It is not possible to register a UTV in Colorado as a regular street legal vehicle for reasons discussed below. It is possible to register out of state, however a law enacted in 2021 makes off-highway vehicles illegal on Colorado roads, regardless of how and where they are registered, except on roads approved through local ordinances and in certain special circumstances statewide.

To determine specific use conditions for approved roads, including registration and equipment requirements, you will need to contact an authority in the area you plan to drive in. Stay the Trail, an official partner of the State of Colorado, maintains a list of approved roads and several maps of approved OHV roads throughout the state along with contact information for an authority in each area.

While driving a street legal UTV in Colorado might not be possible in all areas, there are other times a street legal registration would come in handy. It would allow you to drive around trails and OHV areas in Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and beyond, plus any curvy roads you encounter along the way, all without a truck and trailer holding you back. Our expert team can register your UTV as street legal 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.

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.

Colorado's Unique Situation

In Colorado, UTVs and other off-highway vehicles (OHVs) can only be driven on public roads that have been approved for OHV use by a town, city, county, or other local jurisdiction. Many local jurisdictions have approved all or some of their roads for OHV use, offering a wide range of street legal driving options.

Many states have similar laws, but Colorado’s are worded in such a way that they affect street legal UTVs registered as street legal in other states as well as those that are not registered for road use.

Thankfully, Colorado is one of very few places in the country where street legal UTVs are at odds with local laws.

2021 Colorado OHV Law

On May 7, 2021, Colorado House Bill 21-1138 was signed into law as a modification of Colorado Statute 33-14.5-108. Where the statute previously said, “No off-highway vehicle may be operated on the public streets, roads, or highways of this state,” the updated statute says, “It is unlawful to operate an off-highway vehicle on the public streets, roads, or highways of this state, regardless of the state or other jurisdiction in which the off-highway vehicle is registered or titled” with the primary exception applying to use of approved local roads.

Anyone who violates the updated law is “guilty of a class 2 petty offense and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars.”

• What counts as an OHV? When used in this context, the term Off-Highway Vehicle means “any self-propelled vehicle that is designed to travel on wheels or tracks in contact with the ground, designed primarily for use off of the public highways, and generally and commonly used to transport persons for recreational purposes.” Colorado does not specify certain dimensions or weight requirements for something to be deemed an OHV, so in practice anything from a dirt bike to an ATV, UTV, or side-by-side falls under this category.

• Are OHVs illegal on all roads in Colorado? No! Although some sources claim that the updated law makes OHVs illegal statewide, this is not the case. There are many local ordinances allowing OHVs to use certain public roads throughout Colorado. Vehicles registered as street legal in other states can also be used on these roads.

What this means for street legal UTVs in Colorado

Street legal UTVs and other OHVs can still use approved public roads throughout Colorado. These are mainly designed to give farmers, hunters, and off-road enthusiasts better access to lands they use all the time. These local laws stand a good chance of letting you do what you need to do.

Just remember that using roads that aren’t approved for OHV use is expressly illegal regardless of how and where your vehicle is registered. There are several accounts online of people being pulled over and/or ticketed for driving OHVs on unapproved roads in Colorado.

If you are familiar with street legal UTV laws nationwide, you may be wondering how Colorado’s registration reciprocity statute (Colorado Statute 42-3-117) factors into this. This statute is not unlike those found in other states; however, the specific wording of the 2021 OHV law does appear to take precedence over the more generalized reciprocity statute in practice.

Approved roads can still be used

This updated law does not change the fact that many towns, counties, and other local jurisdictions in Colorado have approved OHVs on all or some of their roads. Stay the Trail, an official partner of the State of Colorado, maintains a list of approved roads and several maps of approved OHV roads throughout the state along with contact information for each area.

UTVs registered as street legal in other states can use these roads as well, though in some cases you might need a Colorado OHV Permit, area-specific paperwork, or additional equipment like a spark arrester. Contact the area you plan to operate in to see what is required of you and your machine.

Getting street legal

Being street legal comes with far-reaching benefits that go beyond the borders of Colorado. Imagine going to your favorite spot in a neighboring state, leaving your truck and trailer at the hotel, and driving your street legal UTV wherever you want to go. All that and more is possible with a street legal UTV – you can still use approved OHV roads in Colorado, but your UTV would also be street legal in other places.

We are happy to help you get registered through our Street Legal UTV Registration Services, but only with the understanding that street legal UTVs and other off-highway vehicles can only use approved roads in Colorado.

Why Colorado Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

In order to register a UTV as a regular street legal vehicle through the Colorado DMV, it would need to fit Colorado’s definition of a street legal vehicle and pass a Colorado motor vehicle inspection, however Colorado’s laws do not allow for this.

Registering as a passenger vehicle would involve both the technical matter of passing a full vehicle safety inspection and the practical matter of attempting to register a street legal UTV in a state with very specific laws regarding their on-road use. What’s more, none of the categories found in the Colorado Vehicle Code can be used to register a UTV:

• Autocycles must have three wheels

• Motorcycles cannot have more than three wheels

• Golf Cars cannot have a top speed over 20 MPH

• Kit Vehicles must be assembled from a kit

Some electric UTVs could potentially be registered as Low-Speed Electric Vehicles in Colorado since the only legal requirements are that the vehicle have at least three wheels, a VIN, a steering apparatus other than handlebars, and electricity as its primary propulsion method. However, LSEVs in Colorado are extremely restricted both in terms of speed and what roads they can travel on. Additionally, the definition of “low speed” could be brought into question.

Want to see the laws for yourself? The resources we used to reach these conclusions are linked in the Laws, Codes, and Other Resources section below.

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Colorado

If you drive a street legal UTV in Colorado on an out-of-state registration, there are some things you will need to know.

