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Are side-by-sides street legal in Maryland?

Maryland'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 Maryland

  • Side-by-side (UTV): Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

    Only Allegany and Garrett Counties can open roads this way. Elsewhere, expect no road use.

    "(iii) In Allegany County and Garrett County: 1. Authorizing a person to: A. Cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile at a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or B. Operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on not more than 5 miles of highway at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; and 2. Designating a certain portion of highways upon which all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles may travel at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour for the sole purpose of gaining access to: A. Trails on which the operation of an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile is authorized;"

  • ATV (quad): Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

    Only Allegany and Garrett Counties can open roads this way. Elsewhere, expect no road use.

    "(iii) In Allegany County and Garrett County: 1. Authorizing a person to: A. Cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile at a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or B. Operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on not more than 5 miles of highway at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; and 2. Designating a certain portion of highways upon which all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles may travel at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour for the sole purpose of gaining access to: A. Trails on which the operation of an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile is authorized;"

Maryland Transportation 25-102: Exercise of powers by local authorities, checked November 2026.

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

Street Legal UTV Check

What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · Maryland. Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

Side-by-side (UTV) · Maryland

Where locally allowed

Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it.

Only Allegany and Garrett Counties can open roads this way. Elsewhere, expect no road use.

"(iii) In Allegany County and Garrett County: 1. Authorizing a person to: A. Cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile at a right angle at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; or B. Operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on not more than 5 miles of highway at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour; and 2. Designating a certain portion of highways upon which all–terrain vehicles and snowmobiles may travel at a speed of not more than 25 miles per hour for the sole purpose of gaining access to: A. Trails on which the operation of an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile is authorized;"

Conditions

  • "(c) In Allegany County and Garrett County a person may not operate an all–terrain vehicle or a snowmobile on a controlled access highway."
  • "(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section or elsewhere in the Maryland Vehicle Law, each motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer driven on a highway shall be registered under this subtitle."
  • "OHRVs are not required to be registered with MVA and, thus, may not be driven on any highway in the State."
  • "(19) Authorizing a person to cross a highway on an all–terrain vehicle at a right angle to access a farm or to move from one part of a farm to another part of the same farm; and"

Registration and plates

"ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES (ATV, or UTV)- Registration may not be issued."
More from Maryland's law
"(2) (i) Is designed for off–highway use; (ii) Operates on four or more low–pressure tires; (iii) Has a bench or bucket–style seating; and (iv) Has a steering wheel for steering."
"(iv) Is commonly known as a side–by–side utility vehicle;"
"However, a title shall be processed through the Electronic Titling and Registration System (ERT)."

Source: Maryland Transportation 25-102: Exercise of powers by local authorities, checked November 2026.

Also read on: Maryland Transportation 21-104.1: Operating an ATV on a designated highway · Maryland Transportation 13-402: Registration required · Maryland Transportation 11-103.3: All-terrain vehicle · Maryland Transportation 11-140.1: Off-highway recreational vehicle · Maryland MVA: Interactive Title and Registration Manual · Maryland Department of Legislative Services: HB 1150 (2017) fiscal note

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 Maryland

12 off-road parks listed in Maryland. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Maryland off-road parks

Other states

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

Compare the 49 states we have checked

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, a side-by-side may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Only Allegany and Garrett Counties can open roads this way. Elsewhere, expect no road use. Source: Maryland Transportation 25-102: Exercise of powers by local authorities.

Only where it is allowed locally. In Maryland, an ATV may use a public road only where a city, county or road authority opens it. Only Allegany and Garrett Counties can open roads this way. Elsewhere, expect no road use. Source: Maryland Transportation 25-102: Exercise of powers by local authorities.

Maryland's law says: "ALL TERRAIN VEHICLES (ATV, or UTV)- Registration may not be issued."

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