are mud flaps required on dually trucks? If you own a dually truck, you might be wondering about this. The answer isn’t simple. It depends on where you live and drive.
Some states say you must have mud flaps. Others don’t care. It’s important to know the rules for your state.
Mud flaps aren’t just for looks. They have a job to do. They stop water, mud, and rocks from flying off your big tires.
This keeps other drivers safe. It also protects their cars from damage.
Are Mud Flaps Required On Dually Trucks?
In this guide, we’ll look at mud flap laws across the United States. We’ll see which states require them and which don’t.
We’ll also learn why they’re important and what kind you might need.
If you drive a dually truck, this info is for you. It’ll help you stay on the right side of the law. It’ll also help you keep other drivers safe.
So let’s dive in and learn all about mud flap requirements for dually trucks.
Why Are Mud Flaps Required On Dually Trucks?
Mud flaps aren’t just extras on dually trucks. They serve important purposes:
- Safety: Mud flaps stop water, mud, and rocks from flying off the big back tires. This keeps other drivers safe.
- Visibility: Without mud flaps, stuff from the road can hit other cars’ windshields. This makes it hard for those drivers to see.
- Damage Prevention: Rocks and debris can chip paint or crack windshields. Mud flaps help prevent this kind of damage to other vehicles.
- Legal Compliance: Many states require mud flaps on big trucks. Having them helps you follow the law.
Dually trucks have wider rear ends and bigger tires. This means they can throw up more road debris. That’s why mud flaps are extra important on these trucks.
States Without Mud Flap Requirements
Not all states require mud flaps on dually trucks. Here’s a list of states that don’t have specific mud flap laws:
- District of Columbia
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
Even if your state is on this list, it’s still a good idea to use mud flaps. They help keep everyone safe on the road.
Mud Flap Laws By State
Let’s look at the mudflap laws for each state. Remember, laws can change. It’s always best to check with your local DMV for the most up-to-date info.
Alabama
In Alabama, buses, trucks, and semi-trailers must have mud flaps. These should cover the rear wheels. They need to stop gravel, stones, and other stuff from hitting the windshields of cars behind them.
Alaska
Alaska law says all motor vehicles need devices to reduce wheel spray. These must extend down to 14 inches from the ground when the vehicle is empty.
Arizona
Arizona requires rear fender splash guards on trucks, trailers, and buses. These must:
- Stop mud or water from splashing on other cars’ windshields
- Extend to within 8 inches of the ground
- Be wide enough to cover the full tire tread
- Be close to the tire to control the side spray
- Be flexible but strong
- Stay parallel to the tire even when the vehicle moves
Arkansas
In Arkansas, vehicles over 10,000 pounds need mud flaps. These must:
- Be right behind the rear wheels
- Hang straight down
- Be at right angles to the vehicle’s body
- Be parallel with the rear axle
- Be big and strong enough to stop the spray from hitting the windshields of cars behind
California
California requires fenders, covers, or devices (including flaps) on all motor vehicles with three or more wheels. These must:
- Minimize spray to the rear of the vehicle
- Be at least as wide as the tire tread
Colorado
Colorado law says splash guards must:
- Be wide enough to cover the full tire tread
- Hang straight down from the vehicle
- Be no more than 10 inches above the road when the vehicle is empty
- Stay straight down under normal driving conditions
Connecticut
In Connecticut, vehicles over three tons need metal protectors or flexible flaps behind the rear wheels. These must:
- Cover the wheels at the top and rear if not covered by the vehicle body
- Reduce dirt, water, or other materials hitting the windshields of following vehicles
Delaware
Delaware requires mud flaps on vehicles over 8,000 pounds. These must:
- Extend down to within 8 inches of the road surface
- Be at least as wide as the tire being protected
District Of Columbia
The District of Columbia doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Florida
In Florida, trucks over 26,000 pounds need fenders, covers, or splash suppressant devices on the rear wheels.
Georgia
Georgia requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on buses, trucks, trailers, and pole trailers. These must:
- Stop wheels from throwing dirt, gravel, rocks, or water on the windshields of following vehicles
- Have a ground clearance of no more than half the distance from the center of the rear axle to the center of the protector or flap
- Be at least as wide as the tires they cover
Hawaii
Hawaii requires fenders, covers, or devices (including flaps) on commercial motor vehicles. These must minimize spray to the rear of the vehicle.
