From 2021 to 2024, Kentucky is running an OHV Pilot Program that allows qualifying off-highway vehicles to drive on certain public roads. This ambitious legislation brings street legal UTVs to Kentucky by way of an approved road network designated by local jurisdictions.

However, it is still not possible to register a UTV in Kentucky as a regular street legal vehicle for reasons discussed below. It is possible to make a UTV street legal in Kentucky 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 Kentucky and beyond.

This page covers street legal UTVs in Kentucky 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.

Just here to get street legal? Take the first step right 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 Kentucky Can’t Register UTVs as Street Legal

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

The Kentucky DMV defines an All-Terrain Vehicle “as any motor vehicle used for recreational off-road use” including UTVs and side-by-sides. These vehicles cannot be registered for road use as regular motor vehicles in Kentucky, and none of the other vehicle categories found in the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Code are conducive to registering a UTV as street legal. Of the possible candidates:

• Autocycles must have 3 wheels

• Motorcycles cannot have more than 3 wheels

• Low-Speed Vehicles cannot have a top speed greater than 25 MPH, cannot be modified to increase their top speed, and can only drive on roads marked 35 MPH or less

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 Kentucky with an out-of-state registration (see How to Make Your UTV Street Legal).

Whether you’re staying in-state or heading across the border to Windrock Park, a street legal UTV lets you leave the truck and trailer behind. Our team of experts can register your UTV as street legal on your behalf so you can drive to your next adventure with the wind in your hair. 

Parts Required to Be Street Legal in Kentucky

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

Thanks to reciprocity agreements between states, a UTV 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 Kentucky roads without needing any equipment required by Kentucky and without needing to pass a Kentucky 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 Kentucky

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

Helmet laws in Kentucky

• Kentucky does not have specific helmet laws for street legal UTVs, though helmets are suggested as detailed below

• All occupants are required to wear helmets in Kentucky OHV areas

Kentucky’s motorcycle helmet law only applies to vehicles with up to three wheels. It is worth noting that occupants of OHVs which are not street legal are required to wear helmets during the rare times they are allowed on public roads as described below. For safety reasons, all occupants should wear helmets on public roads. All occupants must wear helmets in OHV areas and similar off-road spaces.

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

Muffler noise level

Kentucky Statute 189.140 states that no roadgoing vehicle can have an amplified, bypassed, or removed exhaust system.

“No person shall modify the exhaust system of a motor vehicle or an off highway vehicle in a manner which will amplify or increase the noise emitted by the motor of such vehicle above that emitted by the muffler originally installed on the vehicle.”

We have heard stories that Kentucky enforces this law regardless of where the vehicle is registered. Keep that in mind when you are driving a street legal UTV in Kentucky, especially in OHV areas since this law also applies to OHVs. Exhaust modifications appear on our list of parts to leave off your street legal UTV for this very reason.

Driving a Street Legal UTV in Kentucky’s OHV Areas

Registration

Kentucky does not require off-highway vehicles to register with the state for use within OHV areas, public lands, and other similar spaces.

Equipment

Off-highway vehicles cannot have amplified, bypassed, or removed exhaust systems as described in the previous section on road use. Other than that, Kentucky only requires OHVs to have basic equipment like working headlights and taillights.

Most 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. Specific areas within Kentucky may have their own requirements regarding equipment, engine size restrictions by rider age, or other factors, so be sure to check ahead when you plan to travel.

Helmets

Occupants younger than 16 are required to wear helmets in OHV areas.

In Kentucky, UTVs and other off-highway vehicles not registered as street legal can only use roads approved for OHV use by a local jurisdiction. From 2021 to 2024, the Kentucky OHV Pilot Program expands these basic permissions as described in the next section.

Local jurisdictions

Towns, cities, and other local jurisdictions in Kentucky can allow or prevent OHVs from driving on or across certain roads. State-level registration is not required but local areas might have their own requirements. Check local resources or call local authorities to see what roads are open to OHVs in your area.

Requirements

The following requirements apply statewide.

• OHVs can only drive on roads approved through local ordinances.

• Operation is restricted to daylight hours.

• The vehicle must have at least one headlight and at least two taillights which must always be on.

• The vehicle’s manufacturer warning label(s) must be intact.

• The operator must have a valid driver’s license.

• All occupants must wear helmets except when crossing roads marked 55 MPH or less.

• The vehicle’s exhaust system cannot be bypassed, removed, or louder than stock.

Crossing roads

Kentucky law states that OHVs may cross any two-lane public road at close to a 90-degree angle to the roadway. In doing so, an OHV cannot use the road for more than two-tenths of a mile at a time. Helmets are not required unless the road being crossed is marked higher than 55 MPH.

