Kansas Truck Mud Flap Law
Kansas has no mud-flap rule for ordinary trucks and trailers. Flaps are only mandated on special vehicle combinations, the triple-trailer rigs, which must run anti-spray flaps behind every axle but the steer axle (K.A.R. 36-1-31). For everyone else the Highway Patrol enforces general equipment safety, not a clearance number. A missing flap isn't out-of-service, and CVSA's 2025 note says rubber grazing a tire isn't either. Run flaps anyway; cross into Minnesota's 9-inch rule (Minn. Stat. 169.733) and their number governs.
A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm with the state statute before you rely on it.
What Kansas makes you run
Kansas has no mud-flap rule for ordinary trucks and trailers. Flaps are only mandated on special vehicle combinations, the triple-trailer rigs, which must run anti-spray flaps behind every axle but the steer axle (K.A.R. 36-1-31). For everyone else the Highway Patrol enforces general equipment safety, not a clearance number. A missing flap isn't out-of-service, and CVSA's 2025 note says rubber grazing a tire isn't either. Run flaps anyway; cross into Minnesota's 9-inch rule (Minn. Stat. 169.733) and their number governs.
Coverage and clearance
- Required: No specific statute
- Coverage: No general width rule. For special vehicle combinations the flap surface must absorb and deflect moisture to the road; no full-tread figure is stated for regular trucks.
- Ground clearance: No set clearance for regular trucks. Kansas sets no mud-flap dimensions for ordinary trucks and trailers. Only special vehicle combinations (triple-trailer rigs) must run anti-spray flaps behind each axle except the steering axle (K.A.R. 36-1-31).
- Fine: No dedicated mud-flap fine for regular trucks; a general equipment defect if a bare tire is hazardous. Special-combination anti-spray violations are enforced by the Highway Patrol as an equipment/permit compliance issue.
Kansas Mud Flap FAQ
Are mud flaps required on trucks in Kansas?
How low can mud flaps hang in Kansas?
What is the mud-flap fine in Kansas?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://kansashighwaypatrol.gov/faq-items/are-mudflaps-required-in-kansas/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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