Is It Illegal to Drive Without Airbags? Answers by State

A car with deployed airbags is technically still drivable, but whether or not you can legally drive it after that depends on your insurance policy and state of residence. While the federal government has not outright prohibited driving a car without airbags, there are several state and federal laws that essentially make it illegal — or, at the very least, inadvisable. Below, we have more details on whether it is illegal to drive without airbags in each state.

Can You Physically Drive Without Airbags?

Airbag deployment has nothing to do with the actual functionality of the car. Physically, you can drive a car with airbags deployed. However, you generally should not drive it farther than where you need to go to get it fixed.

The car may run just fine, but if the airbags deployed, the emergency seat belt pre-tensioners were likely triggered, too.^[1] The seat belt may still “lock” when you pull on it, but the rapid-fire clamp mechanism that protects you in an accident may not work.

Insurance companies will often declare a car “totaled” if the airbags deploy. The pre-tensioners and airbags will need to be repaired or replaced before the car can be considered drivable. Because these repairs are very expensive, an insurance company will often declare the vehicle a total loss rather than pay for the repairs.

Is It Illegal to Drive Without Airbags?

The federal government has not outright prohibited driving without airbags, mostly because many older and classic cars do not have airbags. However, front-seat airbags became required standard equipment on new cars in 1999.^[2]

Driving your car after the airbags have been deployed or disabled may be forbidden by federal and/or state law. There are many overlapping federal and state regulations about car safety, the way airbags are installed and repaired, and insurance and registration requirements. If your car was manufactured with airbags, it’s probably illegal to drive without them due to one or more of the following regulations:

Federal Rules About Functional Airbags

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration requires all new cars manufactured after 1999 to have functional airbags installed by the factory and replaced by an authorized technician.^[3]

It’s against federal law for a dealership or mechanic to disable or remove any part of a car’s safety system, including the airbags and the airbag indicator light.^[4] While there’s no federal law against an individual disabling his or her own airbag, it’s incredibly dangerous.

In some instances, an airbag may be more harmful than protective for a driver of small stature or someone with special medical needs. To have an airbag on-off switch installed, you’ll need to get authorization from the NHTSA.^[5]

If you purchased a used car with no airbags or faulty ones — or if your repair shop didn’t properly replace the airbags — you may be a victim of fraud. Contact your local office of the Consumer Protection Agency and your State Office of the Attorney General to see if you have a legal case.

Note: There is currently a massive recall underway for defective airbags sold to car manufacturers between 2002 and 2015.^[6] These airbags can explode without warning and cause injuries, crashes, and even death. You can look up your car’s VIN number on the NHTSA’s SaferCar website to see if your car is at risk. If it is, the dealership will fix it for free.

State Regulations About Functional Airbags

States have different laws regarding functional airbags. There are also state-specific laws on what makes a car street-legal. Your state may require working airbags due to its safety inspection standards, insurance and title requirements, airbag fraud protections, or at the discretion of the police.

Safety Inspections

Whether or not your car can pass a safety inspection without working airbags will vary by state. Some states specifically check the airbags during required inspections; others will fail your car if its airbag indicator light is on. Some do not specifically require the inspector to check the airbags, but may issue a warning and suggest repair for cars with malfunctioning airbags.

See the table below for each state’s requirements about car safety inspections, and which specifically check airbags and airbag readiness lights. You can click any state to find a summary of its airbag laws. Note that virtually all states require salvage title vehicles that have been repaired/restored to pass inspection before they can be driven again.

