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Are side-by-sides street legal in Indiana?
Indiana'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 Indiana
Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Indiana, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Operation of properly registered ORVs and snowmobiles is permitted on Indiana public property where authorized by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), roadways where authorized by the county highway department, and on private property with the consent of the landowner. Operation of an ORV or snowmobile on a highway is not permitted."
ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In Indiana, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Operation of properly registered ORVs and snowmobiles is permitted on Indiana public property where authorized by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), roadways where authorized by the county highway department, and on private property with the consent of the landowner. Operation of an ORV or snowmobile on a highway is not permitted."
Indiana BMV: Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles, checked November 2026.
What do you ride?
Side-by-side (UTV) · Indiana. Only where it is allowed locally. In Indiana, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
Side-by-side (UTV) · Indiana
Where locally allowedOnly where it is allowed locally. In Indiana, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.
"Operation of properly registered ORVs and snowmobiles is permitted on Indiana public property where authorized by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), roadways where authorized by the county highway department, and on private property with the consent of the landowner. Operation of an ORV or snowmobile on a highway is not permitted."
Conditions
"Laws governing ORV use on public roads are made individually by each county. Counties may have different requirements and restrictions. Please review county ordinances before riding."
"All off-road vehicles (ORV) and snowmobiles operated in Indiana must be registered with the BMV and display valid ORV or snowmobile decals unless otherwise exempt."
"nonresident registrations do not allow ORVs or snowmobiles to be operated where the local jurisdiction does not allow operation nor upon State Highways or Interstates."
More from Indiana's law
"An "off-road vehicle" is defined as a motor driven vehicle capable of cross-country travel without benefit of a road, on or immediately over land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. This includes the following vehicle types: A multi-wheel drive or low pressure tire vehicle. An amphibious machine. A ground effect air cushion vehicle. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV). A recreational off-highway vehicle."
"Per off-road vehicle (ORV) manufacturers, ORVs are designed for off-road use only and should not be driven on public roads."
Source: Indiana BMV: Off-Road Vehicles and Snowmobiles, checked November 2026.
Also read on: Indiana DNR: Off Roading on County Roads · Indiana DNR: ORV/Snowmobile Registration FAQs
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 Indiana
21 off-road parks listed in Indiana. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.
Other states
Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Common questions
Street legal UTV questions
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