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Are dirt bikes street legal in Kentucky?

Kentucky'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 Kentucky

Only where it is allowed locally. In Kentucky, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

"(2) Except for vehicles authorized to operate on a public highway as of July 15, 1998, and except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle upon any public highway or roadway or upon the right-of-way of any public highway or roadway. ... (c) The Transportation Cabinet may designate, and a city or county government may designate, those public highways, segments of public highways, and adjoining rights-of-way of public highways under its jurisdiction where all-terrain vehicles that are prohibited may be operated."

KRS 189.515 Restrictions on operation of all-terrain vehicles., checked November 2026.

Street Legal Dirt Bike CheckKentucky

Which state?

Dirt bike · Kentucky

Where locally allowed

Only where it is allowed locally. In Kentucky, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

"(2) Except for vehicles authorized to operate on a public highway as of July 15, 1998, and except as provided in subsection (7) of this section, a person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle upon any public highway or roadway or upon the right-of-way of any public highway or roadway. ... (c) The Transportation Cabinet may designate, and a city or county government may designate, those public highways, segments of public highways, and adjoining rights-of-way of public highways under its jurisdiction where all-terrain vehicles that are prohibited may be operated."

Conditions

"(a) Except for off-highway vehicles described in KRS 189.281, a person may operate an all-terrain vehicle on any two (2) lane public highway in order to cross the highway. In crossing the highway under this paragraph, the operator shall cross the highway at as close to a ninety (90) degree angle as is practical and safe, and shall not travel on the highway for more than two-tenths (2/10) of a mile."
"(b) A person may operate an all-terrain vehicle on any two (2) lane public highway, if the operator is engaged in farm or agricultural related activities, construction, road maintenance, or snow removal."
"(g) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle under this subsection shall restrict the operation to daylight hours, except when engaged in snow removal or emergency road maintenance."

Registration and plates

"Offroad vehicles are not allowed to be modified to be street legal unless they are manufactured as such."

Required equipment (1)

(f) A person shall not operate an all-terrain vehicle under this subsection unless the all-terrain vehicle has at least one (1) headlight and two (2) taillights, which shall be illuminated at all times the vehicle is in operation.

Driver's license

"(d) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle on a public highway under this subsection shall possess a valid operator's license."

Riding in Kentucky

35 off-road parks listed in Kentucky. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Kentucky off-road parks

Other states

Dirt bike road laws in other states

Compare every state's law

Common questions

Street legal dirt bike questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Kentucky, a dirt bike may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Source: KRS 189.515 Restrictions on operation of all-terrain vehicles..

Kentucky's law says: "Offroad vehicles are not allowed to be modified to be street legal unless they are manufactured as such."

Kentucky's law says: "(d) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle on a public highway under this subsection shall possess a valid operator's license."

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