Do You Have To Register A Utv In Missouri

Can You Make a UTV Street Legal in Missouri?

Hey! This post is part of our Nationwide Street Legal UTV Guide that shows you how to brand a UTV street legal from start to finish.

It is non 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 land. The resulting title, registration, and license plate volition permit you to bulldoze your side-by-side on roads, highways, and city streets in Missouri and beyond.

This folio covers street legal UTVs in Missouri from summit to lesser including relevant laws, details well-nigh OHV areas, and times when a UTV not registered as street legal tin can be driven on local roads. Review the post-obit resource to learn more than.

Ready to go on the route? Skip the hassle and start the process today with the help of our adept team.

We accept made our best effort to include all relevant details, but something we did non cover might apply to your situation. We are enthusiasts, not attorneys. This is non legal advice.

Why Missouri Can't Annals UTVs as Street Legal

In order to register a UTV as a regular street legal vehicle through the Missouri DMV, information technology would demand 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 3 categories for vehicles "manufactured and used exclusively for off-highway use." Well-nigh mainstream UTVs will fit into one of these three categories in Missouri.

All-Terrain Vehicles: Up to fifty" wide, dry weight upwards to one,500 lbs., and 3+ nonhighway tires
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROHVs): Between 50" and 80" wide from exterior of rim to exterior of rim, dry weight up to 3,500lbs., four+ nonhighway tires, and "may have access to ATV trails"
Utility Vehicles: Identical to ROHVs except for having either 4 or half-dozen wheels and existence used "primarily for landscaping, backyard intendance, or maintenance purposes"

According to the Missouri Department of Acquirement and the Missouri Motor Vehicle Titling Manual (PDF), "Utility and Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles do not run into the definition of a motor vehicle" and "will non be titled and registered" every bit street legal vehicles in Missouri, though they tin sometimes employ rural roads under strict circumstances equally described in a later section beneath.

Looking at other potential registration categories, Missouri defines autocycles as having three wheels and motorcycles every bit having two wheels, and kit vehicles must exist assembled by "a person other than a generally recognized manufacturer," meaning UTVs cannot be registered through these categories either. Additional resource 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 lawmaking allows UTVs to exist registered as street legal vehicles. Y'all can register your UTV in those states without ever leaving your abode. Once registration is complete and the required equipment is installed, your UTV will exist street legal in Missouri with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

Always thought about driving your UTV downwardly to the Arch and checking out the mile-long graffiti wall? What almost driving the Glade Top Trail, flight down 125 to the Peel Ferry, or merely riding out to Chadwick or Potawatomi without a truck and trailer holding y'all back? A street legal UTV volition give you the freedom to do all that and more. Our expert squad tin practice the hard role by registering your UTV every bit street legal while you figure out where you're going to bulldoze it outset.

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Missouri

Because the only mode to make a UTV street legal in Missouri is to annals in another state, getting legal does non involve any parts specific to Missouri.

Thanks to reciprocity agreements betwixt states, a vehicle but needs to have the parts required by the state where it is registered. That means a UTV with an out-of-state registration tin be driven on Missouri roads without needing any equipment required by Missouri and without needing to laissez passer a Missouri inspection.

Here is what is legally required for registrations in Montana and South Dakota (other states)
These are the minimum parts nosotros 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

Missouri vehicle registration reciprocity statute (excerpt)

Vehicles licensed in other states can exist driven legally in Missouri thank you to registration reciprocity agreements between states. Missouri'southward registration reciprocity statute is linked in the resource beneath. Y'all should not need to worry near title transfer windows if you maintain residency in some other state or your UTV is registered to an LLC in another state. In some cases, it might non be possible to transfer your registration to Missouri from another state considering of vehicle type mismatches between states.

Because street legal UTVs are a small niche, local constabulary enforcement may not know that a UTV can be made street legal in Missouri. While we are not attorneys, nosotros suggest carrying physical copies of your UTV's registration and insurance proofs and being knowledgeable about the ways your vehicle is legal for road utilise (encounter Knowing Your Legality).

Go along in mind that street legal UTVs in Missouri demand to observe all laws and rules of the road just equally 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 lot may be required to clothing a helmet in some OHV areas within Missouri

Missouri's motorbike helmet law states that any motorcyclist over the age of 26 does not demand to wearable a helmet if they carry proof of agile health insurance. Younger riders must wear helmets regardless of insurance status. Occupants of autocycles, defined in Missouri every bit iii-wheeled vehicles like the Polaris Slingshot, are non required to vesture helmets regardless of historic period.

With all that in listen, we advise wearing a helmet in a street legal UTV in Missouri if you are younger than 26 since this is what local law enforcement volition well-nigh likely be expecting. For safety reasons, we suggest wearing a helmet whenever you drive a UTV on public roads.

Keep in heed that helmet laws need to be followed on a state-past-state ground. Earlier y'all travel, learn the helmet state of affairs in whatsoever state yous 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 across basic things like working headlights and taillights. Many OHV areas in the U.s. require a Forest Service-qualified spark arrester and a maximum exhaust volume of about fourscore-90 decibels. Specific areas inside Missouri may have their own equipment requirements and helmet employ policies, so exist sure to bank check ahead when you plan to travel.

When a Normal UTV Tin Be Driven on Missouri Roads

Hey! This section is about UTVs that take not been made street legal through the means described above.

This section is about vehicles that do non have street legal registrations.

UTVs and other off-highway vehicles in Missouri tin be driven on public roads statewide within 3 miles of the owner'southward 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 take 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 allow to operate on roads within municipalities. In some cases, you would yet need a permit to use those roads if one is available. Canton 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 instance, the metropolis of Eldon requires ROHVs to have rollover protection, slow-moving vehicle signage, and proof of fiscal responsibility in add-on to the urban center's road use allow which applies only within the city limits of Eldon.

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

Required registration

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

Required equipment

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

At to the lowest degree 1 headlight
At least one taillight
Coil bar or roll cage
Lights must always exist on
Seat belts must exist equipped and used
Helmets may be required in some areas

Crossing roads

Nosotros were unable to find any official resources stating how and when an OHV tin can cross public roads in Missouri. Help us complete this section by contacting u.s.a. if you have more information. In the meantime, nosotros propose asking your local DMV or local government.

Special exceptions

Boosted statewide road employ permissions are granted for special purposes like farming and agriculture, official government utilize, 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.

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Laws, Codes, and Other Resources

Hey! This page is function of our Nationwide Street Legal UTV Guide which covers all fifty states plus Washington, D.C. and five US territories. It also covers in-depth topics like registration, insurance, and what to do if you get pulled over. Bank check it out to acquire all about street legal UTVs!