UTVs and Street Legal Requirements
A street-legal UTV in California is a vehicle that can legally be driven on public roads. To reach this status, a UTV must meet certain requirements set forth by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). These requirements are designed to ensure that UTVs are safe for both drivers and passengers and that they meet all necessary regulations.
Becoming street legal means that your UTV must be registered with the DMV and must have an identification number and two license plates. In addition, you’ll need to ensure that your UTV has all the necessary equipment, such as headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, and a speedometer. Other equipment that might be required includes a windshield, seat belts, rearview and side mirrors, and a horn. All equipment must meet specific regulations set forth by California laws.
UTVs must also adhere to separate noise and exhaust regulations . Noise levels should not exceed 95 decibels, and exhaust systems must be in compliance with California’s emissions standards. These regulations are designed to ensure that UTVs don’t cause unnecessary disturbances or pollution during operation.
It’s important to note that driving a UTV on highways is not always permitted. While some roads are open to UTVs, others are not. In many cases, it’s up to local governments to determine which roads UTVs are allowed to travel on. To be sure you’re driving legally, check with your local government or law enforcement agency to determine which roads are UTV-accessible.
Finally, keep in mind that UTVs are not considered motorcycles. As such, you won’t need a motorcycle driver’s license in order to operate a UTV. You will, however, need to possess a valid California driver’s license and be at least 16 years of age.
UTV Registration Process
To make your UTV street legal in California, you’ll first need to register it with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The registration process for your newly modified vehicle will be similar to the registration you went through upon purchasing your UTV. In order to register your UTV, you’ll have to present: Before your UTV is registered as a regular vehicle, however, you’ll need to purchase a special identification plate from the DMV that states the following: Once acquired, this identification plate must be visibly typed on a sticker or tag and affixed to the rear of your UTV. If you’re registering your UTV through a salvage company, they will have to present the properly filled-out salvage certificate to the person handling your registration. In addition to this paperwork, you’ll also have to pay for the registration of your UTV. As the rate is dependent on the county you live in, you’ll need to check your local DMV for details on registration fees. Keep in mind that you will need to re-register your UTV every two years, so add that to your list of expenses when deciding what modifications you want to perform.
Equipment Needed for Street Legal UTVs
As outlined in Division 16.5 of the California Vehicle Code, in order to drive a UTV on city and county roads, streets, trails, and highways, it must be equipped with at least the following equipment:
Headlamps: Two headlamps with high-beam and low-beam settings, an operational white light visible from at least 1,000 feet, and a high-beam setting illuminating at least 2,500 feet.
Brake lights: Brakes lights that, when the brakes are applied, are perceived by a person with normal vision from a distance of at least 300 feet.
Parking brake: A parking brake capable of holding the UTV stationary on a 30 percent grade.
Horn: An operational horn.
Rear-view mirror: An interior and exterior rear view mirror, or two exterior rear view mirrors, that provides a view of the roadway that is at least 200 feet to the rear of the UTV.
Turn signal lights: Two operational lights – one located on each side of the UTV – either forward facing or rearward facing, visible from 100 feet away, that indicate a right or left turn when signaled.
Tail lights: A red light at the rear of the UTV that flashes when the brakes are applied and can be seen at 1,000 feet.
Speedometer: A speedometer that registers the speed of the UTV in both miles per hour and kilometers per hour.
Muffler: A muffler that meets the original equipment manufacturer’s specifications or one that reduces noise from the exhaust system by at least 50 percent.
Spark arrester: A spark arrester that complies with U.S. Forest Service standards, unless the UTV is a four-stroke UTV manufactured after January 1, 1998.
Extra safety equipment, such as a roll-over protection structure (ROPS) and a three-point seatbelt for each occupant over the age of 16, is not required for street-legal UTVs, but we highly recommend it for the safety of you and your passengers.
UTV Insurance and Licensing
Most of the conversation around making your UTV street legal in California centers on the equipment that must be added to the vehicle, such as headlights, brake lights, and a windshield, among other items. However, just as important as the vehicle’s equipment is the UTV’s insurance coverage and licensing requirements.
As with any road-legal vehicle, all insurance companies doing business in California are required by state law to provide coverage for street legal UTVs. If your UTV uses a standard 2.56 safety certification sticker, you can receive coverage from your insurer under the UTV’s owner’s standard auto insurance policy.
On the other hand, if your UTV has a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which higher-end and sport-oriented models usually do, the insurance must be bought as part of a comprehensive policy. In this case, the insurance is sold as part of a ranch, home or farm comprehensive policy, as opposed to a personal automobile policy. Under these policies, the farm, ranch or homeowners policies insure the member’s vehicle, as long as there is a separate endorsement for the vehicle.
