No, it is not illegal to buy a deleted truck right here in the United States. BUT, you can get in trouble for driving one or even trying to register it. No matter how twisted the laws sound regarding that, but in actuality, this is how it is. If you just want to know more about the legal side of things regarding a deleted truck, then just keep on reading.
What Does “Deleting” a Diesel Truck Mean?
Many of you may not know this, but “Deleted” is a term used for a diesel truck when its emission control systems have been removed or disabled. And to go into the specifics of it, see, the emission systems most commonly removed include DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter), EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation), and the DEF system that is used to reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
And it is not that rare of a thing, you see, truck owners commonly take off these components to get more power, have a better exhaust sound, lessen maintenance, or help the engine stay cooler and, in some instances, get better gas mileage. Yup! That too! Nevertheless, these devices are there for a reason, they are pollution control measures required by law.
Lke, as per the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), emissions devices removal leads to a major increase of the released pollutant components. Therefore, a performance-optimized truck with no emissions devices is not street-legal in the United States.
Deleting a Truck Is Illegal in the U.S.
Well, true, locally it might be legal to remove the whole system, but under federal law, it is a violation of the Clean Air Act if you remove or disable emissions equipment.
According to the law, even if you take out a single part, it is still considered a violation of the regulations
And just so you know, the penalties can lead to a major hassle if the offenders are caught. Individual owners might be subject to large fines for each infraction with repair shops that carry out deletes then being liable for even higher fines down the line. And that’s just not it though, see, besides that, a truck that has been deleted will be out of the manufacturer’s warranty from the very first moment.
So, Is It Illegal to Buy a Deleted Truck?
It is not illegal per se to buy a deleted truck. One may buy such a vehicle via a private sale. Nevertheless, it is unlawful to drive or register a removed truck for road use.
Should you get a hold of a deleted truck and attempt to register it, the vehicle will most probably fail to pass an emissions test in states where such are mandatory. Besides, you can get tickets for driving it in public.
On the other hand, dealerships have to comply with stricter regulations. They are not allowed to sell a truck that has been tampered with to remove emission control devices unless it is a clearly labeled off-road vehicle, you know, like a farming, racing, or export one.
How To Identify a Deleted Truck
Your first move should be to start by looking under the truck. There should be a sizable exhaust canister, the DPF, in a factory diesel truck. If, instead, there is a straight pipe, this is pretty much a sure thing that the truck has been deleted.
Look under the car for major missing parts such as a missing EGR cooler or a DEF tank, which is typically indicated by a blue cap. Besides that, if you hear a loud exhaust, see black soot near the tailpipe, or the DEF gauge seems not to work, these could also be clues to the issue.
Other than that, when the seller evades your queries or says they are unaware of any changes, this should raise your suspicions.
