How to make your UTV/ATV Street Legal

Everything You Need To Do To Make Your ATV or UTV Street Legal

Today we're going to be talking all about how to make your UTV street legal. First off, only certain states allow you to register a UTV as street legal. A lot of states do not even allow that. They're going to just have road routes for you so you can ride on the road. However, if you do live in a state that does allow it there's going to be a list of things that you're going to have to add to your UTV in order to make it operational on the street. At the end of the day, you always want to check with your local state or municipality to understand what it's going to take to get your machine road ready.

Table Of Contents

-Add Taillights, Brake Lights and Turn Signals

-Add a Horn or Other Audible Device

-Add DOT-rated Tires To Your Machine's Build

-Add A Windshield If Your State Requires One

-Add Rearview and Side-Mounted Mirrors

-Add A Visible License Plate Holder and Plate

Add Taillights, Brake Lights and Turn Signals

Most of the new machines, if not all of the new machines have headlights on them from the factory. The only thing you might want to do is maybe upgrade them to a brighter bulb, so there's not really much when it comes to the headlights. Tail and brake lights are the same as the headlights. Your machine most likely already has them. The only thing you might have to deal with is going to be reflectors. Some machines have reflectors on the rear, and some don't, but some states require them to be on the rear of the vehicle when it comes to riding the street legally so check your local laws for reflector colors and placement for your machine.

Another important set of lights you'll want to add are turn signals, for obvious reasons. You've got to have separate lights on the left and right side of your machine. You're going to need four total, (left front, left rear, right front, right rear) when it comes to your turn signals, and you also need to have the ability to have them as hazards. Every state's going to require this if they're going to allow you to drive on public roads. Without them, it is going to be considered a driving violation, and you could get a ticket or even worse, so make sure you get them added to your machine.

Add a Horn or Other Audible Device

Next up, you are going to need a horn system. Some states are a little bit pickier about this than others. You'll see things listed like "horn" or "audible device". I would assume that some of these states allow an air horn to be used if you do need to utilize the horn. However, some states list that it must be audible up to 200 feet. We suggest a motorcycle horn or a marine horn that can withstand the elements. They're small in size and easy to install.

Add DOT-rated Tires To Your Machine's Build

The DOT, Department of Transportation, rules the road and if you want to play on their blacktop, you're going to have to run tires that pass their tests. You will have to have DOT-rated tires that meet or exceed DOT expectations. There are a ton of companies out there with off-road tires that we offer, each of which build tires that can give you excellent traction and comfort all the same.

Add A Windshield If Your State Requires One

Some states require a windshield, some do not. For the states that don't, they require a set of goggles or some type of eye protection.

At the end of the day, we've all been riding behind someone that has kicked up a rock and cracked a windshield in our car. You don't want that to be your face. So for the sake of your face and for the sake of your ability to drive the vehicle, we recommend putting a windshield on your machine if you're going to be doing road riding. It's safer, easier, and will give you clear vision at all times.

Add Rearview and Side-Mounted Mirrors

Out of the gate from the factory, most machines do not have mirrors. UTVs typically are not going to come with them, but they are going to be required when it comes to street-legal road riding. Which mirrors and how or where they're mounted is going to be the question here. You could have a rearview mirror or a single driver-side, or both.

Add A Visible License Plate Holder and Plate

If you're going to register it as a street vehicle, you're going to have to have a license plate and that license plate is going to have to be visible at all times during the day and night. It will need to have a light on it so that the police officers can read the license plate when they're chasing you because you're doing something stupid. Because we know we're going to, right?

Shop Aftermarket Parts and Accessories For Your ATV or UTV Build At Function Powersports

Now that we've covered all the important stuff that you need to add to your machine to get it street legal, it's time to start the build process so you don't run into any issues down the line. The best news for you here is that we already have everything you need to complete your street legal machine build in our inventory, so check out our store today and grab the wheels, tires, suspension, and accessories that are best for your machine. Also, give us a shout if you have any questions and we're happy to help point you in the right direction!