Laws of Driving Sans Doors Explained

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The people want to know: can you be ticketed for driving a Jeep without its doors?

Since you’re on the JK-Forum, you’re likely a Jeep Wrangler lover. And you’re just as likely to be a lover of the fact that the doors can be removed on both the driver’s and passenger’s side. Removing the doors doesn’t just look amazing and militaristic, but there are also some advantages worth noting.

For one, the driver gets a better visual of where their tires are. Second, any passenger can take just as good of a peek. Finally, the air conditioning isn’t needed with all the airflow, thus saving gas. Plus there’s the weight factor too, since removing the doors means less overall weight.

However, removing them can raise a few questions for the intellectual Jeeple. Like, is it safe to remove the doors? Are there any other disadvantages? And most importantly, can you get a ticket if they’re removed? Don’t worry – we’ll think for you.

Technically, yes, you can be ticketed

While driving without the doors itself is not illegal, the omission of a driver’s or passenger’s side mirror is. Depending on the state you’re in. For instance, Texas prohibits vehicles from lacking side mirrors, and police can pull over and cite drivers without them. It’s the same story in Alabama and California.

Pennsylvania finally approved the sale of Wranglers and Broncos with removable doors, but it still requires both side mirrors. To stay safe in all 50 states, assume you have at least a driver’s side mirror to be road-legal.

You can thank the Wrangler Gods for the aftermarket though, because there are plenty of companies that make mirrors that can be fitted to a door hinge if the doors are removed.

Photo credit: Automotive Rhythm on Flickr

There are a few safety concerns to keep in mind

When you’re not off-roading and [hopefully] driving at slow speeds, not having doors can be dangerous. At speed, doors protect you from rocks, acorns, road debris, or anything that might fall off a truck. Even while off-roading having them on can help keep you safer if you roll your Jeep, too.

It could also harm any insurance claim if you were involved in an accident and you didn’t have your doors on. While that heavily depends on the insurance company and your agent, it’s something to consider before driving home on the highway without them.

Kristen Finley

Before she was old enough to go to school, Kristen Finley spent a majority of her childhood rebuilding rusted Chevy Novas with her dad. Once high school and college came around, she was still actively rebuilding cars, though she found out she had a second greatest love: writing and photography.

Now, in her last year of college, she's pursuing a bachelor's in Journalism and Media Studies from California State University, Monterey Bay after receiving her AA in Communications. She has been writing for three years, and as her school newspaper's automotive expert, she started and solely maintained the weekly automotive section detailing posts on car care, safety tips, features, and news. She covers stories for Mustang Forums, Dodge Forum, JK-Forum and more.

Finley can be contacted at krisfin95@gmail.com

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