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Tennessee Exhaust & Muffler Laws (2026)

Info: Your vehicle needs a muffler in good working order, running at all times.

Your vehicle needs a muffler in good working order, running at all times. A muffler that produces excessive or unusual noise or annoying smoke is treated as not in good working order, and cutouts (which route exhaust around the muffler) are prohibited. "Excessive or unusual noise" includes engine noise from a non-motorcycle that's noticeably louder than similar vehicles and over 95 decibels; it's a defense to show the muffler doesn't exceed 95 decibels under SAE measurement standards. Farm tractors and implements of husbandry are exempt (Tenn. Code 55-9-202, as amended by Public Chapter 164, effective July 1, 2023).

Official source: publications.tnsosfiles.com →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.