Can You Make a UTV Street Legal in Alaska?

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

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

This page covers street legal UTVs in Alaska from top to bottom with relevant laws, details about OHV areas, and times when a normal UTV can be driven on Alaskan roads.

Ready to get legal right now? Take the first step 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 Alaska Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

Alaska defines an Off-Highway Vehicle as one “designed or adapted for cross-country operation over unimproved terrain, ice or snow, and which has been declared by its owner at the time of registration and determined by the department to be unsuitable for general highway use.” The term “highway” in this context means any public road. This means OHVs cannot be registered as passenger vehicles in Alaska, and none of the other vehicle categories found in the Alaska Motor Vehicle Code can be used to register a UTV for street legal use. Of the possible candidates:

• Autocycles must have three wheels

• Motorcycles cannot have more than three wheels

• Low-Speed Vehicles must have a maximum speed of 25 MPH

• Snowmobiles must feature skis, belts, or cleats for snow travel

Want to see the laws for yourself? The resources we 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 Alaska with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

Alaska’s abundance of off-highway riding rivals anywhere else on Earth. Then there’s the drive to Prudhoe Bay, a journey which has only recently gone from an unmitigated challenge to an attainable adventure. Imagine doing it all in your street legal UTV: climbing mountains, exploring trails, maintaining your property, running down to the grocery store for some fine local meats, or trekking up to Prudhoe Bay just to see if you can.

The thought of driving a street legal UTV all over Alaska makes our team of experts pretty jealous, and since we’re based in Florida, it also makes us shiver. How about we stay inside next to the heater and register your UTV on your behalf while you’re out exploring?

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Alaska

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

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 Alaska roads without needing any equipment required by Alaska and without needing to pass an Alaska 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 Alaska

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

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

Helmet laws in Alaska

Alaska does not have specific helmet laws for UTVs, street legal or not. Motorcycle riders younger than 18 do need to wear helmets, and while a street legal UTV does not fit Alaska’s legal definition of a motorcycle, we would suggest wearing one if you are younger than 18 as this is what local authorities will be most familiar with.

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 Alaska’s OHV Areas

Whether your UTV is street legal or not, if you plan to operate as an off-highway vehicle in Alaska (in OHV areas, public lands, etc.) you should know about the following requirements for OHV use in Alaska.

OHVs used exclusively on private property in Alaska do not need to be registered with the state, but all others will need to obtain an Alaska Off-Highway Vehicle Registration. Alaska OHV registrations must be obtained in person from a DMV office (see locations). Some OHV areas might have their own permit requirements, so be sure to check ahead before you travel.

The following equipment is required for all OHVs operated in Alaska:

• Spark arrester

• Strong brakes

• SAE reflectors on both sides

• Mud or snow flap(s) at the rear

• Exhaust with no cutouts or bypasses

• Throttle with self-closing mechanism

• Body panels over moving parts must be intact

Additionally, OHVs must have the following equipment if operated at night:

• At least one headlight

• At least one red rear taillight

• At least one red rear reflector

• At least one rear stop light

Headlight(s) must illuminate at least 100 feet ahead of the vehicle. Rear lights must be visible from at least 1000 feet behind the vehicle. Rear reflector(s) must be visible from at least 600 feet behind the vehicle.

Many OHV areas in the United States require a maximum exhaust volume of about 80-90 decibels. OHV areas within Alaska may have their own requirements regarding equipment, helmet use, engine size restrictions by rider age, or other factors, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

Alaska does not require helmets for off-highway vehicles.

Learn more

• Alaska DMV: Snowmachines, ATVs, & Other Off-Highway Vehicles

• Alaska Public Lands: All-Terrain Vehicle Riding Trails

When a Normal UTV Can Be Driven on Alaskan Roads

For UTVs that have not been made street legal, using public roads is illegal in Alaska except when a section of road is designated for OHV use by a local jurisdiction or when snow, ice, or other natural conditions render the road unusable by other vehicles. OHVs may also be driven next to any road (within the maintained right-of-way) except controlled-access highways and where local laws prohibit doing so.

• OHVs must always stay more than three feet from the edge of the roadway and cannot enter the shoulder except for crossing purposes.

• OHVs can travel either direction on either side of the road during daylight hours, but at night OHVs must travel the same direction as traffic in the nearest lane.

• Driving on sidewalks, alleys, medians, or the center of a divided highway is never allowed except for crossing purposes.

Crossing roads

Alaska allows OHVs to cross public roads wherever there is ample visibility to not interfere with traffic. The vehicle must cross at a right angle to the road after coming to a complete stop and must yield to any present traffic. When crossing a bridge or culvert, the vehicle must be kept at the extreme right-hand edge and must not interfere with traffic.

Local jurisdictions

Towns, cities, boroughs, and other local jurisdictions in Alaska can designate certain roads as open to OHV travel. For example, the city of Nome allows OHVs on streets citywide. Local areas also determine every other aspect of OHV rules which may include prohibiting crossings on certain roads, requiring different equipment than the state does, or by restricting OHV use during certain hours. Be sure to check the local resources of the areas you plan to operate in.

Required registration

Off-highway vehicles must be registered with the state of Alaska before driving on or across public roads. Registrations can only be obtained from physical DMV offices (see locations). Learn more at Alaska DMV: Snowmachines, ATVs, & Other Off-Highway Vehicles. Local jurisdictions may also require registration for driving next to roads.

Required equipment

Local jurisdictions decide what equipment is required to use OHVs on their roads, so be sure to check the resources of the areas you plan to drive in. As a baseline, plan on having the equipment listed in the previous section on OHV areas.

Helmet use

The state of Alaska does not require helmets for occupants of off-highway vehicles.

Passenger seating

All passengers are required to ride in permanent seats attached to the vehicle.

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

• Alaska Department of Fish and Game

• Alaska DMV Locations and Phone Numbers

• Alaska Public Lands

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.

Alaska Public Lands: All-Terrain Vehicle Riding Trails

Alaska State Troopers: OHV Riding Guide (undated)

Forest Service: Alaska OHV trails and maps

Operating as an OHV

Alaska DMV OHV Registration Guide

Alaska DOT OHV Resources (Check dates on PDFs)

Alaska Code Section 13 Chapter 4 Article 6 (Equipment required)

Alaska Code 13-40.010 (Definition of Off-Highway Vehicle)

Alaska Statute 28.39.250 (Definition of Snowmobile)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Alaska Code 13-02.445 (Passengers must ride in permanent seats)

Alaska Code 13-02.455 (Driving on, next to, and across public roads)

Other resources

OHV Use in Nome, Alaska

Alaska Code 2-90.990 (Definition of Autocycle)

Alaska Statute 28.10.121 (Alaska vehicle registration reciprocity)

Alaska Statute 28.35.245 (Alaska motorcycle helmet law)

Alaska Statute 28.90.990 (Definitions of vehicle types, highway)

Alaska Administrative Code

Alaska Statutes