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Are dirt bikes street legal in Minnesota?

Minnesota'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 Minnesota

Yes, with a plate. Minnesota lets you register a dirt bike for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

"(a) An off-highway motorcycle registered under this section may also be registered as a motorcycle under chapter 168 for use on public roads and highways."

Minnesota Statutes 84.788 (off-highway motorcycle registration), subd. 12 Dual registration, checked November 2026.

Street Legal Dirt Bike CheckMinnesota

Which state?

Dirt bike · Minnesota

Street legal with a plate

Yes, with a plate. Minnesota lets you register a dirt bike for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

"(a) An off-highway motorcycle registered under this section may also be registered as a motorcycle under chapter 168 for use on public roads and highways."

Conditions

"Subdivisions 1 and 2 do not apply to vehicles registered for public road use under chapter 168 when being operated on a traveled portion of a public road."
"(a) A person may not operate an off-highway motorcycle within the right-of-way of a town road or a trunk, county state-aid, or county highway in this state unless the right-of-way encompasses: (1) a trail administered by the commissioner and designated for off-highway motorcycle use or multiple use; or (2) a corridor access trail designated under paragraph (b)."
"(d) A person may not operate an off-highway motorcycle at any time within the right-of-way of an interstate highway or freeway within this state."

Registration and plates

"(c) An applicant for registration under chapter 168 must submit a form, prescribed by the commissioner of public safety."

Required equipment (1)

(b) If the off-highway motorcycle was not originally constructed primarily for use on public roads and highways, the off-highway motorcycle must be equipped with mirrors and a headlight, taillight, and horn and be otherwise modified as necessary to meet the requirements of chapter 169, the safety standards of the National Traffic and Motor Safety Act, Code of Federal Regulations, title 49, part 571, and the regulations adopted under that federal act, for motorcycles regarding safety and acceptability to operate on public roads and highways.

Driver's license

"(b) Except as provided in this subdivision and subdivision 2a, no class of license is valid to operate a motorcycle, school bus, tank vehicle, double-trailer or triple-trailer combination, vehicle transporting hazardous materials, or bus, unless so endorsed."

Riding in Minnesota

33 off-road parks listed in Minnesota. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Minnesota off-road parks

Other states

Dirt bike road laws in other states

Compare every state's law

Common questions

Street legal dirt bike questions

Yes, with a plate. Minnesota lets you register a dirt bike for public roads if it meets the state's rules. Source: Minnesota Statutes 84.788 (off-highway motorcycle registration), subd. 12 Dual registration.

Minnesota's law says: "(c) An applicant for registration under chapter 168 must submit a form, prescribed by the commissioner of public safety."

Minnesota's law says: "(b) Except as provided in this subdivision and subdivision 2a, no class of license is valid to operate a motorcycle, school bus, tank vehicle, double-trailer or triple-trailer combination, vehicle transporting hazardous materials, or bus, unless so endorsed."

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