Can You Make a UTV Street Legal in Alabama?

Hey! This post is part of our Nationwide Street Legal UTV Guide that shows you how to make a UTV street legal from start to finish.

In short, no. In Alabama, off-highway vehicles are only allowed to use public roads in special circumstances like farming, utility maintenance, and law enforcement. It is illegal for the general public to drive an OHV on Alabama roads.

Because of how Alabama’s laws are worded, driving any UTV on public roads in Alabama is done at the operator’s risk regardless of how and where it is registered. Registering a side-by-side as street legal through Alabama is impossible because of the unique way the state handles off-road vehicles and registering out of state is possible but not recommended for reasons discussed below.

Thankfully, Alabama is one of very few places in the country where street legal UTVs are at odds with local laws. Let’s take a look at the situation in greater detail.

We have made our best effort to include all relevant details, but something we did not cover might apply to your situation. We are enthusiasts, not attorneys. This is not legal advice.

street legal utv alabama — Credit: Pursell Farms UTV Mountain Experience

Alabama’s Unique Situation

Alabama’s current approach to off-highway vehicles originated in 1985 when two letters were written to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office asking for clarification on existing off-road vehicle laws at the time. The first letter asked if the state was allowed to issue street legal registrations and license plates for off-highway vehicles, and the second letter asked what laws would apply to off-highway vehicles if they were driven on public roads. Each response was issued as an Attorney General’s Opinion, an official clarification of existing laws that carries significant legal weight of its own.

Though these Opinions predated modern UTVs and side-by-sides by decades, they formed the cornerstone of Alabama’s laws and policies for all off-highway vehicles from then until now.

The key consideration in answering your question turns upon the fact that the vehicles in question are designed specifically for off-the-road operation, and the manufacturers do not certify them for on-the-road operation.
[…]
A self-propelled vehicle not designed for use upon a highway but specifically designated as an "off-the-road vehicle" by the manufacturer thereof should not be issued a motor vehicle registration license plate. Such a vehicle is not to be used upon the streets and highways of the state, and the use of such a vehicle on the public highways prima facie constitutes a violation of S32-5A-190--reckless driving.
[…]
In summary we wish to emphasize that in both this opinion, and the previous one, we are holding that vehicles specifically designated by their manufacturers as off-the-road vehicles are not to be used on the streets and highways of this state.
Alabama Attorney General’s Office, October 29th, 1985

Note that the term “highway” in this following context means any public road.

In plain English, Alabama law says that UTVs and other machines originally manufactured as off-road vehicles cannot use public roads in the state. The law focuses not on what parts have been added to bring the vehicle into compliance, but what the vehicle was originally designed to do. Alabama Statute 32-12A-1 confirms this notion by defining Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles as being “designed and manufactured […] for off-road use.”

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Registering through Alabama is impossible

Registering a UTV as street legal through the state of Alabama would involve both the technical matter of passing a full safety inspection and the practical matter of attempting to make an off-highway vehicle street legal in a state that has expressly prohibited them from using public roads. In short, it won’t work.

One critical aspect of registering a street legal UTV in Alabama would be finding a vehicle category to register under, but none of the categories in the Alabama Vehicle Code can be used to register a common UTV:

Autocycles must have three wheels
Motorcycles cannot have more than three wheels
Low-Speed Vehicles must meet federal LSV standards including a maximum speed of 25 MPH
Mini-trucks must be less than 48” wide with a fully enclosed metal cab and governed to 25 MPH or less

All told, it is impossible to register an OHV as street legal through Alabama so long as the vehicle was originally manufactured for off-road use.

Registering through another state is not advised

Alabama is currently the only state that prohibits UTVs in this way, and because we are enthusiasts and not attorneys, we aren’t sure how any of this affects vehicles driving in Alabama with out-of-state registrations.

Every state has Registration Reciprocity laws allowing vehicles with out-of-state registrations to be driven on their roads without cause for concern. These are the laws that allow you to drive your car across state lines without making any changes to it, and Alabama’s registration reciprocity statute is not unlike that of any other state. At the same time, we know that registering out of state is a common means of securing a registration and license plate for a street legal UTV. But given that Alabama has based their stance strictly on a vehicle’s original manufacture as an off-road machine, we aren’t sure that local law enforcement would allow a UTV on their roads even if it was legally registered in another state.

If you are considering registering your UTV out of state and plan to drive it in Alabama, we would suggest contacting a legal expert before you do. We are happy to help you get registered through our Street Legal UTV Registration Services, but only with the understanding that driving any UTV or other off-highway vehicle on public roads in Alabama is done at the operator’s risk regardless of how and where it is registered.

While driving a street legal UTV in Alabama might be a risk, there are other times a street legal registration would come in handy. Being street legal would allow you to use public roads in Georgia, Tennessee, and beyond, all without a truck and trailer holding you back. Imagine traveling to your destination and parking your tow setup until the day you leave for home. Our expert team can handle the registration on your behalf, keeping you far away from tedious DMV paperwork and giving you more time to plan your next adventure. Click below to get started.

I UNDERSTAND – MAKE ME STREET LEGAL

Helmet use in Alabama

If you were to drive a street legal UTV in Alabama, all occupants would probably be expected to wear helmets and shoes. This comes directly from Alabama Statute 32-5A-245 which requires helmets and shoes for all motorcycle riders except those riding within an enclosed cab. While a street legal UTV does not meet Alabama’s definition of a motorcycle as we determined earlier, and while some UTVs do have enclosed cabs, this law is what local authorities would be most familiar with.

Keep in mind that helmet laws need to be followed on a state-by-state basis. Before you travel, learn the helmet situation in any state you plan to drive in. See other states

alabama UTV laws — Credit: Alabama State Parks: Bucks Pocket State Park

Driving a UTV in Alabama’s OHV Areas

Here’s what you need to know if you plan to use your UTV at Alabama’s public lands or OHV areas. This information applies whether your UTV is street legal or not.

Registration

In Alabama, it is optional to register your UTV or OHV with the state for private or public off-road use. Public use registration also covers private use. Although this registration is not mandatory, some OHV areas may require you to have it, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on public sand dunes or beaches in Alabama unless otherwise stated.

Equipment

Alabama does not require OHVs to have any specific equipment, though individual areas often do. Most OHV areas in the United States require a Forest Service-qualified spark arrester and a good working muffler with a maximum volume of about 80-90 decibels in addition to other basic equipment like working lights and brakes. Call ahead before you travel to determine what is required of you and your machine.

If you’re looking for places to ride in Alabama, check out:

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Laws, Codes, and Other Resources

Hey! This page is part of our Nationwide Street Legal UTV Guide which covers all 50 states plus Washington, D.C. and five US territories. It also goes in-depth on topics like registration, insurance, and what to do if you get pulled over. Check it out to learn all about street legal UTVs!

For questions outside the scope of this guide, try contacting:

Alabama Motor Vehicle Division (DMV), part of the Department of Revenue
Alabama Trails Commission, part of the University of Alabama
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources using the methods on this page
Alabama State Parks

These are the sources we used to create this guide. If you find any inaccurate or outdated information, please contact us and we will be happy to address it.