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

However, it is possible to make a UTV street legal in Missouri 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 Missouri and beyond.

This page covers street legal UTVs in Missouri 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 on the road? Skip the hassle and start the process 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 Missouri Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

The Missouri Motor Vehicle Code features three categories for vehicles “manufactured and used exclusively for off-highway use.” Most mainstream UTVs will fit into one of these three categories in Missouri.

• All-Terrain Vehicles: Up to 50” wide, dry weight up to 1,500 lbs., and 3+ nonhighway tires

• Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROHVs): Between 50” and 80” wide from outside of rim to outside of rim, dry weight up to 3,500lbs., 4+ nonhighway tires, and “may have access to ATV trails”

• Utility Vehicles: Identical to ROHVs except for having either 4 or 6 wheels and being used “primarily for landscaping, lawn care, or maintenance purposes”

According to the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Missouri Motor Vehicle Titling Manual (PDF), “Utility and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles do not meet the definition of a motor vehicle” and “will not be titled and registered” as street legal vehicles in Missouri, though they can sometimes use rural roads under strict circumstances as described in a later section below.

Looking at other potential registration categories, Missouri defines autocycles as having three wheels and motorcycles as having two wheels, and kit vehicles must be assembled by “a person other than a generally recognized manufacturer,” meaning UTVs cannot be registered through these categories either. 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 Missouri with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

Ever thought about driving your UTV down to the Arch and checking out the mile-long graffiti wall? What about driving the Glade Top Trail, flying down 125 to the Peel Ferry, or just riding out to Chadwick or Potawatomi without a truck and trailer holding you back? A street legal UTV will give you the freedom to do all that and more. Our expert team can do the hard part by registering your UTV as street legal while you figure out where you’re going to drive it first.

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Missouri

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

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 Missouri roads without needing any equipment required by Missouri and without needing to pass a Missouri 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 Missouri

Vehicles licensed in other states can be driven legally in Missouri thanks to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Missouri’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 Missouri 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 Missouri. 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 Missouri need to observe all laws and rules of the road just as a car would.

Helmet laws in Missouri

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

• Helmets are suggested for occupants younger than 26

• You may be required to wear a helmet in some OHV areas within Missouri

Missouri’s motorcycle helmet law states that any motorcyclist over the age of 26 does not need to wear a helmet if they carry proof of active health insurance. Younger riders must wear helmets regardless of insurance status. Occupants of autocycles, defined in Missouri as three-wheeled vehicles like the Polaris Slingshot, are not required to wear helmets regardless of age.

With all that in mind, we suggest wearing a helmet in a street legal UTV in Missouri if you are younger than 26 since this is what local law enforcement will most likely be expecting. For safety reasons, we suggest wearing a helmet whenever you drive 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 Missouri’s OHV Areas

Registration

Missouri does not require state-level registration to use off-highway vehicles within OHV areas, public lands, and other similar off-road spaces.

Equipment

Missouri does not require any specific equipment for UTVs used off-road beyond basic things like working headlights and taillights. Many OHV areas in the United States require a Forest Service-qualified spark arrester and a maximum exhaust volume of about 80-90 decibels. Specific areas within Missouri may have their own equipment requirements and helmet use policies, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

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

UTVs and other off-highway vehicles in Missouri can be driven on public roads statewide within 3 miles of the owner’s primary residence. Additionally, cities, towns, and counties can issue permits allowing OHVs to use all or some of the roads in the area.

Local jurisdictions

Some local areas have approved OHV use on all or some of their roads. Note that the statewide 3-mile rule does not necessarily override the need for a local permit to operate on roads within municipalities. In some cases, you would still need a permit to use those roads if one is available. County permits usually apply to rural roads only and exclude towns and cities as well as highways, interstates, and other major surface roads.

Local areas usually have additional requirements as well. For example, the city of Eldon requires ROHVs to have rollover protection, slow-moving vehicle signage, and proof of financial responsibility in addition to the city’s road use permit which applies only within the city limits of Eldon.

Check local online resources, contact your local DMV, or talk with local law enforcement to learn what is possible in your area.

Required registration

No state-level registration is required to use a UTV or other off-highway vehicle on Missouri roads, but many towns and counties require their own permits to use approved roads in those areas.

Required equipment

The following equipment is required to use an off-highway vehicle on public roads in Missouri:

• At least one headlight

• At least one taillight

• Roll bar or roll cage

• Lights must always be on

• Seat belts must be equipped and used

• Helmets may be required in some areas

Crossing roads

We were unable to find any official resources stating how and when an OHV can cross public roads in Missouri. Help us complete this section by contacting us if you have more information. In the meantime, we suggest asking your local DMV or local authorities.

Special exceptions

Additional statewide road use permissions are granted for special purposes like farming and agriculture, official government use, and limited use by certain handicapped persons. Qualifying purposes are listed in the Missouri Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Manual (PDF) section 9-2 and in Missouri Statute 304.033. Contact your local DMV or local authorities to learn more.

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

• Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles

• Missouri Department of Revenue

• Missouri State Parks

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.

Operating as an OHV

Missouri OHV Operation Handbook (PDF)

Missouri OHV Registration Information

Missouri Statute 301.010 (Definitions of ATV, autocycle, ROHV, Utility Vehicle, highway)

Missouri Statute 307.198 (ATV spark arresters)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Missouri Statute 304.032 (Utility OHV road use)

Missouri Statute 304.033 (Recreational OHV road use)

Other resources

City of Eldon: ROHV Permits and Other Requirements (Found on eCode360)

Missouri Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Manual (PDF)

Missouri Secretary of State 11 CSR 50-2.335 (PDF) (Autocycle inspection requirements)

Missouri Secretary of State 12 CSR 20-2 (PDF) (Missouri vehicle registration reciprocity)

Missouri State Highway Patrol Motorcycle Inspection Manual (PDF)

Missouri Statute 300.348 and 304.013 (ATV use on public roads)

Missouri Statute 302.020 (Missouri motorcycle helmet law)

Missouri Statute 304.005 (Missouri autocycle helmet law)

Missouri Statute 304.019 (Motorcycle hand signals)

Missouri Statute 307.128 (Motorcycle auxiliary lighting)

Missouri Statutes