Insurance and Title

The cost and terms of your insurance policy are based on your car’s features.^[7] If your car had working airbags when you purchased the policy, then damage to the airbags or seat-belt pre-tensioners is a major change to the safety equipment. Check the terms of your policy carefully, as deployed or missing airbags may void your policy. And, it’s illegal in most states to drive an uninsured car.^[8] Additionally, if your car is declared a “total loss” by the insurance company, it may be assigned a “salvage title.” A salvage title voids your car title, which makes it illegal to drive.^[9]

Airbag Fraud

Airbag replacement is expensive, so a lot of people look for low-cost alternatives. Unfortunately, this means there’s a market for salvaged, rebuilt, and/or counterfeit airbags — all of which can be dangerous.^[10] Selling or knowingly installing fake airbags is a crime in many states. When you sell your car, some states require you to tell the buyer about any issues with the airbags; withholding information may also be a crime.

Police Discretion

In some jurisdictions, cars with deployed airbags must be towed from an accident scene. In others, police will allow you to drive your car from the accident scene if it’s functional. Some states allow police to ticket drivers for operating a car “in an unsafe manner,” which gives them broad discretion to decide what is unsafe and, therefore, illegal.

State-by-State Summary of Airbag Laws

The following is an overview of each state’s current laws regarding driving a car without working airbags. Keep in mind, state legislatures revise, repeal, and pass new laws every year. If you have questions about your legal situation, you should contact a local attorney who can give you even more information.

Note that for all states, you must carry car insurance to drive legally in the state. The only exceptions are Montana and Texas, which require that you either carry insurance or prove that you are financially able to pay for repairs, and New Hampshire, which does not require drivers to carry car insurance.

Alabama

• You can choose to replace your airbags if they deploy in an accident. But, if you sell the car without replacing the airbags, you have to tell the buyer; it’s criminal fraud if you withhold the information.^[11]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you have 72 hours to apply for a salvage title; it’s a criminal offense if you don’t. Once salvaged, the car can’t be driven on the street until it is rebuilt and passes inspection.^[11]

Alaska

• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you must have your car rebuilt and inspected before you can drive it.^[12]
• The police can impound your car if they determine it is “defective in equipment so as to be unsafe for driving.”^[13]

Arizona

• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you must register for a salvage title within 30 days.^[14] Salvage vehicles can be restored and must pass inspection before they can be driven.
• When selling a used car, if the airbag or any part of the airbag assembly was removed or doesn’t work, you must inform the buyer.
• Airbags are not listed as required equipment, but the police have the discretion to ticket drivers if “there is reasonable cause to believe the vehicle is unsafe.”^[15]

Arkansas

• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you must register for a salvage title.^[16] Cars more than seven years old that were registered in Arkansas at the time of the total loss do not have to be registered as salvage. You can rebuild a salvage car and re-register it, but if you sell the car you must disclose the salvage status and past damage.
• The police have the discretion to ticket you for driving a car they deem unsafe.^[17] They can force you to park the car and not drive it until it is made safe.

California

• It’s illegal to re-install or sell a used or non-functional airbag or to disable the airbag indicator.^[18] These crimes carry a fine and/or jail time.
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you must register for a salvage title. You can repair the car and re-register it if it passes inspection.^[19]

Colorado

• It’s a crime to install fake or non-functional airbags, punishable by a fine of $2,500 to $5,000 and/or a year in jail.^[20]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you must register for a salvage title.^[21] You can rebuild a salvage vehicle, but you must prove that it has been fully repaired and restored before you can re-register or drive it.

Connecticut

• It’s illegal to sell, install, or re-install fake or non-working airbags.^[22]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, it becomes a salvage vehicle, which can’t be driven legally. You can repair the car, but it has to pass inspection before you can re-register it. Salvage inspections include proof that certified, working airbags have been installed by an authorized mechanic.^[23]

Delaware

• It’s illegal for an auto repair shop to deceive the customer or make any misrepresentation about the work or the equipment it installs.^[24]
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, you will be issued a salvage title, and you won’t be allowed to drive it until it’s rebuilt and re-registered.^[25]

District of Columbia

• If your car is declared a total loss, your title and registration are canceled. You must apply for a salvage title within 30 days.^[26] It’s illegal to drive the vehicle until it has been repaired and passes a safety inspection, at which point you can apply for a new title.