Idaho
Idaho law says motor vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, or semitrailers need fenders or covers. These must:
- Extend in full width from above and forward of the center of the tires to the rear of the wheels
- Be no more than 10 inches above the road surface when the vehicle is empty
Indiana
Indiana doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Iowa
Iowa doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Kansas
In Kansas, only Special Vehicle Combinations (like truck tractors with triple trailers) need anti-spray devices. These must:
- Be attached to the rear of each axle except the steering axle
- Have a surface designed to absorb and deflect excess moisture to the road
Kentucky
Kentucky doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Louisiana
Louisiana requires fenders, covers, or devices (including flaps) on all motor vehicles except motorcycles. These must:
- Minimize spray of water or mud to the rear of the vehicle
- Be at least as wide as the vehicle’s tires
Maine
Maine requires splash guards on trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers. These must reduce the spray of mud, water, or slush from the rear wheels.
Maryland
Maryland requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on buses, trucks, trailers, and semitrailers. These must:
- Prevent the projection of rocks, dirt, water, or other substances to the rear
- Minimize side spray
- Have a ground clearance of not more than one-third of the distance from the bottom edge to the axle centerline
- Be at least as wide as the tire being protected
Massachusetts
Massachusetts requires guards to reduce spray or splash to the rear for all motor vehicles or trailers, except passenger vehicles.
Michigan
Michigan law says trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers must be built or equipped to prevent water or road surface substances from being thrown from rear wheels at angles over 22.5 degrees.
Minnesota
Minnesota requires wheel flaps on trucks, truck tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers. These must:
- Be at least as wide as the tires they protect
- Have a ground clearance of not more than 9 inches when the vehicle is empty
Mississippi
Mississippi requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on vehicles over 10 tons. These must:
- Prevent wheels from throwing dirt, water, and other materials on the windshields of following vehicles
- Have a ground clearance of not more than one-fifth of the distance from the center of the rear axle to the center of the flaps
- Be at least as wide as the tires they protect
Missouri
Missouri requires mud flaps on trucks, semitrailers, and trailers over 24,000 pounds. These must:
- Be wide enough to cover the full tread width of the tire
- Extend from the vehicle body to within 12 inches of the ground for dump trucks and 8 inches for other vehicles
- Be made of rigid or flexible material strong enough to provide protection
Montana
Montana requires fenders, splash aprons, or flaps on most vehicles. These must:
- Extend in full width from above and forward of the tire center to the rear of the tires
- Be no more than 10 inches above the road surface for vehicles over 8,000 pounds
- Be no more than 20 inches above the road surface for vehicles 8,000 pounds or less
Nebraska
Nebraska requires fenders, covers, or devices (including flaps) on new motor vehicles or semitrailers. These must minimize spray or splash of water or mud to the rear.
Nevada
Nevada requires mudguards on trucks, truck tractors, trailers, and semitrailers over 26,000 pounds. These must be suspended behind the rear wheels.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire requires suitable fender guards or flaps on vehicles not equipped with proper fenders. These must reduce throw, spray, or splash likely to be emitted from any wheel or tire.
New Jersey
New Jersey requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on buses, trucks, and trailers over three tons. These must prevent wheels from throwing dirt, water, or other materials on the windshields of the following vehicles.
New Mexico
New Mexico doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
New York
New York requires devices to bar water or road surface substances from being thrown by rear wheels on tractors, commercial motor vehicles, and combinations of these. These devices must minimize side spray.
North Carolina
North Carolina doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
North Dakota
North Dakota doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Ohio
Ohio requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on commercial cars, trailers, and semitrailers over three tons. These must:
- Prevent wheels from throwing dirt, water, or other materials on the windshields of following vehicles
- Have a ground clearance of not more than one-third of the distance from the center of the rear axle to the center of the flaps
- Be at least as wide as the tires they protect
Oklahoma
Oklahoma requires a rubber or fabric apron behind the rear wheels of all vehicles except animal-drawn ones. This apron must:
- Hang straight down from the vehicle’s body
- Be big enough to prevent the bulk of water or substances from being thrown from rear wheels at angles over 22.5 degrees
Oregon
Oregon requires fenders or mudguards on most vehicles. These must:
- Be at least as wide as the tire or the combined width of multiple tires
- Be able to arrest and deflect dirt, mud, water, or other substances picked up by wheels
- Extend downward to cover the wheels as specified by the type of fender or mudguard
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires fenders that provide at least as much tire coverage as original equipment. Wheels must be covered enough to prevent loose objects, rain, snow, etc. from being thrown about.