Exceptions

Special exceptions exist for some vehicles used in agriculture, road maintenance, snow removal, and commercial deliveries as described in Kentucky Statute 189.515 and Kentucky Statute 189.283.

Kentucky OHV Pilot Program: Street Legal UTVs in Kentucky

From June 29, 2021 to July 1, 2024, the Kentucky Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Program is allowing UTVs and other off-highway vehicles expanded road use permissions on approved roads. Through the pilot program, OHVs can drive on approved roads during daylight hours with no statewide speed or distance restrictions and no helmet requirements for occupants 16 and older.

Codified through Kentucky Statute 189.281, Kentucky’s OHV Pilot Program is one of the most ambitious in the nation and, if successful, could set the tone for future legislation of street legal UTVs and other OHVs in Kentucky.

Help us improve this section! If you have firsthand experience with Kentucky’s OHV Pilot Program, we would love to hear from you.

Program details

The program’s purpose is to determine the safety and viability of OHVs on public roads. Drivers are required to carry liability insurance on their OHVs and must report all collisions for tracking purposes.

Which roads are approved?

Local jurisdictions are required to maintain lists of approved roads and road sections on their official websites, so be sure to check the resources of the areas you want to drive in. Approved roads and sections are marked with distinct signage to help OHV drivers navigate and to remind other motorists to stay alert.

It is important to note that this program does not allow OHVs on every road in Kentucky and that OHVs may still be prohibited on sections of approved roads at the discretion of the state or local jurisdictions, so be sure to check your local resources or contact local authorities to confirm what is allowed in your area.

How does a road get approved?

To become part of the pilot program, a road or section must be petitioned at a local public meeting and subsequently approved by the state. The state will not approve highways with controlled access but can approve other roads in whole or part. Kentucky’s OHV Pilot Program not only allows local governments to participate in designating state-maintained roads and road portions for OHV use, but regional groups like the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority can also participate in the designation process.

Driving requirements

As part of the Kentucky OHV Pilot Program:

• OHVs can only operate on approved roads and road sections

• OHVs cannot drive between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise (except in serious situations like emergencies)

• Occupants younger than 16 must wear DOT helmets

• All occupants must wear eye protection if no windshield is equipped

• Passengers cannot ride on trailers or other towed equipment

• Driver must be at least 18 years old

• Driver must have a valid driver’s license

• Vehicle does not need to be registered with the state

• Vehicle must be insured

Insurance requirements

UTVs and other OHVs participating in the Kentucky OHV Pilot Program must be insured by the owner or the driver. The policy must meet minimum liability requirements for motorcycle insurance in Kentucky. Proof of insurance must always be carried in the vehicle.

Equipment requirements

The Kentucky OHV Pilot Program introduced the term “Off-Highway Vehicle” to Kentucky law for the first time. To fall into this category, an OHV must be “designed to be primarily used for recreational purposes,” must have four, five, or six tires, must be capable of 35 MPH or more, and must be equipped with the following parts.

To qualify for the Kentucky OHV Pilot Program, a vehicle must have:.

• 2+ headlights

• 2+ taillights

• 2+ brake lights

• 1 red reflector on the rear

• 1 red reflector on each side at the rear corner

• DOT or non-DOT tires

• Parking brake

• Muffler

• Spark arrestor

• If 2+ seats: seat belts on each seat meeting federal standards

• If 2+ seats: 1 driver’s exterior mirror and either 1 interior mirror or 1 passenger’s side mirror

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

• Kentucky DMV: Find an office or contact

• Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife: Emails and phone numbers

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: Kentucky classifies UTV and other off-highway vehicles as All-Terrain Vehicles.

Operating as an OHV

Kentucky OHV Registration Not Required

Kentucky Statute 189.140 (Exhaust modifications prohibited)

Road use of OHVs not registered as street legal

Kentucky Statute 189.515 (OHV road use, crossings, helmets, industrial exceptions)

Kentucky Statute 189.283 (Commercial use exceptions)

Kentucky Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Program

Kentucky Statute 189.281 (Kentucky Off-Highway Vehicle Pilot Program)

Kentucky Statute 304.39-110 (Pilot program insurance requirements)

Other resources

Kentucky Senate Bill 75 and bill text (PDF) (Proposition that would create an OHV registration program in Kentucky)

Kentucky Statute 186.010 (Definitions of vehicle categories, highways, intersections, etc.)

Kentucky Statute 186.140 (Kentucky vehicle registration reciprocity)

Kentucky Statute 189.282 (Operation of Low-Speed Vehicles)

Kentucky Statute 189.285 (Kentucky motorcycle helmet law)

Kentucky Administrative Code

Kentucky Revised Statutes

Kentucky DMV