixed decibel limit (M.G.L. c.90 § 16).
Verified Jun 19, 2026 · Source: malegislature.gov · Full Massachusetts rule →
- New HampshireInfo
Your vehicle needs a muffler in good working order, and cutouts, bypasses (which route exhaust around the muffler), and straight-pipe exhaust are prohibited. New Hampshire sets no decibel limit for cars — the decibel limit in 266:59-a applies only to motorcycles (N.H. RSA § 266:59).
Verified Jun 19, 2026 · Source: gencourt.state.nh.us · Full New Hampshire rule →
- New YorkInfo
Your vehicle needs a muffler. Passenger cars up to 10,000 pounds are capped at 76 decibels at 35 mph or below, and 82 decibels above that, measured at 50 feet (N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 386).
Verified Jun 19, 2026 · Source: nysenate.gov · Full New York rule →
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