It is not possible to register a UTV in Iowa as street legal for reasons discussed below.

However, it is possible to make a UTV street legal in Iowa by registering in another state. The resulting title, registration, and license plate will allow you to drive your side-by-side on roads, highways, and city streets in Iowa and beyond.

This page covers street legal UTVs in Iowa from top to bottom including relevant laws, details about OHV areas, and times when a UTV not registered as street legal can be driven on local roads. Review the following resources to learn more.

Ready to get legal? Start getting legal today with the help of our expert team.

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.

Why Iowa Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

Iowa classifies most off-highway vehicles, including UTVs and side-by-sides, as All-Terrain Vehicles. The state defines those as vehicles “designed primarily for off-road recreational use” and as such they cannot be registered as regular street legal vehicles through the Iowa MVD.

Additionally, none of the vehicle categories found in the Iowa Motor Vehicle Code can be used to register a UTV for street legal use. Of the possible candidates:

• Autocycles are required to have three wheels

• Motorcycles cannot have more than three wheels

• Low-Speed Vehicles must meet federal LSV qualifications including a top speed of 25 MPH

Additional resources used to reach these conclusions are linked in the Laws, Codes, and Other Resources section below.

How to get street legal

In states like Montana and South Dakota, the vehicle code allows UTVs to be registered as street legal vehicles. You can register your UTV in those states without ever leaving your home. Once registration is complete and the required equipment is installed, your UTV will be street legal in Iowa with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

If you want to ride Manawa or Lakeview without needing a truck and trailer to get you there, or if you just want to drive around the neighborhood with the wind in your hair, a street legal UTV will open a world of possibilities. If the thought of the DMV makes you feel like passing out, let our team of experts register your side-by-side on your behalf and use the extra time to plan your next adventure.

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Iowa

Because the only way to make a UTV street legal in Iowa is to register in another state, getting legal does not involve any parts specific to Iowa.

Thanks to reciprocity agreements between states, a vehicle only needs to have the parts required by the state where it is registered. That means a UTV with an out-of-state registration can be driven on Iowa roads without needing any equipment required by Iowa and without needing to pass an Iowa inspection.

• Here is what is legally required for registrations in Montana and South Dakota (other states)

• These are the minimum parts we suggest having on any street legal UTV

There are also some parts we suggest leaving off which are rarely allowed on street legal vehicles in any state.

Driving a Street Legal UTV on Public Roads in Iowa

Vehicles licensed in other states can be driven legally in Iowa thanks to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Iowa’s registration reciprocity statute is linked in the resources below. You should not need to worry about title transfer windows if you maintain residency in another state or your UTV is registered to an LLC in another state. In some cases, it might not be possible to transfer your registration to Iowa from another state because of vehicle type mismatches between states.

Because street legal UTVs are a small niche, local law enforcement may not know that a UTV can be made street legal in Iowa. While we are not attorneys, 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).

Keep in mind that street legal UTVs in Iowa need to observe all laws and rules of the road just as a car would.

Helmet laws in Iowa

• You should not need to wear a helmet on public roads in Iowa

• Iowa requires all occupants to wear helmets in OHV areas

We usually suggest wearing a helmet whenever a state’s motorcycle law requires you to, but Iowa is one of the only states that does not have a motorcycle helmet law of any sort. That should mean local law enforcement will not expect you to wear a helmet in a street legal UTV, but for safety reasons we still suggest wearing one.

Keep in mind that helmet laws need to be followed on a state-by-state basis. Be sure to check the laws of any other states you plan to travel to.

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Iowa’s OHV Areas

The Iowa DNR OHV Guide features laws, rules, registration resources, and maps of Iowa OHV areas – pretty much everything you need to know to ride in Iowa.

Registration

Whether your UTV is street legal or not, if you plan to operate as an off-highway vehicle in Iowa (in OHV areas, public lands, etc.) you must obtain an OHV registration and permit through Iowa and display the corresponding decal on the rear of your UTV. These permits are available online through the Iowa DNR, at local County Recorder offices, and anywhere hunting and fishing permits are sold.

If your UTV is street legal with an out-of-state registration, or if you are not a resident of Iowa, you will need a special DNR Nonresident User Permit which can be obtained from the same places. This is required even if you already have a valid OHV registration elsewhere as Iowa does not offer reciprocity for off-road registrations.

Note that resident permits are assigned to specific machines while nonresident permits are assigned to the purchaser.

• Register for Iowa OHV permits here: Iowa DNR OHV Registration

Equipment

Any UTV operated as an OHV in Iowa is required to have a muffler with a maximum volume of 96 dB. Other basic equipment is required, like working brakes and lights. The state does not require a Forest Service-qualified spark arrester though many OHV areas do require one. Some areas may have their own requirements regarding equipment, engine size restrictions by rider age, or other factors, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

Iowa requires all occupants to wear helmets in OHV areas. This rule will apply whether your vehicle is street legal or not.

This section is about vehicles that do not have street legal registrations.

Towns, counties, and cities in Iowa can designate specific roads for OHV use. The statewide speed limit for OHVs on public roads in Iowa is 35 MPH.

In Iowa, landowners whose property borders any public road except an interstate can legally drive UTVs and other off-highway vehicles between their property line and the road’s shoulder. For roads without shoulders, the vehicle must remain at least 5 feet from the edge of the road.

Check the resources of the areas you plan to drive in to see what roads are allowed and what specific requirements are involved. You can also try contacting a local DMV office or local authorities.

Registration

Before operating on approved public roads, UTVs and other off-highway vehicles must be registered with the state of Iowa as described in the previous section on OHV areas.

Requirements

To use approved OHV roads in Iowa, vehicles must have:

• At least one headlight visible from 500 feet away

• At least one taillight

• Good working brakes

• Muffler with maximum volume of 96 dB

• Lights must be on at night

• Driver must have a valid driver’s license

• Maximum allowed speed is 35 MPH

• Vehicle must be registered as an OHV

Crossing roads

OHVs may cross approved roadways throughout Iowa providing the vehicle stops before entering the road (or shoulder if one is present), yields to any present traffic, and crosses when safe at approximately a 90-degree angle to the roadway. Crossings of divided highway must take place at an intersection with another public road.

Special exceptions

In Iowa, some OHVs used for specialized purposes like agriculture are given expanded road use privileges and might not be required to register with the state. Contact your local DMV or local law enforcement to learn more.

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

• Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division (DMV)

• Iowa Department of Natural Resources

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: Iowa refers to most off-highway vehicles, including ATVs, UTVs, and side-by-sides, as All-Terrain Vehicles.

General resources

Iowa DNR OHV Guide (PDF)

Iowa DNR OHV Information (Riding locations, rules, and safety)

Iowa DNR OHV Registration

Operating as an OHV

Iowa Statute 321I.31 (Registration required for OHVs)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Iowa Statute 321I.10 (Use of public roads; crossings; counties designate roads)

Iowa Statute 321.234A (Road use requirements, special exceptions)

Other resources

Iowa Statute 321.1 (Definitions of All-Terrain Vehicle, other vehicle types, highway)

Iowa Statute 321.53 (Iowa vehicle registration reciprocity)

Iowa State Code