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.
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.
View this post on InstagramTo 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:
Additional resources used to reach these conclusions are linked in the Laws, Codes, and Other Resources section below.
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.
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.
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.
There are also some parts we suggest leaving off which are rarely allowed on street legal vehicles in any state.
