Are lifted pickup trucks illegal in Maine? | Fact brief

Lifted pickup trucks are not illegal in Maine, but they must meet strict requirements to be street legal.

Maine law sets the maximum allowable length, height and width of vehicles. Frame height restrictions are based on the manufacturer’s gross vehicle weight rating for each model.

For example, the frame end of a vehicle weighing 4,500 pounds or less must not exceed 24 inches in the front and 26 inches in the rear. Inspectors measure from the frame’s lowest point to the ground at both ends.

Suspension and body lifts are allowed if they’re aftermarket kits designed for that make and model and installed exactly as the manufacturer recommends.

An illegally lifted truck should fail a state inspection, and driving a vehicle that doesn’t meet standards is typically a traffic infraction. Extreme violations can be charged as a Class E crime, punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or 30 days in jail.