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

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

This page covers street legal UTVs in Ohio 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.

Rather skip to the fun part? Start getting street 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 Ohio Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

Ohio defines an All-Purpose Vehicle as “any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for cross-country travel on land and water, or on more than one type of terrain, and steered by wheels.” This broad category encompasses everything from ATVs and dirt bikes to UTVs and side-by-sides. Anything fitting the description of an All-Purpose Vehicle cannot be registered as street legal in Ohio.

A UTV cannot be registered under any other vehicle category found in the Ohio Motor Vehicle Code. Of the possible candidates:

• Motorcycles cannot have more than 3 wheels or an “occupant compartment top”

• Cab-Enclosed Motorcycles cannot have more than 3 wheels

• Motor-Driven Cycles cannot have more than 3 wheels

• Autocycles must have 3 wheels

• Under-Speed Vehicles must have a top speed of 20 MPH or less

• Low Speed Vehicles must have a top speed greater than 20 MPH but not more than 25 MPH

• Utility Vehicles are used in farming, construction, and certain other industries

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

Possibility of registering as a Mini-Truck

Ohio defines a Mini-Truck as a vehicle with 4 wheels, an engine 660cc or less (or an electric motor 7500w or less), weight between 900 and 2200 lbs., standard seating (non-straddle), an enclosed cabin, and a rear cargo area or bed. Additionally, the vehicle must not have been “originally manufactured to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards.” Some UTVs might fit these requirements, however Mini-Trucks in Ohio must also pass a state inspection, at which point the definition of an “enclosed cabin” and the practicality of registering a UTV as a Mini-Truck would be brought into question by the inspection facility and, if it passed, by the BMV during registration.

Even if a person were to succeed in registering a UTV this way, Mini-Trucks fall far short of being fully street legal in Ohio, being restricted to roads with posted speed limits of 35 MPH or less which have been specifically approved for Mini-Trucks through local ordinances. A UTV registered as a Mini-Truck in Ohio would also be subject to different laws in other states, making it difficult or impossible to travel across state lines.

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 Ohio with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

From Pine Lake to Pike State, Ohio has a diverse selection of off-road areas for adventurers of all skill levels. Trouble is, most of the best riding spots are spread far and wide around the state’s perimeter. A street legal UTV gives you the freedom to travel the entire state of Ohio without a truck and trailer holding you back. Grab the family, grab a friend, or grab some camping gear and head out solo.

Whether your dream weekend is cruising the shores of Lake Erie or clawing your way through the Appalachian foothills, or just running your weekly errands with the wind in your hair, a street legal UTV will make those dreams a reality. Of course, the thought of dealing with the BMV could snap a person out of the deepest of dreams. Thankfully, our team of experts can register your UTV as street legal on your behalf, giving you more time to dream up your next big adventure.

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Ohio

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

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 Ohio roads without needing any equipment required by Ohio and without needing to pass an Ohio 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 Ohio

Vehicles licensed in other states can be driven legally in Ohio thanks to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Ohio’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 Ohio 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 Ohio. While we are not attorneys, we always 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 Ohio need to observe all laws and rules of the road just as a car would.

Helmet laws in Ohio

• Ohio does not have specific helmet laws for street legal UTVs

• Occupants younger than 18 should wear helmets on public roads explained below

• All occupants are required to wear helmets in OHV areas in Ohio

Ohio requires all motorcycle riders to wear eye protection and riders younger than 18 must wear helmets (as well as older riders on a novice license). However, these laws do not apply to “an autocycle or cab-enclosed motorcycle when the occupant compartment top is in place enclosing the occupants.”

While Ohio’s legal definitions of motorcycles and autocycles do not fit a conventional street legal UTV, it stands to reason that local law enforcement might expect occupants younger than 18 to wear helmets in street legal UTVs in Ohio since that is what they will be most familiar with. For safety reasons we suggest wearing a helmet whenever you operate a UTV on public roads.

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

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Ohio’s OHV Areas

Registration

Whether your UTV is street legal or not, if you plan to operate as an off-highway vehicle in Ohio (in OHV areas, public lands, etc.) you must obtain an OHV registration through Ohio and display the corresponding off-highway license plate and identification stickers on your UTV.

