Will you run into trouble with the law/insurance company if you remove the airbag to install one of these steering wheels? Someone told me you could tell the insurance company about this mad and they will let this go, but with higher premiums.

 

i believe it is illegal to remove the airbag from a vehicle that comes with one, it may also depend on where u live, but im pretty sure it's illegal. i would call the insurance company and see what they say. they might not cover injury if u crash and are hurt.

 

Don't even tell them, most insur. agents might not even notice.

 

It's not illegal on cars built prior to 1999:

5. Are airbags required? Yes. As of the 1999 model year, the federal government required automakers to install driver and passenger airbags for frontal protection in all cars, light trucks, and vans.

If you have a vehicle made in and after 1999, when airbags were mandated, then it's illegal to remove it.

 

I have no problem with my Sparco steering wheel, I have it on for a number of years and I even have a 5 point harness and cops never gave me a problem with them. I lived in Toronto Ontario, so might be different from the States.

 

i know at least in VA that any tampering/removal of an airbag is illegal

 

I would like to meet a cop who would actually be smart enough and observant enough to notice and write you a ticket for not having an air bag in your car. I would bet that most wouldn't even notice the difference. If you think that they would you are giving your average local PD officer way too much credit for there amount of brain power.

 

That's some pretty bad advice IMHO.

It's not emmissions equipment you're removing, or a simple performance upgrade, it's a safety device. Your insurance company HAS to know about it. It could bite you later if you don't tell them.

If your car is in a wreck and you're injured to the point that an insurance adjuster is involved, they are for sure going to check to see if the airbag deployed or not. What are you going to say when they find that there isn't one there?

Checking the airbags in an injury accident has got to be right up there with whether you were wearing your seat belt or not.

 

it is illegal, I know b/c I didn't pass inspection because of it. A couple of years ago my car got stolen and I had to get it inspected by state patrol, and they said I need the airbag in order to pass.

 

You should check the laws in your area. It shouldn't be illegal as cars weren't required to have them in 1993-1995. You shouldn't be required to have something that wasn't a law when the vehicle was produced.

 

anybody have confirmation on whether it's legal/illegal (especially in california where i live )

i'm thinking about getting a smaller steering wheel, but don't want to get screwed by insurance. thanks.

 

i've heard its not illegial, the wheel just has to be the same size...

 

I think the legality is a total grey area and probably depends most on where you live BUT if you are in an accident, you are not obligated by law to replace the airbags on an older car. So just tell them you were in a wreck, and the bag was never replaced.

 

I would worry less about getting a ticket from a cop, and more about what your insurance company thinks about it. Sure you can say "they'll never know", and that'll be true until you're in an accident... and if you're thinking you're too good to get in an accident, remember everyone else isn't. No matter whos fault an accident is, i wouldn't want to find out later what the companies policy is on it.

Just call them and ask what their policy is. If you don't like what you hear, call some competitors.

 

I have been told that the OWN ER OF THE VEHICLE can remove or disable airbags with no problem.

The issue is that the airbags must be reinstalled/re-enabled when the car is sold. Otherwise, the airbag will have been disabled by someone other than the owner as soon as the car changes hands.

BTW - Airbags have been mandatory since 1996, not 1999. In cars anyway.