Florida

• It’s illegal to possess, sell, or install stolen or improperly salvaged airbags. It’s a crime to install or re-install non-working or fake airbags.^[27]
• If your car is totaled and you want to rebuild it, you’ll need to apply for a salvage title. You can’t drive a salvaged vehicle until it’s re-registered, but you can get a temporary permit to drive it to the inspection station after it’s rebuilt. Airbags are required.^[28]

Georgia

• It’s illegal to install or reinstall a fake, non-working, or non-standard airbag.^[29]
• If your car is declared totaled, it gets a salvage title.^[30] You can have it rebuilt and re-register it after it passes inspection.^[31]

Hawaii

• Your car must pass a safety inspection every year. The inspection includes the airbag readiness indicator and the indicator bulb.^[32]
• If your car is declared a total loss, it must be registered as salvage and can’t be driven until it’s rebuilt. A rebuilt vehicle can only be re-registered with proof that it was repaired by a certified mechanic to the manufacturer’s original specifications.^[33]
• It’s illegal to drive any car “without required equipment or in an unsafe condition.”^[34]

Idaho

• If your airbags don’t work, you can’t sell the car without informing the buyer in writing.^[35]
• If your car is totaled, you must surrender your title and get a salvage certificate.^[36] If you have the car rebuilt, you must prove that it was rebuilt to the same condition it was in before the accident.^[37]

Illinois

• It’s illegal to install or reinstall anything other than a working airbag that meets federal standards for your car.
• Required emissions testing uses the On-Board Diagnostic system.^[38] If the OBD system indicates your car is in an unsafe condition or has a malfunction, it could fail inspection.
• If your car is declared totaled, it’s illegal to drive it. It can only be rebuilt by a licensed rebuilder and it must pass inspection before you can re-title it.^[39]

Indiana

• It’s illegal to install anything other than a functioning airbag that meets federal safety standards for your car.^[40] It’s a felony to sell, lease, trade, or otherwise transfer a car without working airbags.
• Some areas of the state require regular emissions testing; the test uses the On-Board Diagnostic system. If the system shows a fault or warning light, it could fail inspection.
• If your car is totaled, it’s illegal to drive it. You can apply for a salvage title.^[41] You can rebuild it and submit proof of all major components being restored in order to re-register it.^[42]

Iowa

• It’s illegal to install or reinstall a counterfeit or non-working airbag, or tamper with the indicator light, or install anything that would keep the airbag from working.^[43]
• If your car is totaled and rebuilt, you aren’t required by the state to replace the airbags as long as you tell any future buyer that they were not replaced.^[44]

Kansas

• If your car is totaled, it may be branded as “nonrepairable” or “salvage.”^[45] You may not drive a car with either brand. If you rebuild a salvage car, it must pass an inspection to be re-registered.

Kentucky

• It’s illegal to install anything in place of an airbag system that meets federal guidelines.^[46]
• Insurance companies have to pay to replace your airbags if they deploy; your car will not automatically be declared totaled just because the airbags deployed.
• If your car is totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you can’t drive it. You must submit proof of the repairs to re-register.^[47]

Louisiana

• It’s a crime to install or reinstall a deployed, non-working, or substandard airbag, or anything else in place of an airbag.^[48]
• Regular safety inspections are required, but the inspection doesn’t specifically check for airbags.^[49]
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you will not be able to drive it.^[50] You can have it rebuilt and then submit proof of the repairs and origin of the replacement parts, and have the car inspected, in order to re-register it.

Maine

• Your car must pass a safety inspection to be registered. The inspection includes checking that the airbags are installed and working. It’s illegal to drive a vehicle that doesn’t meet inspection standards and to deliberately alter a vehicle after the inspection so that it doesn’t meet the standards.^[51]
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, you must get a salvage title and you will not be able to drive it.^[52] If you rebuild the car, you must submit receipts for all the parts used to rebuild it before you re-register.