If your UTV is street legal with an out-of-state registration, or if you are not a resident of Ohio, Ohio does offer out-of-state OHV permits but you will not need one if your vehicle already has a valid OHV registration from another state.

• Registrations for off-highway vehicles including dirt bikes, UTVs, and ATVs can be acquired at any local Ohio BMV office. See locations

• Having an Ohio OHV license plate does not make your vehicle street legal, though it does allow for limited road use as covered in the next section

Equipment

Any UTV operated as an OHV in Ohio is required to meet the following requirements:

• If used during darkness, at least one headlight revealing objects at 100+ feet

• If used during darkness, at least one red taillight visible from 500+ feet

• Adequate brakes

• Functioning muffler

• All occupants must wear helmets

• Lights must be on during darkness

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. OHV areas within Ohio 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.

UTVs and other off-highway vehicles that are not registered as street legal can use public roads in Ohio in limited circumstances.

In Ohio, off-highway vehicles can be driven on and next to public roads:

• On roads marked 35 MPH or less when approved by local ordinance

• On other roads only during declared states of emergency

• Alongside a road between riding areas or to/from a loading or unloading point

State highways are defined as those outside the jurisdiction of a municipality.

Driving on the shoulder

UTVs and other off-highway vehicles in Ohio can drive on the berm or shoulder of local and rural roads excluding freeways, state highways, and limited-access highways.

Local jurisdictions

Towns, cities, and other local jurisdictions in Ohio can choose to allow off-highway vehicles on roads marked 35 MPH or less. Call the BMV or local authorities to confirm which roads are approved in your area.

Required registration, equipment, and inspection

Before being used on public roads in Ohio, an OHV must pass a safety inspection and be registered with the state as an off-highway vehicle. Equipment requirements are not specified but most likely match the requirements for off-road OHVs. These topics are detailed in the previous section on OHV areas.

Crossing roads

Off-highway vehicles may cross roads in Ohio providing they yield to traffic, cross safely, and do not interfere with traffic. Freeways, state highways, and limited-access highways cannot be crossed except during declared states of emergency.

Driving on islands in Lake Erie

Special rules apply for islands in Lake Erie. There, OHVs can be operated on all roads including state highways, limited-access highways, and freeways between November 1st and April 13th provided all traffic laws are obeyed, the driver has a valid driver’s license, the vehicle is properly equipped, and the owner maintains proof of financial responsibility for both on-road and off-road use of the vehicle. Contact the BMV or local authorities to learn more.

Other special exceptions

UTVs and other OHVs used in industries like farming and construction may qualify to be classified as Utility Vehicles. This classification comes with expanded driving permissions relating to the vehicle’s use. Contact the BMV or local authorities to learn more.

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

• Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

• Ohio Department of Natural Resources

• Ohio State Highway Patrol

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.

General information

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles locations (Locations to register an OHV in Ohio)

Ohio Department of Public Safety: Titling, Registering, & Operating OHVs (PDF)

Mini-trucks and utility vehicles

Ohio Statute 45-11.214 and 45-11.215 (Use of public roads)

Ohio Statute 45-19.401 (Use of mini-trucks as utility vehicles)

Operating as an OHV

Ohio Statute 45-19.02 (Registration of OHVs)

Ohio Statute 45-19.04 (Registration plates and stickers)

Ohio Statute 45-19.09 (Out-of-state registrations)

Ohio Statute 45-19.20 (OHV equipment requirements)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Ohio Statute 45-11.215 (Local authorities)

Ohio Statute 45-19.40 (Prohibited uses)

Ohio Statute 45-19.41 (Operation on roads, crossing roads)

Other resources

Hubbard Township Police Department ATV Laws

Ohio Statutes Chapter 45-19: Special Vehicles

Ohio Statute 45-01.01 (Defines motor vehicle categories, state highway)

Ohio Statute 45-03.37 (Ohio vehicle registration reciprocity)

Ohio Statute 45-11.53 (Ohio motorcycle helmet law)

Ohio Statute 45-19.01 (Defines all-purpose vehicles, highways, mini-trucks, etc.)

Ohio Statute 45-19.21 (Noise testing)

Ohio Statute 45-19.401 (Operation of mini-trucks)

Ohio Revised Code

Ohio BMV