UTVs and other off-highway vehicles in Virginia can only use certain public roads for limited distances for the purpose of connecting trail sections. It is not possible to register a UTV as street legal in Virginia.

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

This page covers street legal UTVs in Virginia 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 roll? Register out of state now 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 Virginia Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

The term All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is used by Virginia as a catch-all for off-highway vehicles including UTVs and side-by-sides. Virginia law defines an ATV as “a motor vehicle having three or more wheels that is powered by a motor and is manufactured for off-highway use.” According to the Virginia DMV, “Operation of all-terrain vehicles on any public highway or other private property is prohibited” except in limited circumstances described in a later section below.

None of the vehicle categories found in the Virginia Code allow any vehicle fitting the description of an ATV to be registered as street legal. Motorcycles cannot have more than three wheels, autocycles must have three wheels, and Low-Speed Vehicles must have a top speed over 20 MPH but not exceeding 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 the state of Virginia with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

With a street legal UTV, you could ride from the coast to the Blue Ridge Parkway without a second thought. You could even continue the parkway into Tennessee or drop into an OHV area like Windrock. Imagine tackling city streets, rural roads, highways, and interstate travel – all in your UTV. Our team of experts can help make that happen by registering your UTV as street legal on your behalf while you’re planning your first street legal adventure.

Parts Required to Register Out of State

Because the only way to make a UTV street legal across the board in Virginia is to register in another state, getting legal does not involve any parts specific to Virginia. Parts required for road use of other UTVs are listed in a later section below.

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 public roads in Virginia without needing any equipment required by Virginia and without needing to pass a Virginia 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 Virginia

Because street legal UTVs are a small niche, local law enforcement may not know that a UTV can be made street legal in Virginia. 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 Virginia thanks to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Virginia’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 Virginia from another state because of vehicle type mismatches between states.

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

Helmet laws in Virginia

• Virginia does not have specific helmet laws for street legal UTVs on public roads

• Virginia requires all occupants to wear helmets in OHV areas

• We suggest wearing helmets on public roads for the following reasons

In considering whether to wear helmets in a street legal UTV registered out of state, it’s best to do what local authorities are most familiar with. In Virginia, occupants of UTVs and other OHVs that have not been street legalized are required to wear helmets in the limited times they are allowed on public roads.

It is also worth noting that Virginia’s motorcycle helmet law requires all riders to wear helmets and eye protection with only two exceptions. Helmets and eye protection are not required for occupants of autocycles with “nonremovable roofs, windshields, and enclosed bodies” and eye protection is not required for motorcycles with windshields. The law does not specify what constitutes an “enclosed body.”

All things considered, while a street legal UTV does not fit Virginia’s legal definition of an autocycle or a motorcycle, local officers might still expect occupants to wear helmets since they are required for non-street-legal UTVs and open-top autocycles. For these reasons and for safety reasons, we suggest wearing helmets and eye protection whenever you operate a UTV on public roads in Virginia.

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 Virginia’s OHV Areas

Beyond basic equipment like working headlights and taillights, Virginia does not have any statewide equipment requirements for operation within OHV areas, public lands, and other similar off-road spaces. Additionally, Virginia does not require OHVs to be registered with the state for off-road use. Virginia requires all occupants to wear helmets in OHV areas.

Many 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 Virginia may have their own requirements including specific equipment, special permits, engine size restrictions by rider age, or other factors, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

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

In Virginia, UTVs and other off-highway vehicles may only use approved roads to connect trail sections.

Unless otherwise stated through a local ordinance or county permit:

• OHVs can only use approved roads for the purpose of connecting trail sections

• OHVs can only drive on these roads during daylight hours

• Total distance driven cannot exceed 1 mile

• Speed cannot exceed 25 MPH

• All occupants must wear helmets

Which roads are approved?

There is currently no online resource answering this question. Contact your local DMV or local authorities to learn which roads are approved in your area, and please contact us if an online resource becomes available.

In practice, counties often have unique rules that differ from the statewide laws. For example, in Buchanan County, OHVs can drive for any distance on roads marked 25 MPH or less and can drive for up to 5 miles on roads with higher speed limits (though the vehicle’s speed still cannot exceed 25 MPH). Additionally, most roads within the Lee Ranger District (under Forest Service management) are fully open to OHV travel. Roads are approved through local ordinances or county permits.

Registration and equipment

Though state registration is not required, most counties require permits to be obtained before public road use. Additionally, local areas often require certain equipment. Whether required or not, we strongly suggest having basic equipment like working headlights and taillights, a good working muffler and brakes, and a windshield and rollover protection before driving on public roads. Contact your local DMV or local law enforcement to see what is required in your area.

Crossing roads

Virginia law allows OHVs to cross public roads that are not approved for OHV use. These crossings must be made as quickly and directly as possible.

Special exceptions

Off-highway vehicles used for industrial purposes like maintenance or agriculture may qualify to be categorized as Utility Vehicles or Farm Utility Vehicles. These vehicle categories can operate more freely on public roads. Contact your local DMV or local law enforcement to learn more.

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

• Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles

• Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

• Virginia 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.

Note: Virginia often refers to all off-highway vehicles as All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

Operating as an OHV

Google User Map: Virginia Legal OHV Trails by Matt Alexander (Not our map, not official, and not confirmed)

Virginia DMV: All-Terrain Vehicles

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Buchanan County, Virginia OHV road use laws, specific roads (Third-party website)

Forest Service: Lee Ranger District OHV Areas

Tazwell County, Virginia OHV road use laws (Third-party website)

Virginia Statute 46.2-915.1 (OHV use on public roads, crossings)

Other resources

Virginia Motor Vehicle Code Chapter 6 Article 5 (Virginia vehicle registration reciprocity)

Virginia Motor Vehicle Code Chapter 8 Article 13 (Motorcycles, Mopeds, and All-Terrain Vehicles)

Virginia Statute 46.2-100 (Vehicle definitions, definition of a highway)

Virginia Statute 46.2-910 (Virginia motorcycle helmet law)

Virginia Code