Is it illegal to drive without a bumper on a car in California? if so why?

Answer 1

I wouldn't try it.

Answer 2

Passenger Vehicle Bumper Requirements
28071. Every passenger vehicle registered in this state shall be equipped with a front bumper and with a rear bumper. As used in this section, "bumper" means any device designed and intended by a manufacturer to prevent the front or rear of the body of the vehicle from coming into contact with any other motor vehicle. This section shall not apply to any passenger vehicle that is required to be equipped with an energy absorption system pursuant to either state or federal law, or to any passenger vehicle which was not equipped with a front or rear bumper, or both, at the time that it was first sold and registered under the laws of this or any other state or foreign jurisdiction.

Amended Ch. 451, Stats. 1973. Effective January 1, 1974.

Answer 3

yup... if the car came with bumpers when it was new it must have them now. (Exceptions are made for old antiques).

Its a mixture of state law (Cal. Vehicle Code) and the requirement for all cars to have bumpers that can withstand a 5 mph crash - federal).

BUT.. you don't have to have factory bumpers.

I had a VW bus that was such a pain to remove the bumper when I pulled the engine that I left it off (and got a ticket). It was and still is perfectly acceptable when I simply bolted on a 50 llb. block of 8" iron channel bar. (One hell of a bumper).

Nerf bars also work.. (t bars to some).

soooo.. its an easy fixit... and a smart idea anyway unless you like your hood or rear being bashed in by granny at the safeway parking lot.

.

Answer 4

If you are an American, it is. If you are an illegal Mexican alien, nothing is illegal for you in California. The laws are written for your benefit...