Each local jurisdiction has its own rules pertaining to approved OHV roads. Some require a Colorado OHV Registration while others require a Colorado OHV Permit as described in the next section. Additionally, some areas require certain equipment that others do not. As a baseline, plan on having the equipment described in the next section. Check the resources of the area you plan to drive in or contact local authorities to learn more.

Keep in mind that street legal UTVs need to observe all laws and rules of the road just as a car would and may be subject to additional restrictions in some parts of Colorado. Helmet laws could change as well, though Colorado does not have specific helmet laws for street legal UTVs statewide. Relevant laws will change if you cross state lines, especially helmet laws. Read about other states here.

If your UTV is registered and plated somewhere else, we suggest carrying physical copies of your UTV’s registration and insurance proofs and being knowledgeable about the ways your vehicle is legal for road use (see Knowing Your Legality).

All roadgoing vehicles must adhere to noise restrictions described in Colorado Statutes Title 25 Chapter 12.

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Colorado’s OHV Areas

For more information and to register online, visit Colorado Parks & Wildlife: OHV Registration and Permits.

OHV Registration

Whether your UTV is street legal or not, if you plan to operate as an OHV in Colorado (on trails, public lands, OHV areas, etc.) you must obtain a Colorado OHV Registration if you are a resident of Colorado. If you are a nonresident or your UTV is street legal with an out-of-state registration, you will not need to register the vehicle with Colorado unless it remains in the state for more than 30 consecutive days. Beyond that point you would need to register it with Colorado as an OHV.

OHV Permit

Colorado residents with plated vehicles (like dirt bikes, Jeeps, etc.) must purchase a Colorado OHV Permit to use OHV areas. If you are a nonresident or your UTV is registered as street legal through another state, you will still need a Colorado OHV Permit. The corresponding decal must be displayed on the upper forward half of your UTV in a clearly visible place, like the front left fender.

Equipment

Any UTV operated off-road as an OHV in Colorado will need:

• United States Forest Service qualified or approved spark arrester

• Good working muffler in constant operation with no cutouts or bypasses

• Brakes must be capable of decelerating the vehicle from 20 MPH at 14 feet per second or faster

• If driven between sunset and sunrise, at least one headlight shining 100 feet or more

• If driven between sunset and sunrise, at least one red taillight visible from 500 feet or more

Noise restrictions

OHVs operated off-road in Colorado must be no louder than 96 dB(A) for vehicles made after January 1, 1998, and 99 dB(A) for vehicles made before that date. This requirement also applies to street legal UTVs operated in OHV areas. Free sound testing is available through the Colorado State Parks system.

Roads in OHV areas

Roads within public lands like State Parks and National Forests are sometimes open to OHVs. This is usually determined by the area itself and does not have to align with local laws, so check with management to confirm before you travel.

It is illegal for UTVs and other off-highway vehicles to use public roads in Colorado except for roads that have been approved for OHV use by a local town, city, or county. OHVs are only permitted to use other roads during approved special events and declared emergency conditions. Crossing roads is also permitted.

Certain equipment may be required to operate under these exceptions, so check with your local area before you take to the road.

Stay the Trail, an official partner of the State of Colorado, maintains a list of approved roads and several maps of approved OHV roads throughout the state along with contact resources to obtain more information.

Crossing roads

Off-highway vehicles not registered for road use in Colorado may cross public roads at approximately a 90-degree angle to the road, at a level spot where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, after coming to a complete stop before the shoulder (or road surface if there is no shoulder) and after yielding to traffic. Divided highways must be crossed at an intersection with another road or highway.

Special exceptions

OHVs not otherwise street legal can use public roads in Colorado during special events and declared emergency conditions.

OHVs used for certain agricultural, industrial, and official purposes sometimes qualify for additional road use exceptions and may be exempt from registration requirements. Contact the DMV or local law enforcement to learn more.

Roads within public lands like State Parks and National Forests are sometimes open to OHVs. This is usually determined by the area itself and often differs from local laws, so call ahead before you travel.

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

• Colorado Department of Motor Vehicles

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife

• Stay the Trail, a third-party organization, provides local contact information on this page

• You can also try contacting the DMV or local law enforcement with additional questions

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.

Note: The Colorado State Legislature links directly to the Colorado Code on LexisNexis. To ensure ease of access, we have provided Justia links below using the most recent versions at the time of publication.

2021 Colorado OHV Law

Colorado House Bill 21-1138 overview

Colorado House Bill 21-1138 as signed (PDF)

Official press release from Colorado State Patrol

Operating as an OHV

Colorado Parks and Wildlife:

• Registration and permits

• Noise restrictions

• Various OHV laws

Colorado Statutes Title 33:

• 33-14.5-101 (Definition of off-highway Vehicles)

• 33-14.5-102 (Nonresident OHV registration requirements)

• 33-14.5-108.5 (Crossing roads, highways, and railroad tracks)

• 33-14.5-112 (Off-highway use permit details)

Colorado Statutes Title 25 Chapter 12 (Noise requirements)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Colorado Statutes Title 33:

• 33-14.5-108 (Road use exceptions for OHVs which are not street legal)

• 33-14.5-109 (Minimum equipment for UTVs which are not street legal)

• 33-14.5-110 (Requirements during road operation of OHVs which are not street legal)

Miscellaneous resources

United States Forest Service: OHVs in the San Juan National Forest (PDF)

Colorado DOT: Motorcycle Laws

Colorado Statutes Title 42:

• 42-1-102 (Definitions of other vehicle types, highway)

• 42-3-117 (Colorado vehicle registration reciprocity)

• 42-4-232 (Motorcycle eye protection requirements)

• 42-4-1502 (Colorado motorcycle helmet law)