In addition to the insurance needs, the driver must also meet California’s license requirements for street legal UTVs. Operators of UTVs must have a driver’s license with an "R" endorsement, which is a restricted license for UTVs. That said, it should be noted that the status of the operator’s driver’s license must not be suspended or restricted at the time of the UTV’s registration. The person must also be at least 16 years of age, and must obey all the same traffic laws as other drivers on the road, from California bicycle laws to the basic rules of the road pertaining to all road users.
California also requires that UTV owners pay a registration fee to receive a special sticker for their vehicle. This sticker goes on the front of the windshield in the corner on the driver’s side. This sticker is similar to those already seen on motorcycles. The sticker’s designates the limited and specific use of the UTV, while also indicating the vehicle’s owner and also where the vehicle can legally be driven.
If you want to make your UTV street legal in California, you’ll need to speak with an experienced attorney for guidance on the process and how to best proceed, as well as to make sure you know what to expect.
Challenges and Solutions
In an ideal world, all UTV owners would be able to freely convert their vehicles and drive them wherever they wanted in California. However, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) doesn’t exactly have the smoothest process when it comes to licensing such vehicles. That’s why you should be aware of the challenges and how to work through them.
Challenge: Obtaining Necessary Upgrades
Most UTVs aren’t explicitly designed for street use. Instead, they’re many times intended to be used off-road. This is why their speed is limited to 25 miles per hour. After all, anything faster than this is presumed to be an on-road vehicle.
In addition to this, most UTVs don’t come with headlights, seatbelts, or windshields. This means that a great deal of work needs to go into making your vehicle street-legal.
Solution:
Take it upon yourself to add many of these features so that your UTV is in compliance with the law. These features will include:
It’s even possible to add mirrors to your UTV if you choose to do so. This is simply another feature that will take away from the overall aesthetic of your vehicle but serve to protect you legally.
For those who are interested in upping the ante , there are a number of upgrades you can make to your UTV. These include features such as an upgraded engine and suspension. Even something as detailed as adding a five-point safety harness can help you to achieve a level of completion that will make you feel comfortable driving your vehicle on the road.
Challenge: Completing Necessary Paperwork
In addition to upgrading your vehicle, you’ll also need to ensure that all of your paperwork is in good order. This means that you not only need to have your registration renewed but also make sure that you’re complying with all the stipulations set forth in the California Code of Regulations (CCR).
Solution:
When all is said and done, you need to go through the DMV and pay whatever necessary fees you have to. In addition to paying for your standard renewal fee and corresponding taxes, you’ll also have to pay for a special certificate and identification waiver for your UTV. There is no getting around this.
If all of this sounds complex, it’s because it is! That’s why you want to ensure that you have all of your papers in order. If you know ahead of time what’s required of you, you can make sure that you always have the right documentation.
Benefits of Making Your UTV Street Legal
If you’ve been thinking of making your UTV street legal in California, the advantages are clear. For starters, you will have increased convenience. In the past, if you were out on the trails and received a flat tire or some other malfunction, you had to call for a tow. However, if your UTV is street legal, you can simply drive your vehicle to the nearest repair center.
In addition, having a street legal UTV in California can open up a whole new world of off-road adventure. You’ll be able to drive your UTV on city streets and to off-road trails that have road access. This could be absolutely essential if you travel long distances to reach the trails and are not allowed to trailer your UTV on public roads. It will also help you explore trails beyond your local area. A road-legal UTV will also give you greater opportunities to connect with other UTV enthusiasts in your area.
Finally, driving a street legal UTV is a matter of law and safety. If you’re not driving a UTV that is in compliance with California’s strict laws, you could be held liable in the event of an accident. Making your UTV legal will give you additional peace of mind on the road.
Is It Worth It? Conclusion
Making your UTV street legal in California is an involved process with a lot of little steps and plenty of hurdles. It would be easy to assume from that that going about it all is not worth the trouble. Fortunately, that is not the case. Making a UTV street legal gives you access to a whole new venue for your recreational vehicle. You can hit up state parks or simply run around the block. You could even take the scenic route as you head out to the great outdoors on dirt roads. Not to mention that being able to drive your UTV around not only looks cool, but also gives you a unique experience of driving something far more entertaining than a regular road car.
The investment is for sure worthwhile from the practical standpoint . It certainly doesn’t hurt that being able to drive around in your UTV also feels great.
In the end, you get two ways to enjoy a UTV. You have fewer restrictions and, as a bonus, you probably get more people asking where you got the UTV. Inviting people to come along isn’t a guarantee they will buy their own. However, the odds are definitely better that you can invite someone to go off-roading without first giving them a chance to purchase a UTV.
It’s hard to really pinpoint a single reason why making a UTV street legal is worth it. Maybe it comes down to something so simple as being able to decide whether to drive the street route or the scenic route. There’s just something nice about having those options available, so the investment is definitely worthwhile.