Is it illegal to drive a jeep without doors?

JEEP is one of the UK's favourite car brands and the iconic 4x4 vehicles are able to have their doors and roofs removed easily.

However, a recent change in American law has left British petrol heads questioning whether they can drive without doors in the UK.

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A big change in America

One of the Jeep's iconic features is the ability to remove the vehicle's roof and doors.

The vehicle made headline news in the USA, in July 2024, when Pennsylvania became the .

There are some caveats to that law though.

In America, doorless vehicles must have two side mirrors and a rear view mirror attached at an appropriate level.

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Lawmakers also pointed out that doorless vehicles come with the risk of greater injury, in the event of a car accident.

A difference in UK law

UK rules are slightly more complicated than US laws when it comes to doorless vehicles.

There is no particular law which bans the driving of a doorless vehicle but all such vehicles must have their side and rear mirrors attached.

Because the law is unclear on the issue, you do face one big risk when driving without doors.

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A police officer could decide that you are driving the vehicle in a dangerous condition which could result in them giving you a fine.

The two models that have the option of removing the doors are the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator.

An all-American brand

Jeep is an American automobile brand which takes its name from 1940s US Army slang.

The phrase was used to refer to new recruits or vehicles but eventually became the name of a new vehicle used during the Second World War.

Since 1945, the brand has been headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, where it launched its Jeep Wrangler series.

Jeep became so iconic that it is often referred to as the "most patriotic brand", because of its association with Americana.