{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/46.2-1049.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/46.2-1049.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/46.2-1049.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/46.2-1049.html"}],"law_id":364641,"edition_id":2,"section_id":364641,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1049","catch_line":"Exhaust system in good working order","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-305; 1952, c. 455; 1956, c. 651; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-301; 1960, c. 120; 1970, c. 266; 1972, c. 66; 1989, c. 727; 2006, cc. 529, 538; 2012, c. 177; 2015, cc. 77, 165; 2018, c. 655; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 45, 51; 2022, c. 490.","full_text":"No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment or other equipment that has been submitted to and approved by the Superintendent or meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, or the federal Department of Transportation.\n\nAs used in this section, “exhaust system” means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.\n\nChambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any antique motor vehicle licensed pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-730, provided that the engine is comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and the exhaust system is in good working order, or (ii) converted electric vehicles.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1358546,"text":"No person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles, such exhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard factory equipment or other equipment that has been submitted to and approved by the Superintendent or meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, or the federal Department of Transportation.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1358547,"text":"As used in this section, “exhaust system” means all the parts of a vehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1358548,"text":"Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1358549,"text":"The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any antique motor vehicle licensed pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-730, provided that the engine is comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and the exhaust system is in good working order, or (ii) converted electric vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52057,"edition_id":2,"name":"Exhaust System","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52052,"metadata":{"child_laws":5,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:35","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:11","permalink":{"id":1456595,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52057,"identifier":"5","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/5\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52052,"edition_id":2,"name":"Motor Vehicle and Equipment Safety","identifier":"10","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":52051,"metadata":{"child_laws":265,"child_structures":23},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:11","permalink":{"id":1455601,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52052,"identifier":"10","token":"46.2\/III\/10","url":"\/46.2\/III\/10\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52051,"edition_id":2,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52048,"metadata":{"child_laws":589,"child_structures":55},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:07","permalink":{"id":1455599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52051,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52048,"edition_id":2,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":101,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1830,"child_structures":157},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:02","permalink":{"id":1452291,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52048,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":364639,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1047","catch_line":"Muffler cutout, etc., illegal","url":"\/46.2-1047\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1047","metadata":false},{"id":364640,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1048","catch_line":"Pollution control systems or devices","url":"\/46.2-1048\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1048","metadata":false},{"id":364641,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1049","catch_line":"Exhaust system in good working order","url":"\/46.2-1049\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1049","metadata":false},{"id":364645,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1050","catch_line":"Mufflers on motorcycles","url":"\/46.2-1050\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1050","metadata":false},{"id":364646,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1051","catch_line":"Local ordinances; vehicle exhaust","url":"\/46.2-1051\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1051","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":364640,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1048","catch_line":"Pollution control systems or devices","url":"\/46.2-1048\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1048","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":364645,"structure_id":52057,"section_number":"46.2-1050","catch_line":"Mufflers on motorcycles","url":"\/46.2-1050\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1050","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1049\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 12 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1952, chapter 455; in 1956, chapter 651; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapter 120; in 1970, chapter 266; in 1972, chapter 66; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2006, chapters 529<\/a> and 538<\/a>; in 2012, chapter 177<\/a>; in 2015, chapters 77<\/a> and 165<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 655<\/a>; in 2022, chapter 490<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":364646,"section_number":"46.2-1051","catch_line":"Local ordinances; vehicle exhaust","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1051\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":365978,"section_number":"46.2-730","catch_line":"License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers; fee","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-730\/"}],"permalink":{"id":1456605,"object_type":"law","relational_id":364641,"identifier":"46.2-1049","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1049","url":"\/46.2-1049\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1049\/","token":"46.2\/III\/10\/5\/46.2-1049","dublin_core":{"Title":"Exhaust system in good working order","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1049","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

No person shall drive and no owner<\/span> of a vehicle<\/span> shall permit or allow the operation of any such vehicle<\/span> on a highway<\/span> unless it is equipped with an exhaust system<\/span> in good working order<\/span> and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles<\/span>, such exhaust system<\/span> shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or comparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle<\/span> as standard factory equipment or other equipment that has been submitted to and approved by the Superintendent<\/span> or meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, or the federal Department<\/span> of Transportation.<\/p>

As used in this section, “exhaust system<\/span>” means all the parts of a vehicle<\/span> through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block, including mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.<\/p>

Chambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and any vehicle<\/span> equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in violation of this section.<\/p>

The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any antique motor vehicle<\/span> licensed pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-730<\/a>, provided that the engine is comparable to that designed as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and the exhaust system<\/span> is in good working order<\/span>, or (ii) converted electric vehicles<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXHAUST SYSTEM IN GOOD WORKING ORDER (\u00a7 46.2-1049)\n\nNo person shall drive and no owner of a vehicle shall permit or allow the\noperation of any such vehicle on a highway unless it is equipped with an exhaust\nsystem in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or\nunusual levels of noise, provided, however, that for motor vehicles, such\nexhaust system shall be of a type installed as standard factory equipment, or\ncomparable to that designed for use on the particular vehicle as standard\nfactory equipment or other equipment that has been submitted to and approved by\nthe Superintendent or meets or exceeds the standards and specifications of the\nSociety of Automotive Engineers, the American National Standards Institute, or\nthe federal Department of Transportation.\n\nAs used in this section, “exhaust system” means all the parts of a\nvehicle through which the exhaust passes after leaving the engine block,\nincluding mufflers and other sound dissipative devices.\n\nChambered pipes are not an effective muffling device to prevent excessive or\nunusual noise, and any vehicle equipped with chambered pipes shall be deemed in\nviolation of this section.\n\nThe provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) any antique motor vehicle\nlicensed pursuant to \u00a7 46.2-730, provided that the engine is comparable to that\ndesigned as standard factory equipment for use on that particular vehicle, and\nthe exhaust system is in good working order, or (ii) converted electric\nvehicles.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-305; 1952, c. 455; 1956, c. 651; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7\n46.1-301; 1960, c. 120; 1970, c. 266; 1972, c. 66; 1989, c. 727; 2006, cc. 529,\n538; 2012, c. 177; 2015, cc. 77, 165; 2018, c. 655; 2020, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 45,\n51; 2022, c. 490.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}