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Are side-by-sides street legal in Idaho?

Idaho'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 Idaho

  • Side-by-side (UTV): On some roads. Idaho allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

    "(3) Off-highway vehicles licensed pursuant to this chapter and numbered pursuant to section 67-7122 or 67-7124 , Idaho Code, and those vehicles exempt from licensing and numbering pursuant to subsection (2) of this section are permitted to operate on: (a) All highways that are not state highways and that are not interstate highways;"

  • ATV (quad): On some roads. Idaho allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

    "(3) Off-highway vehicles licensed pursuant to this chapter and numbered pursuant to section 67-7122 or 67-7124 , Idaho Code, and those vehicles exempt from licensing and numbering pursuant to subsection (2) of this section are permitted to operate on: (a) All highways that are not state highways and that are not interstate highways;"

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

    "Such vehicle shall be titled and may be approved for motorcycle registration pursuant to section 49-402, Idaho Code, upon certification by the owner of the installation and use of conversion components that make the motorbike compliant with federal motor vehicle safety standards."

Idaho Code 49-426. EXEMPTIONS FROM OPERATING FEES., checked November 2026.

Street Legal UTV Check
What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · Idaho. On some roads. Idaho allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

Side-by-side (UTV) · Idaho

Some roads

On some roads. Idaho allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

"(3) Off-highway vehicles licensed pursuant to this chapter and numbered pursuant to section 67-7122 or 67-7124 , Idaho Code, and those vehicles exempt from licensing and numbering pursuant to subsection (2) of this section are permitted to operate on: (a) All highways that are not state highways and that are not interstate highways;"

Conditions

  • "(b) Any non-full access-controlled state highway within the boundaries of a municipality and extending one (1) mile from such boundary lines where the posted speed limit is sixty (60) miles per hour or less; and"
  • "(c) Any non-full access-controlled state highway outside of municipalities where the posted speed limit is sixty-five (65) miles per hour or less for continuous distances of no more than five (5) miles for the limited purpose of connecting between OHV trails, obtaining access to or from an OHV trail, or to access necessary services such as fuel, lodging, food and beverage, and maintenance."
  • "(8) When operating an off-highway vehicle upon highways, off-highway vehicles must not travel at speeds greater than the posted speed limit or forty-five (45) miles per hour, whichever is less."
  • "(7) Any political subdivision of the state of Idaho may, but only after sufficient public notice is given and a public hearing held, adopt local ordinances or resolutions designating highways or sections of highways under its jurisdiction that are closed or limited to off-highway vehicle use."
  • "(5) The operation of off-highway vehicles licensed pursuant to this chapter and numbered pursuant to section 67-7122 or 67-7124 , Idaho Code, and those vehicles exempt from licensing and numbering pursuant to subsection (2) of this section are not permitted on interstate highways and full access-controlled state highways"

Registration and plates

"(4) For operation of an all-terrain vehicle, utility type vehicle or motorbike, excluding a motorbike with an engine displacement of fifty (50) cubic centimeters or less, on city, county or highway district roads or highways open to such use, a restricted vehicle license plate fee pursuant to section 49-450 , Idaho Code, shall be paid. In addition, the certificate of number fee specified in section 67-7122 , Idaho Code, shall be paid as provided in section 67-7122 , Idaho Code."
Required equipment (2)
  • Every vehicle subject to the provisions of this section shall at all times be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation.
  • No person shall operate a vehicle subject to the provisions of this section unless that vehicle is equipped with a spark arrester device affixed to the exhaust system of a type qualified and rated by the United States forest service.
More from Idaho's law
"(9) The requirements of title 18 and chapters 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, 13, and 14, title 49 , Idaho Code, apply to the operation of off-highway vehicles upon highways."
"(10) "Off-highway vehicle" or "OHV" means an all-terrain vehicle, motorbike, specialty off-highway vehicle or utility type vehicle as defined in this section."
"(4) Off-highway vehicles licensed pursuant to this chapter and numbered pursuant to section 67-7122 or 67-7124 , Idaho Code, and those vehicles exempt from licensing and numbering pursuant to subsection (2) of this section must be permitted to cross a highway, except interstate highways and full access-controlled state highways, at a public road intersection and at any point where an OHV trail intersects, provided the vehicle comes to a full and complete stop before making the crossing and yields to any highway traffic."

Source: Idaho Code 49-426. EXEMPTIONS FROM OPERATING FEES., checked November 2026.

Also read on: Idaho Code 49-402 (registration fees; restricted vehicle license plate) · Idaho Code 67-7101. Definitions (OHV, ATV, UTV) · Idaho Code 67-7122. Certificate of number · Idaho Code 67-7125. Noise abatement (exhaust, spark arrester)

Find off-road parks to ride without the road questionRiding a dirt bike? 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
  • Side-by-side or ATV
  • Conditions, equipment and plates

Riding in Idaho

36 off-road parks listed in Idaho. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Idaho off-road parks

Other states

Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states

Compare every state's law

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

On some roads. Idaho allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: Idaho Code 49-426. EXEMPTIONS FROM OPERATING FEES..

On some roads. Idaho allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: Idaho Code 49-426. EXEMPTIONS FROM OPERATING FEES..

Idaho's law says: "(4) For operation of an all-terrain vehicle, utility type vehicle or motorbike, excluding a motorbike with an engine displacement of fifty (50) cubic centimeters or less, on city, county or highway district roads or highways open to such use, a restricted vehicle license plate fee pursuant to section 49-450 , Idaho Code, shall be paid. In addition, the certificate of number fee specified in section 67-7122 , Idaho Code, shall be paid as provided in section 67-7122 , Idaho Code."

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