Free Tool · No account required

Are side-by-sides street legal in Connecticut?

Connecticut's law on side-by-sides and ATVs on public roads, quoted from its own page, with the conditions, equipment and plate rule.

The law in Connecticut

Side-by-side (UTV): No, except to cross. Connecticut allows a side-by-side on a public road only to cross it.
"No person shall operate a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle in the following manner: (1) On any public highway, except such snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, if operated by a licensed motor vehicle operator, may cross a public highway if the crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a location where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle is completely stopped before entering the traveled portion of the highway and the driver yields the right-of-way to motor vehicles using the highway,"
ATV (quad): No, except to cross. Connecticut allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it.
"No person shall operate a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle in the following manner: (1) On any public highway, except such snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, if operated by a licensed motor vehicle operator, may cross a public highway if the crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a location where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle is completely stopped before entering the traveled portion of the highway and the driver yields the right-of-way to motor vehicles using the highway,"

Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 255, Sec. 14-387 Rules of operation, checked November 2026.

Riding a dirt bike? Read Connecticut's dirt bike rule.

Street Legal UTV CheckConnecticut

Which state?

What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · Connecticut

Crossing only

No, except to cross. Connecticut allows a side-by-side on a public road only to cross it.

"No person shall operate a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle in the following manner: (1) On any public highway, except such snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, if operated by a licensed motor vehicle operator, may cross a public highway if the crossing is made at an angle of approximately ninety degrees to the direction of the highway and at a location where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing, the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle is completely stopped before entering the traveled portion of the highway and the driver yields the right-of-way to motor vehicles using the highway,"

Conditions

"provided nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit the operation of a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle on a limited access highway"
"A registered ATV can’t drive on a public highway unless it’s being driven by a licensed driver and only crossing a public highway"
"Any municipality may, by ordinance, regulate the operation and use, including hours and zones of use, of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles"

Required equipment (1)

(3) without a functioning muffler, subject to the provisions of section 14-80 , properly operating brakes, sufficient and adequate front and rear lighting and reflecting devices, except an all-terrain vehicle with an engine size of ninety cubic centimeters or less shall not be required to be equipped with front and rear lighting and shall not be operated after dark;

Driver's license

"if operated by a licensed motor vehicle operator, may cross a public highway"

Riding in Connecticut

6 off-road parks listed in Connecticut. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Connecticut off-road parks

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

No, except to cross. Connecticut allows a side-by-side on a public road only to cross it. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 255, Sec. 14-387 Rules of operation.

No, except to cross. Connecticut allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it. Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 255, Sec. 14-387 Rules of operation.

More free tools