Your State-by-State Guide to Street Legal UTVs

All the gear, paperwork, and laws you'll need to ride legally and safely on-road

Wondering if your UTV is street legal in your state? The answer is (unfortunately) more complicated than you may think—but you’ve come to the right place to discover specific laws for your state. UTV driving laws are constantly changing, with consequential differences in requirements across state lines.With new regulations and some relaxing of regulations, it can be hard to keep track of which states allow UTVs, and of what’s “legal.” In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about street legal side by sides.

• What does it mean to be street legal?
• What adjustments do you need to make to your UTV to get there?
• What does state registration look like?
• Where should (and shouldn’t) you ride?
• Do you need separate registration or is a valid driver license enough? (add to the list of bullet points)

So strap in —and let’s tackle this topic from Seattle to Sarasota. Click HERE to jump to the state-by-state breakdown.

Q: What does ‘street legal’ mean?

A: Some states allow Street Legal UTVs only on local roads or on designated trails, some states permit drivers to drive on highways—so there’s a lot of variation depending on where you ride. Some states allow Street Legal UTVs only on local roads, some states permit drivers to drive on highways—so there’s a lot of variation depending on where you ride. Riding on interstate highways is a no-go.

There are various SxS accessories required to turn a typical UTV into a street legal one. Again, every state is different—some require horns, turn signals, four ways, or specific lights. Some states require all the bells and whistles, and some require nothing to be driven on public roads.

Q: Do you have to apply for separate registration?

A: Typically, yes, but it varies by state (drink everytime we repeat that line). Although you’ll need a new registration, you will not need a new license -- just make sure you have a valid drivers license. Some states also require UTV safety courses on top of the registration, so make sure to ask, or search, about that as well. As always, following the local laws is the easiest and more surefire way to grip and rip for a long time to come.

Q: What’s the easiest way to make my UTV street legal?

A: Unfortunately, there aren’t any major UTV models that come ‘street legal’ day one. Some come turn signal-ready, with indicators already built into the dash, but the external signals on the front and/or back of the UTV are not included. Since you’ll need to modify your ride with SxS accessories according to your state—likely starting with a UTV turn-signal conversion kit. Once your necessary mods are up and running, register with the state (more on that below). Another tip is to always make sure your license plate is in good condition and visible should you run into law enforcement.

Q: What are the most popular UTV street legal kits? Where should I start?

A: The most common street legal UTV requirement is a turn-signal conversion kit, allowing you to safely and visibly signal turns in advance to other vehicles on the road. Prior to RAVEK, options have been slim, and most fall on opposite ends of the quality spectrum.

On one end, some cheaper kits include tiny round LEDs that you drill into your side by side one-by-one. They aren’t very bright, don’t integrate with the machine’s brakelights, and require complicated installation. On the opposite end, premium kits require full replacements of the existing machine’s headlights, and can cost upwards of $600.

As riders ourselves, we couldn’t accept the choice between quality and price—so we made a UTV Turn Signal Kit that requires zero compromise.

The RAVEK UTV Turn Signal Kit is the highest quality, easiest install option on the market. Here are a few of the features you’ll love:

• Plug & Play Install - RAVEK’s custom wire harnesses install in less than 3 hours (or beers), with easy-to-follow instructions and explanatory photos. All our kits are designed to fit the OEM ports of all major SxS models, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, John Deere, CF Moto, etc.
• Brightest Possible LEDs - Even brighter than the running lights that came stock with your UTV, and available in 3 different color variations.
  • White Lights with Amber Turn Signals
  • Amber Lights with Amber Turn Signals
  • Red Lights with Brighter Red Turn Signals
• Customize Placement + Add Extra Sets - Mount the RAVEK Turn Signal Kit to roll bars, bumpers, your roof, or any flat exterior panel on your UTV. Need extra visibility? Install up to 4 additional turn signal lights elsewhere, including the roof, sides, and front of your SxS.
• Visibility High Above the Dust Line - Cut through the haze by mounting your RAVEK UTV Turn Signal Kit up high, providing clear signals to riders even when visibility drops.
• Unlimited Lifetime Warranty - Our lights are made from the highest quality materials — but if something goes awry, we’ll offer a free replacement, always.