Maryland

• It’s a crime to install a non-working, counterfeit, or substandard airbag, or to misrepresent that an airbag is working when it isn’t, or to tamper with the indicator light.^[53]
• It’s illegal to remove or alter any safety device that was originally installed.
• Your car must pass a safety inspection before you can register it; the inspection doesn’t specifically check for working airbags.^[54]
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you will not be able to drive it.^[55] You can have it rebuilt and then submit proof of the repairs and origin of the replacement parts; the car will also need to be inspected before you can re-register it.

Massachusetts

• You must have your car inspected for safety when you register it.^[56] The inspection includes checking airbags and indicator lights on all cars less than 10 years old. You may not drive any vehicle that doesn’t meet inspection requirements.
• If your vehicle is declared a total loss, you must register it as a salvage vehicle. In order to re-register it, you must submit proof that it was rebuilt to the same operating condition it was in before the loss, including receipts for all the parts.^[57]

Michigan

• It’s illegal to keep, sell, or install any safety restraining device that doesn’t meet standards set by the state police.^[58]
• It’s illegal to drive a car in an “unsafe condition.” The police may stop you with reasonable grounds, inspect the car, and give a citation if they find it to be unsafe.
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you may not drive it.^[59] You can have it rebuilt, and then submit proof of the repairs and origin of the replacement parts — and have the car inspected — in order to re-register it.

Minnesota

• In any car less than seven years old, deployed airbags must be replaced with working airbags that meet standards for that make and model. It’s illegal to install anything in place of a working airbag.^[60]
• The insurance company can’t use the cost of replacing the airbags when calculating whether your car is a total loss — that means deployed airbags don’t automatically classify your car as totaled. If your car is totaled, you may not drive it. If it’s a high-value or late-model vehicle, you can apply for a salvage title and have it rebuilt. To clear the title and re-register it, you must submit receipts for all parts and have it inspected.^[61]

Mississippi

• It’s a crime to install or reinstall any object in place of an airbag that meets design specifications and federal safety standards for your car,^[62] and it’s illegal to drive any car equipped in violation of the law.^[63]
• If your car is totaled, you may not drive it except to the inspection station after having it rebuilt. If you are going to have it rebuilt, you must get a salvage title.^[64] You must submit all receipts used in rebuilding, and the rebuilt car must pass an inspection before it can be re-registered.

Missouri

• Annual safety inspections are required for all cars more than five years old, but the inspection does not include a check for working airbags.^[65]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you may not drive it. The insurance will determine if your car is “operable” or “non-operable.” If it’s operable, you must surrender your title and have the vehicle inspected to get a “prior salvage” title. If it passes inspection, you may put the license plates back on and drive it. If it’s non-operable and you want to keep and repair it, you must surrender your title and get a salvage title. After the repairs are done, you’ll need to have it inspected and apply for a prior salvage title before you can drive it.^[66]

Montana

• You must carry car insurance in Montana or prove you have the financial resources to pay for any claims against you.^[67]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss and it’s less than five years old, it gets a salvage certificate.^[68] You must submit proof of the repairs, including receipts for all parts, and the car must pass an inspection to be re-titled.

Nebraska

• It’s illegal to install anything in lieu of a working airbag that meets safety standards for your car.^[69]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss and it’s less than seven years old or has a high value, it gets a salvage certificate, and you can’t drive it.^[70] The car must pass an inspection to be re-titled.