Rhode Island
Rhode Island requires fenders covering the front wheels of motor vehicles. Passenger motor vehicles with tires extending beyond fenders or bodies must have flaps or guards to reduce spray or splash.
South Carolina
South Carolina doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
South Dakota
South Dakota doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Tennessee
Tennessee requires rear fenders, mudflaps, or mudguards on motor vehicles over 3,000 pounds capacity. These must substantially prevent the projection of rocks, dirt, water, or other substances to the rear.
Texas
Texas requires safety guards or flaps on road tractors, trucks, trailers, truck tractors with semitrailers, and semitrailers with towing vehicles that have at least four tires or two super single tires on the rear axle. These must:
- Be of a type prescribed by the department
- Be located and suspended behind the rearmost wheels within 8 inches of the road surface
Utah
Utah requires wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons on certain vehicles. These must:
- Be at least as wide as the tires they protect
- Be directly in line with the tires
- Have a ground clearance of not more than 50% of the rear-axle wheel diameter
Vermont
Vermont requires metal protectors or flexible flaps on buses, trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers. These must prevent wheels from throwing dirt, water, or any other materials on the windshields of following or approaching vehicles.
Virginia
Virginia requires rear fenders, flaps, or guards on vehicles over 40,000 pounds. These must substantially prevent the projection of rocks, dirt, water, or other substances to the rear.
Washington
Washington requires fenders, covers, flaps, or splash aprons on most motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers. These must:
- Minimize spray or splash of water or mud from the roadway to the rear of the vehicle
- Be as wide as the tires behind which they’re mounted
- Extend downward at least to the center of the axle
West Virginia
West Virginia doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin requires fenders or mudguards on certain vehicles. For trucks and semitrailers in intercity movement, these must:
- Cover the tire or multiple tires they’re protecting
- Have a ground clearance of not more than one-third of the horizontal distance from the center of the rear axle to the fender or mudguard
- Be at least as wide as the tire or multiple tires they’re protecting
Wyoming
Wyoming doesn’t have specific mud flap laws.
FAQs:
- Q: What are mud flaps?
A: Mud flaps are panels hung behind a vehicle’s wheels. They stop water, mud, and debris from spraying up behind the vehicle.
- Q: Why are mud flaps important on dually trucks?
A: Dually trucks have wider rear ends and bigger tires. This means they can throw up more road debris. Mud flaps help protect other drivers and vehicles from this debris.
- Q: Do all states require mud flaps on dually trucks?
A: No, not all states require mud flaps. Some states have no laws about mud flaps. Others have very specific rules.
- Q: How low should mud flaps hang?
A: This varies by state. Many states say mud flaps should hang within 8-10 inches of the ground when the truck is empty.
- Q: Can I get a ticket for not having mud flaps?
A: Yes, in states where mud flaps are required by law. The fine amount varies by state.
- Q: Do I need mud flaps if my truck has fenders?
A: It depends on your state’s laws. Some states say fenders are enough if they cover the wheels well. Others require separate mud flaps.
- Q: Are there different types of mud flaps?
A: Yes, there are rigid and flexible mud flaps. Some states specify which type you need to use.
- Q: How wide should mud flaps be?
A: Most states require mud flaps to be at least as wide as the tires they’re protecting.
- Q: Do I need mud flaps on all wheels of my dually truck?
A: Most laws focus on the rear wheels, but it’s best to check your specific state’s requirements.
- Q: Can I make my mud flaps?
A: Some states allow homemade mud flaps as long as they meet size and material requirements. Always check your local laws first.
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Conclusion:
Mud flaps on dually trucks aren’t just about following the law. They’re about safety for everyone on the road.
While not every state requires them, mud flaps are a smart addition to any dually truck.
Remember, laws can change. It’s always best to check with your local DMV for the most up-to-date rules.
Even if your state doesn’t require mud flaps, consider adding them. They can protect other drivers and may even save you from costly repairs to your vehicle.
When choosing mud flaps, make sure they meet your state’s size and material requirements. They should be wide enough to cover your tires and hang low enough to catch most debris.
Driving a dually truck comes with extra responsibilities. By using mud flaps, you’re doing your part to keep the roads safe for everyone. It’s a small step that can make a big difference in road safety.
