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

However, it is possible to make a UTV street legal in Oregon by registering it 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 Oregon and beyond.

This page covers street legal UTVs in Oregon 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 hit the open road? Register as street legal out of state 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 Oregon Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

If you wanted to register a UTV as a regular street legal vehicle through the Oregon DMV it would need to fit Oregon’s definition of a street legal vehicle and pass an Oregon motor vehicle inspection, however Oregon’s laws do not allow for this. Additional resources used to reach these conclusions are linked in the Laws, Codes, and Other Resources section below.

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

• Autocycles are defined as having 3 wheels

• Motorcycles cannot have more than 3 wheels

• Low-Speed Vehicles must have a top speed above 20 MPH but not exceeding 25 MPH

Oregon.gov specifically addresses street legal UTVs by saying:

A quad or side-by-side cannot become street legal under current Oregon law. These vehicles were never intended for on road use. The engine emissions do not meet federal highway emission standards, do not have the proper equipment and cannot be retrofitted with equipment to become street legal.

Not through Oregon, that is.

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, and once registration is complete and the required equipment is installed your UTV will be street legal in Oregon with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

This little-known approach means you can camp on the coast at night, drive Highway 101 in the morning, ride Prospect in the afternoon, and watch the sunset over Crater Lake, all without a truck and trailer holding you back. Since we’re already jealous anyway, why not let us do the hard work of registering your UTV as street legal while you’re out riding?

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Oregon

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

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

In addition to the parts disallowed under the Oregon Vehicle Equipment Code, there are other parts we suggest leaving off which are rarely allowed on any street legal vehicles in any state.

Driving a Street Legal UTV on Public Roads in Oregon

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

Vehicles licensed in other states can be driven legally in Oregon thanks to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Oregon’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 Oregon from another state because of vehicle type mismatches between states.

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

Helmet laws in Oregon

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

• Occupants younger than 18 should wear helmets as discussed below

• Occupants younger than 18 are required to wear helmets in OHV areas

Oregon does require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets and eye protection, but this law does not apply to persons riding “within an enclosed cab.” With that said, the state does require helmet use during the rare circumstances that UTVs and other OHVs which are not street legal can use public roads. For these reasons and for safety reasons, helmets should be worn while operating a UTV on public roads in Oregon especially by occupants younger than 18.

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Oregon’s OHV Areas

Whenever you operate in OHV areas, public lands, and other off-road situations, your UTV will usually be considered an off-highway vehicle even if it is street legal. This can change based on location, so be sure to call ahead to confirm what is required of you and your machine.

Learn more:

• Oregon.gov OHV FAQ

• Oregon.gov OHV Permits

• Where to Ride in Oregon: Interactive Map

Resident registration

Whether your UTV is street legal or not, if you plan to operate as an off-highway vehicle in Oregon you must obtain an OHV registration through Oregon and display proof of it on your UTV. Decals must be visible from the rear of the vehicle.

Nonresident registration

If your UTV is street legal with an out-of-state registration or if you are not a resident of Oregon, you will need an Oregon Out-of-State OHV Registration unless you have a valid OHV registration from an eligible state or your state does not offer them.

There are 15 states that do not have a reciprocal relationship with Oregon for OHV registrations. Vehicles from these states will require an Oregon Out-of-State OHV Registration to operate as an OHV in Oregon.

• Arizona

• Colorado

• Idaho

• Iowa

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Montana

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• North Dakota

• Texas

• Utah

• Wisconsin

• Wyoming

The other 34 states either have reciprocity with Oregon or do not have a permit program themselves. In these cases, you would not need Oregon’s OHV permit.

Equipment

Oregon requires the following equipment for any vehicle used as an OHV:

• Brakes must be in good working order

• Chain guard must be present if vehicle is chain driven

• Fire extinguisher must be onboard (dry chemical, 2+ lbs., UL or similar approval)

• Floor pans must be intact and effective at containing feet

• Fuel tank must be securely mounted (tight connections, purpose-built for carrying fuel, constructed of an approved safety material)

• Muffler must have a maximum volume of 97 dB(A)

• Roll bar(s) must be capable of supporting the vehicle’s weight

• Seats must be securely mounted and must all have quick-release seatbelts

• Spark arrester must be operational

• Windshield wipers

Other details of note:

• UTVs are required to be equipped with working headlights and taillights when operated between one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour after sunrise.

• When operating on sand, UTVs must display a red or orange flag measuring at least 12” long and 8” wide, mounted on the vehicle, and displayed at least 9’ above the ground.

• Occupants younger than 18 are required to wear helmets statewide.

• Insurance is not required unless riding on public roads.

