Is It Illegal to Drive Without Bumpers?

Why Would Anyone Drive Without Bumpers?

While most people wouldn't choose to drive a vehicle without bumpers, that isn't to say there aren't particular instances where drivers may temporarily want or need to. On specific occasions, such as driving to a repair shop across town or cruising around the block to test out a new modification, slapping the bumpers back on may seem unnecessary. 

Additionally, some individuals remove the bumpers from their dedicated wheelers to boost tire clearance and approach/departure angles. However, in these instances, we'd recommend outfitting your ride with high-clearance bumpers instead, as they support oversized tires and full articulation while retaining adequate impact protection.

What Are the Dangers of Driving Without A Bumper?

Driving without a bumper may seem like a good idea in a pinch, but it poses several risks to the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others on the road. Bumpers are crucial safety components, often fitted with impact absorbers, crumple zones, and airbag sensors to lessen the risk of injury in a collision. Removing these safety systems significantly increases the risk of injury to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

That's not all—insurance companies are far less likely to cover damages if safety devices have been removed. If you get into a collision without front or rear bumpers, your insurance may deny the claim, adding insult to injury.

Is Driving Without a Bumper Legal?

Though driving without a bumper is dangerous and ill-advised, that doesn't necessarily mean it's illegal, right? Wrong. 

Driving without a bumper is not just a safety concern, it's also illegal in most countries, including the United States. While this law may not apply to off-road-only applications, all road-going vehicles must be equipped with a 'proper bumper.’. This typically includes a bumper support, bumper cover, and all related bracketry and supports. 

Failing to adhere to bumper laws can result in hefty fines and court visits, with penalties increasing with each subsequent violation.

Outfit Your Ride with an Aftermarket Bumper and Accessories

In conclusion, it's important to remember that there's never a safe or legal time to drive your vehicle without a proper bumper. Doing so can result in hefty fines and, more importantly, pose serious dangers to yourself and others on the road. Always ensure your vehicle is equipped with a proper bumper to stay safe and legal. 

Instead, consider outfitting your ride with a premium aftermarket bumper from RealTruck, increasing tire clearances, improving aesthetics, and offering various accessory mounting provisions for off-road lighting, recovery accessories, and more. We offer all the top styles and finishes from leading brands like Havoc,Go Rhino®, and Rugged Ridge®. Check out some of our top bumper picks, offering unbeatable styling, durability, and functionality.

RealTruck Top Pick: Havoc Offroad Steel Bender Front Winch Bumper

Toughen up your Ford Bronco's front end with the Steel Bender front winch bumper from Havoc Offroad—a RealTruck brand. This bumper is the perfect addition to any sixth-generation Bronco, featuring heavy-duty all-steel construction, rugged textured black powder coat finish, and provisions for a winch, skid plate, and various lights.

The Havoc Steel Bender bumper bolts directly to your Bronco's frame—no modifications are required. Havoc backs each order with the confidence of a limited 5-year warranty. 

Features: 

• High-strength 11-ga. (1/8-in.) plate steel construction

• Corrosion-resistant textured black powder coat finish

• The Stinger bar includes mounting tabs for a 20-in. LED Light Bar (sold separately)

• Accepts OE fog lights or 3-in. round off-road lights

• Built-in winch plate and fairlead mount

• Integrated off-road jacking points

• Dual-drilled recovery hooks double as D-ring shackle lugs

• Simple no-drill installation

• Limited 5-year warranty

RealTruck Top Pick: N-Fab RSP Textured Black Prerunner Front Bumper

Bring Southern-California-inspired, pre-runner styling to any truck with the RSP textured black Prerunner front bumper from N-Fab—a leader in the aftermarket bumper and body armor segment. With a high-clearance tubular design and integrated skid plate, the N-Fab RSP offers exceptional front-end protection while ensuring adequate room for oversized tires.  

Mount countless accessories with N-Fab's Multi-Mount light setup, accepting various LED light bars, cubes, and more. Installation is quick and easy, and all hardware and instructions are included. N-Fab backs each RSP bumper with a limited lifetime structural and 5-year finish warranty. 

Features: 

• One-piece 1.75-in. tubular steel construction

• Textured black powder coat finish

• Multi-Mount configuration allows for countless lighting options (lights not included)

• Winch options available for select applications

• Includes all necessary mounting hardware

• Simple bolt-on installation

• Includes 3/16-in. aluminum skid plate

• High-clearance design increases the approach angle

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty

RealTruck Top Pick: Go Rhino Rockline Stubby Rear Bumper

Complement a rugged front bumper with an equally heavy-duty rear bumper, like the Go Rhino Rockline. This high-clearance, stubby rear bumper perfectly complements an off-road rig, delivering superior impact protection and clearance. High-strength steel construction ensures exceptional strength, while a textured black powder coat finish prevents unsightly rust and corrosion. 

The Go Rhino Rockline offers numerous accessory mounts for superior functionality, including mounts for 3-in. LED cubes, Rhino Hook shackles mounts, and even an integrated step. Go Rhino backs each Rockline stubby rear bumper with a limited lifetime structural and a 5-year finish warranty. 

Features: 

• High-clearance, stubby design

• High-strength 3/16-in. steel construction

• Textured black powder coat finish

• Integrated light mounts accept 3-in. LED cubes (sold separately)

• Simple no-drill installation

• Integrated 1-in. welded Rhino Hooks

• Includes hex mesh covers for optional protection of your LED lights

• Built-in center step

• Compatible with a factory receiver hitch 

• Limited lifetime structural | 5-year finish warranty