As leaves change colors, brisker temperatures breathe down your neck, and days grow shorter, you can almost feel winter's cold edge forcing the season to change like clockwork. You either hate the cold weather or love it, but one thing is for certain, there’s no avoiding the upcoming season.

If you live anywhere besides the southern part of The States – even then you’re not guaranteed to avoid it – there’s an almost certainty that snow will visit you in the next few months. If not snow, the rainy season is around the corner. This means the days of easily keeping your car clean are rapidly coming to an end.

Do you really want to drive your primary vehicle for every outing this winter? Putting added wear and tear on it from the excessive amount of frozen dirt, grime, and salt that plagues roadways in the cold season is sure to shorten the lifespan of your daily driver.

There has to be a better option… especially if you have a UTV or side by side. Your offroad monster craves this type of driving already. Just imagine going to get groceries in your heated and insulated utility vehicle. We both know you’ve dreamt about it, but can this actually be a reality? Can you make your UTV street legal – and do it in time for winter?

How Do Street Legal Plates Benefit You?

When operating a UTV on the streets, it can be questioned whether or not the act is legal. This is especially true if you don’t have the vehicle registered and tagged for on-road use. By taking the necessary precautions of documenting your vehicle as road legal, you will eliminate the risks that come from otherwise illegal activities.

Are Street Legal Plates Required?

The answer to this truly depends on the intended use of your UTV. If you plan to trailer it from trail to trail, only operate it on your personal property, or let it sit as a garage ornament, then you will have no need to ever put a license plate on it.

However, if you are like most UTV enthusiasts, the odds of wanting to drive your machine on the roads are about as high as gas prices. The only issue is, most states won’t even consider registering your side x side to legally operate on their streets.

Off-Road Title vs On-Road Title – What’s the Difference?

When you buy a new UTV, chances are it comes with an off-road title. This document proves that you own the machine, and can be shown to most OHV (Off-Highway Vehicle) parks/state officials to verify you’re legal to operate the vehicle on trails. Unfortunately, an off-road title can’t be used to operate your UTV on the street.

Keep your head up though. You can use the OHV ownership document to obtain a fully street-legal title! An on-road title comes with a license plate and registration that allows you to use your side x side in the same capacity as a car or truck. The main difference being you have to install the street-legal parts yourself, whereas your automobile comes from the factory ready to hit the road.

How Do Street Legal Plates Benefit You?

No matter what this winter throws your way, you can rest assured knowing you’re prepared for the most extreme situations. A road legal UTV allows you to travel freely in the truest sense. When roadways are closed or blocked by traffic, skip the traffic jam and put your machine to use hitting that side trail through the woods as it was intended. 

Although highway driving should be done with caution, you can jump from the interstate to the trail with the flip of your 4x4 switch. The best part of it all? You’re hitting the trail because you can, not because you have to avoid law enforcement.

When you register your UTV for street use you don’t have to look over your shoulder anymore. You can finally drive in peace without wondering if today is the day your vehicle gets impounded. 

Even if law enforcement lights you up, don’t run – that’s only going to cause issues down the road. Since you have the proper documents there are very few, if any, legal measures they can enact upon you. Instead of running, pull over and show them your legal paperwork for the vehicle. As long as you haven’t broken any local laws, you should be free to go after they understand your situation. Remember a street legal UTV is just that: street legal.

There Is an Exception…

If you’re operating your UTV on the street without the required parts installed to be roadworthy, this will be a problem. It’s crucial to position all the needed hardware so you don’t give the police a reason to mess with you. The street title protects you on the paperwork side, but always check your local regulations to ensure the proper parts are installed.

What if I Want to Sell My UTV?

When the time comes to sell your street legal machine, it’s as easy as signing the title over to the new owner. As long as the UTV is paid off, you will have no issues transferring ownership to the buyer. Just make sure to sign the title properly – ensuring everything is filled out correctly is the best way to avoid making the title invalid. Not only that, you’ll often get a higher sale price on account of your UTV being street legal.

Should You Drive Your UTV on the Street Without a Plate?

If you have a side x side, the thought of “just driving it down the road” has probably crossed your mind. Whether you want to avoid trailering it to the gas station, enjoy an afternoon joyride, or brave winter conditions, the temptation to risk driving your UTV down the street illegally is always calling to you. 

You might even send it without being legal hoping for the best, but is it really worth the potential fines, impounding, and in some cases, jail time? Especially when there’s an option that registers your UTV without you having to ever leave the couch.

This probably sounds too good to be true, especially if you live in a state like California or New York where it’s virtually impossible. Wildly enough, the process is extremely simple… How is this possible if your state doesn’t allow off-road vehicles to be street legalized? There’s a service available that can be done completely remotely, no matter where you live in the United States.

Why Does This Benefit You?

By registering your UTV for street use, you can legally brave the elements without risking your daily driver in severe weather. Having the necessary paperwork allows you to relax and focus 100% on the road instead of worrying about “what if” situations. 

We both know going to the DMV, paying inspection fees, and wasting time on chance is less than desirable. Unfortunately, most people think that’s the only option available. Fortunately for you, the most customer friendly business to street legalize your side x side is in front of your eyes.

We’ll take care of all the heavy lifting so you can spend more time with your family this holiday season. Or… You can always fight tooth and nail with your local DMV while waiting inside of their jail like brick walls. Personally, I’ll be ordering from the comfort of my own home while tearing up some turkey.

Please note, we are not attorneys.