OHV areas within Oregon may have their own requirements regarding equipment, helmet use, engine size restrictions by rider age, and special rules for driving on their roads, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

Spark arresters

During fire season, any UTV operated as an OHV in Oregon is required to have a Forest Service-qualified spark arrester. Due to the ever-present risk of fires, we suggest running an approved and unmodified spark arrester year-round in Oregon.

Driving on ocean shores

Off-highway vehicles cannot be driven on Oregon’s ocean shores except by individuals possessing an Oregon Ocean Shore ATV Operating Permit. More information can be found under the Riding Areas section of the Oregon.gov OHV FAQ.

UTVs and other off-highway vehicles which are not registered as street legal through the means described above can be operated on Oregonian roads in limited circumstances. Local jurisdictions including towns, cities, and counties may expand or restrict these permissions, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

• Oregon allows OHVs to be driven on public roads:

• When a road is specifically designated for OHV travel

• When a road section is part of a designated trail or access route

• On roads not maintained for normal vehicle traffic (unmaintained roads)

• When a road is covered by ice or snow and closed to normal vehicle traffic

• During emergency conditions when normal vehicle traffic is impractical

• When the OHV is being loaded or unloaded

OHVs are not allowed on shoulders, medians, or banks in Oregon.

Crossing roads

OHVs may cross public roads at approximately a 90-degree angle to the road after coming to a complete stop and yielding to traffic. State highways and other highways must be crossed either at an intersection with another road or at a location more than 100 feet from an intersection, not in between.

Railroads may only be crossed at established public crossings. Railroad rights-of-way may only be driven on when allowed by posted signage or in an emergency.

Required equipment, registration, and insurance

To drive on public roads in Oregon, an OHV must have the equipment and registration described in the previous section on OHV areas. Helmets are required on public roads for occupants younger than 18. Access routes and trails often require helmets for all occupants. Insurance is required for OHVs operated on public roads (see Street Legal UTV Insurance).

Defining your vehicle

There are four off-highway vehicle categories in Oregon:

• Class I ATV: Vehicles steered with handlebars (quads, 3-wheelers, 6x6s, and others)

• Class II ATV: Rock crawlers, dune buggies, and roadgoing vehicles like Jeeps

• Class III ATV: Two-wheeled off-road motorcycles

• Class IV ATV: UTVs, side-by-sides, and similar vehicles

Your vehicle’s classification will determine what equipment you need and what restrictions apply. The information on this page is centered around UTVs, most of which will be considered Class IV ATVs.

Certain vehicles might fall under a different classification based on length, width, weight, and other parameters detailed in Oregon.gov: ATV/OHV Classifications.

Special exceptions

OHVs used for certain industrial and governmental purposes may qualify for expanded restrictions. Contact your local DMV or local authorities to learn more.

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

• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

• Oregon Department of Forestry

• Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles

• Oregon Parks and Recreation

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.

The Oregon Code only allows for linking on the chapter level. The links below will get you to the right chapter, then use your browser’s Find function to locate the statute number in question.

Note: Oregon refers to most off-highway vehicles as ATVs.

General information

Where to Ride in Oregon: Interactive Map

Oregon.gov ATV/OHV Classifications

Oregon.gov OHV FAQ and Helpful Tips

Oregon.gov OHV Permits (Where to buy, out-of-state info, and which states offer reciprocity)

Oregon Statute 802.500 and subsequent statutes (Oregon vehicle registration reciprocity)

Operating as an OHV

Forest Service: OHVs in National Forests in Washington and Oregon (PDF)

Oregon.gov OHV Sound Limits

Oregon Administrative Code 736-004-0065 (Placement of OHV permit decals)

Oregon Statute 390.550 and Oregon Administrative Code 736-004-0015 (Definitions of Oregon’s ATV classes)

Oregon Statute 390.580 (OHV permits)

Oregon Statute 390.590 and Oregon Administrative Code 736-004-0070 (Out-of-state OHV permits and reciprocity)

Oregon Statute 477.645 (Spark arresters; exemptions)

Oregon Statute 821.030 and Oregon Administrative Code 735-116-0000 (OHV equipment requirements)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Oregon Statute 821.055 and 821.200 (OHV use on public roads; crossings)

Oregon Statute 821.190 (Illegal to drive on shoulders, etc.)

Oregon Statute 821.191 (Agricultural use of OHVs)

Oregon Statute 821.202 (On-road helmet use)

Miscellaneous

Oregon Code Title 59 Chapter 801 (Definitions of other vehicle categories)

Oregon Code Title 59 Chapter 815 (Vehicle equipment generally; parts allowed and disallowed)

Oregon Code Title 59 Chapter 821 (Off-road vehicles)

Oregon Statute 801.305 (Definition of a highway)

Oregon Statute 814.269 (Oregon motorcycle helmet law)

Oregon Statute 814.290 (Helmet exemption for enclosed cab)

Oregon Administrative Rules Database

Oregon Code