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Are dirt bikes street legal in California?
California's law on plating and riding a dirt bike on public roads, quoted from its own page, with the equipment and license rule.
The law in California
Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles."
OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions: California State Parks, checked November 2026.
Dirt bike · California. Only where it is allowed locally. In California, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
Dirt bike · California
Where locally allowedOnly where it is allowed locally. In California, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Can an OHV ever be operated on the highway in California? Yes. OHVs, meeting specific equipment requirements, when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use of both off-highway vehicles and highway legal vehicles."
Conditions
"These sections cannot be more than three miles long and must be signed describing the combined use status."
"Additionally, all OHVs can cross a two lane highway at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the direction of the roadway, and at a place where a quick and safe crossing may be made."
"A vehicle designed and manufactured for off-highway use may not be operated on a California highway even though it may be highway legal in its home state because it does not meet the federal highway safety standards for highway vehicles."
Registration and plates
"Can I convert my dirt bike to a dual sport so I can drive it both on and off-highway? No. A vehicle designed for off-highway use can no longer be legally converted for highway use in California due to air emissions and federal safety regulations."
Required equipment (2)
- Are brake lights required on my OHV? Only on a combined use highway (a highway which allows off-highway vehicles only during daylight hours).
- From a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, a forward facing white light and a rear facing red light are required.
Driver's license
"when used by an operator with a valid driver's license, can be driven on highway sections that have been legally designated and signed for combined use"
More from California's law
"Any motorcycle or vehicle originally manufactured and registered for off-highway use cannot be converted for on-highway use unless it is manufactured for dual purpose."
"Off-highway motorcycles, dune buggies, sand rails, and ATVs are common names as well as the vehicles with side-by-side seating for two occupants, commonly called RUV, ROHV, MUV, and UTV."
Source: OHMVR Frequently Asked Questions: California State Parks, checked November 2026.
Also read on: California DMV: 15.020 Conversion From OHV to On-Highway
Find off-road parks to ride without the road questionRiding a side-by-side or an ATV? Check its road law
A guide to each state's published law, not legal advice. City and county ordinances and posted signs decide which roads are open; the linked law is the authority.
- Each state's own law, quoted
- Plate, equipment and license
- Free, no account
Riding in California
64 off-road parks listed in California. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.
Other states
Dirt bike road laws in other states
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Common questions
Street legal dirt bike questions
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