Nevada

• If your car’s airbags deploy, they must be replaced with airbags that meet federal safety standards.^[71]
• The police may ticket you for driving a car that appears to be in an unsafe condition.^[72] You’re not allowed to drive a vehicle with an unsafe citation, except directly to the garage to have it repaired.
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss and it’s less than 10 years old, it gets a salvage title. Salvage cars must be rebuilt to the same standards and with all the same equipment as when they were manufactured. You must have the car inspected before you can re-register it.^[71]

New Hampshire

• It’s illegal to install anything in place of an airbag except a working airbag that meets federal safety standards.^[73]
• Safety inspections are required within 10 days of registering your car, and every year after that.^[74]
• Car insurance is not required in New Hampshire.^[75]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, it gets a salvage title and you can’t drive it unless it’s rebuilt and inspected.^[76] You must submit proof of the repairs, and the inspector will check that the airbags are present and working, if the car was manufactured with them.^[77]

New Jersey

• It’s illegal to install anything that doesn’t meet federal safety standards in place of an airbag or to tamper with the indicator light.^[78]
• If the insurance company declares your car totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you may not drive it. If you want to keep and repair it, you must take photos before repairs start or submit the insurance damage report. You must also submit proof of all repairs and receipts for all components, including airbags.^[79] The car must also pass an inspection before you can re-register it.

New Mexico

• It’s illegal to install a fake or non-working airbag, to tamper with the indicator light, or to misrepresent the airbag as working or factory-standard if it isn’t.^[80]
• If your car is totaled and you get a salvage title, it’s illegal to drive until repaired and re-registered.^[81]

New York

• A deployed airbag must be replaced with a new or certified salvaged one.^[82]
• Safety inspections are required annually or when a car changes owners.^[83] The inspection includes a check for working airbags.^[84]
• If your car is declared totaled, wrecked, or salvage, it’s illegal to drive until it’s rebuilt and re-registered.

North Carolina

• It’s illegal to install anything other than a working airbag that meets federal standards.^[85]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, you have 10 days to get a salvage title, and you can’t drive the car until it’s rebuilt. Rebuilt cars must pass an inspection to be re-titled.^[86]

North Dakota

• Cars must be inspected before registration or if rebuilt from salvage, but inspections don’t specifically check for working airbags.^[87]
• It’s illegal to drive a car that’s been declared a total loss by your insurance company until it’s rebuilt and passes inspection.^[88]

Ohio

• Improper replacement of an airbag with a fake or defective airbag, or any other item, is a crime.^[89]
• It is illegal to drive any car that doesn’t meet the equipment standards set by the state Highway Patrol.^[90] The Highway Patrol’s standards include working airbags.
• If your car is totaled, it’s illegal to drive until it’s rebuilt and inspected.^[91]

Oklahoma

• If your car is totaled and is less than 10 years old, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive. You must provide receipts for all replacement parts and have a rebuilt car inspected before you can re-register it.^[92]

Oregon

• It’s a crime to improperly repair deployed airbags or leave out any parts.^[93]
• If your car is totaled, it’s illegal to drive and you must surrender the title within 30 days.^[94] If you rebuild the car, you must submit receipts for all the parts before you can re-register it.

Pennsylvania

• Annual safety inspections are required, but the inspection doesn’t specifically check for working airbags.^[95]
• If your car is totaled, it gets a salvage title and you may not drive it until it’s rebuilt. Rebuilt cars must pass an enhanced safety inspection before they can be re-registered.^[96]

Rhode Island

• It’s a felony punishable by up to two years in prison to install fake or non-working airbags, to tamper with the indicator light, to misrepresent whether a car’s airbags are working, or to sell a car with inoperable airbags. If anyone is hurt by such a fraud, the perpetrator faces up to 10 years in prison.^[97]
• If your car was manufactured with airbags, they must be maintained in working order.^[97]
• Cars must be inspected every two years.^[98] Cars with deployed or missing airbags will fail inspection.
• If your car is totaled, it gets a salvage title, and you may not drive it.^[99] You can rebuild it, but you must submit proof that the repairs were done by a certified mechanic and the car must pass an inspection before you can re-register it.

South Carolina

• It’s illegal to make, import, sell, or install a counterfeit or non-working airbag, or to tamper with the indicator light. You also may not sell, lease, trade, or transfer a car without working airbags (if it was manufactured with them).^[100]
• If your car is totaled, the title is branded as salvage and it’s illegal to drive.^[101] Your car will need an inspection before and after you rebuild it; you must use a certified rebuilder and submit receipts for all parts.

