Vermont Truck Mud Flap Law
Vermont requires suitable metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels of any bus, truck, trailer or semitrailer (23 V.S.A. 1306). The statute delegates type and size to the DMV rather than naming an inch number, so no fixed clearance is written in law. Farm tractors and pole trailers are exempt. At a roadside stop an officer checks the flap is present, covers the wheels, and isn't torn. It's a correctable equipment violation.
What Vermont makes you run
Vermont requires suitable metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels of any bus, truck, trailer or semitrailer (23 V.S.A. 1306). The statute delegates type and size to the DMV rather than naming an inch number, so no fixed clearance is written in law. Farm tractors and pole trailers are exempt. At a roadside stop an officer checks the flap is present, covers the wheels, and isn't torn. It's a correctable equipment violation.
Coverage and clearance
- Required: Yes
- Coverage: Metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rearmost wheels, of a type and size specified by the DMV; no explicit width number in statute.
- Ground clearance: No set clearance in statute. Type and size are set by the DMV (23 V.S.A. 1306); no inch figure appears in the law itself.
- Fine: Equipment violation; a fine, generally correctable.
Vermont Mud Flap FAQ
Are mud flaps required on trucks in Vermont?
How low can mud flaps hang in Vermont?
What is the mud-flap fine in Vermont?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/013/01306. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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