# can i drive a car with no fender in CA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176 "2014-01-31T01:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dman53](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Dman53](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dman53)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/1 "2014-01-31T01:59:42Z")
my 74 buick is missing one fender. all the lights work. but its missing a fender and the bumper is and hood are a bit bent. you can not see the engine or anything. will i get pulled over? ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/2 "2014-01-31T02:47:58Z")
I saw an Ariel Atom parked in Palo Alto last week. The absence of a fender in and of itself does not make a car not streel legal. And aquaintence in high school didn’t have a hood on his station wagon. As long as no other parts are flying off, you’re probably OK. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/3 "2014-01-31T08:17:46Z")
Which fender? A police officer who is bored or a “stickler” for safety might pull you over. But if there are no other issues with the car, the majority of the time, no one is going to care. Here’s a link to the applicable laws for california: [http://weblinks.westlaw.com/toc/default.aspx?Abbr=CA%2DADC%2DWEB&Action=ExpandTree&AP=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&ItemKey=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&RP=%2Ftoc%2Fdefault%2Ewl&Service=TOC&RS=WEBL14.01&VR=2.0&SPa=CCR-1000&pbc=DA010192&fragment#I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE](http://weblinks.westlaw.com/toc/default.aspx?Abbr=CA%2DADC%2DWEB&Action=ExpandTree&AP=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&ItemKey=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&RP=%2Ftoc%2Fdefault%2Ewl&Service=TOC&RS=WEBL14.01&VR=2.0&SPa=CCR-1000&pbc=DA010192&fragment#I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE) There doesn’t seem to be anything there. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 9:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/4 "2014-01-31T09:55:32Z")
While driving such a car is probably not illegal, it could get you a lot of extra scrutiny from the police. You might get pulled over for small infractions like failing to signal when changing lanes. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/5 "2014-01-31T12:09:14Z")
Drove a VW Beetle for a few days without a rear fender, It was falling off so I pulled it for preventative reasons. Light was reattached and working. Ticket was for “Unfit for the Road” if I remember correctly. I am sure there are other catch all ways for you to get a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/6 "2014-01-31T13:28:02Z")
Can’t have anything on the road that the local plods might find aesthetically displeasing. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/7 "2014-01-31T13:49:51Z")
Wouldn’t fenders be considered part of the crumple zone for crash protection? I assume there would be, or could be, safety implications. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/8 "2014-01-31T17:55:49Z")
This question comes up in hot rod circles as no fenders on the front is often thought to be more pleasing. Unfortunately, there’s a law against it. “No person shall operate any motor vehicle having three or more wheels, any trailer, or semitrailer unless equipped with fenders…” [LINK](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27600.htm) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/9 "2014-01-31T19:09:20Z")
I see a lot of custom motorcycles made without a fender. [http://image.motorcyclecruiser.com/f/9088146%2Bw750%2Bst0/0707\_crup\_08\_z%2Bmotorcycle\_gathering\_la\_calendar\_show%2Borange\_custom\_chopper\_8.jpg](http://image.motorcyclecruiser.com/f/9088146%2Bw750%2Bst0/0707_crup_08_z%2Bmotorcycle_gathering_la_calendar_show%2Borange_custom_chopper_8.jpg) Fenders are there for a purpose. They keep the wheels from slinging rocks. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/10 "2014-01-31T19:17:30Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > I saw an Ariel Atom parked in Palo Alto last week. The absence of a fender in and of itself does not make a car not streel legal. And aquaintence in high school didn’t have a hood on his station wagon. As long as no other parts are flying off, you’re probably OK. FWIW, Atoms do have fenders. Off-road guys often run afoul of the law if their big knobby tires stick out past the fenders, for the reason \*\*aceplace \*\*mentions. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/11 "2014-01-31T20:21:56Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > Which fender? > > A police officer who is bored or a “stickler” for safety might pull you over. But if there are no other issues with the car, the majority of the time, no one is going to care. > > Here’s a link to the applicable laws for california: [http://weblinks.westlaw.com/toc/default.aspx?Abbr=CA%2DADC%2DWEB&Action=ExpandTree&AP=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&ItemKey=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&RP=%2Ftoc%2Fdefault%2Ewl&Service=TOC&RS=WEBL14.01&VR=2.0&SPa=CCR-1000&pbc=DA010192&fragment#I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE](http://weblinks.westlaw.com/toc/default.aspx?Abbr=CA%2DADC%2DWEB&Action=ExpandTree&AP=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&ItemKey=I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE&RP=%2Ftoc%2Fdefault%2Ewl&Service=TOC&RS=WEBL14.01&VR=2.0&SPa=CCR-1000&pbc=DA010192&fragment#I042239A0D46911DE8879F88E8B0DAAAE) > > There doesn’t seem to be anything there. I got a 'fix it ticket" for this once, so yes, it’s possible but doubtful. OTOH\< I had been something of a jerk ---
**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/12 "2014-02-01T03:32:06Z")
In the 70’s my brother had a street rod with no fenders. He got a ticket. He either had to fenders on it or some sort of flap to protect against throwing rocks. I also knew a kid who put oversized tires on his truck. Part of the tires were outside of the wheel well. He also got the same ticket. ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/13 "2014-02-01T07:35:54Z")
Not in California! It depends on the state. See this thread. [State by State "Fender Laws" | Hot Rod Forum](http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/state-state-fender-laws-78090.html) Or you can look up fender-less roadster. IHTH, 48. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2014, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-drive-a-car-with-no-fender-in-ca/680176/14 "2014-02-01T10:55:25Z")
> [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > “No person shall operate any motor vehicle having three or more wheels, any trailer, or semitrailer unless equipped with fenders…” > [LINK](http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc27600.htm) You left out “or any vehicles manufactured and first registered prior to January 1, 1971, having an unladen weight of under 1,500 pounds.” My dad had a '34 Ford coupe (somewhat) legally registered without fenders. I say “somewhat” because to get it registered he had to do an engine swap to bring it under 1500 pounds, which he reversed later. But since it was registered as being under the limit, it was no problem.