South Dakota

• If your car is totaled, you have 30 days to apply for a salvage title, and the car may not be driven until it’s rebuilt. You must submit proof of repairs, including receipts for parts, and have the vehicle inspected before you can re-register it.^[102]

Tennessee

• It’s a crime to install a counterfeit or substandard airbag.^[103]
• If your car is totaled and is less than 10 years old, it gets a salvage certificate and is illegal to drive until repaired. You can re-register it after submitting proof of repairs, including receipts for all parts; the car must also pass a safety inspection.^[104]

Texas

• It’s a felony to install a fake or substandard airbag or to misrepresent whether an airbag is genuine or functional.^[105]
• Cars must pass an annual safety inspection, but the inspection doesn’t specifically check for working airbags.
• If your car is totaled or salvaged, it’s illegal to drive until it’s rebuilt and passes a safety inspection.^[106]

Utah

• Cars are required to meet standards for safety equipment, which include working airbags. It’s illegal to drive a car that doesn’t meet safety standards, except for driving to the repair shop.^[107]
• If your car is totaled, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive.^[108] If you have it rebuilt, the car must pass a safety inspection before you can re-register it.

Vermont

• It’s a crime punishable by up to three years in prison to install a fake, nonstandard, or inoperable airbag. If anyone is hurt or killed by such a fraud, the perpetrator faces up to 15 years in prison.^[109]
• Cars must be inspected within 15 days of registration and every year after that. The inspection includes checking for working airbags.^[110]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive. Rebuilt cars must pass a safety inspection before they can be re-registered.^[111]

Virginia

• It’s a crime to install a fake, substandard, deployed, or salvaged airbag.^[112]
• Cars must pass an annual safety inspection, which includes checking that airbags are present and working.^[113]
• If the insurance company declares your vehicle totaled, or if the amount of damage on an uninsured car is greater than 75% of the car’s value, it gets a salvage certificate; it’s illegal to drive but may be rebuilt.^[114] You must show proof of the repairs, and the car must pass inspection before you can re-register it.

Washington

• It’s a crime to knowingly make, import, sell, or install deployed or fake airbags, or tamper with the indicator light.^[115]
• If your car is totaled, you must surrender the title within 15 days.^[116]
• You may not drive any car considered defective or unsafe by the police, except for driving it directly to a mechanic.^[117]

West Virginia

• It’s illegal to install a fake, deployed, or nonfunctional airbag.^[118]
• Cars must be inspected before registration; the inspection includes a check for working airbags. It’s illegal to drive a vehicle that doesn’t meet inspection requirements.^[119]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive.^[120] You can rebuild the car and submit receipts for all the parts; the car must also pass a safety inspection.

Wisconsin

• It’s illegal to remove or disable a working airbag, to install a deployed, fake, or non-working airbag, and to conceal the fact that an airbag is missing or not working.^[121]
• All cars manufactured with airbags must have them maintained in working order. Deployed airbags must be replaced with comparable working airbags.^[122]
• Some areas of the state require inspection upon registration. The inspection includes testing of indicator lights and the diagnostic system.^[123]
• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive — except to or from the inspection station.^[124] Rebuilt salvage cars must pass a safety inspection.

Wyoming

• If the insurance company declares your car a total loss and it’s less than eight years old, it gets a salvage title and is illegal to drive. Rebuilt cars can be re-registered with a report of the repairs made and an inspection by the police.^[125]

In Summary

Driving without functional airbags isn’t explicitly banned in any state. However, it is illegal to remove or tamper with airbags or to replace them with defective or non-functioning equipment. States also have various inspections and requirements for safety equipment, insurance, and registration. If your car doesn’t meet the standards — which often relate to airbags — it’s not street-legal to drive.

For more about policies on driving cars with missing parts, we explain the legality of driving without a bumper or without a hood.