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Are side-by-sides street legal in Montana?

Montana'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 Montana

Side-by-side (UTV): Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules.
"If you wish to ride your OHV on paved highways, it must be street legal and have a license plate. The license plate must be attached to the rear of your OHV."
ATV (quad): Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register an ATV for public roads if it meets the state's rules.
"If you wish to ride your OHV on paved highways, it must be street legal and have a license plate. The license plate must be attached to the rear of your OHV."
Dirt bike: Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register a dirt bike for public roads if it meets the state's rules.
"(c) A motorcycle designed for off-road recreational use is an off-highway vehicle unless it has been modified to meet the equipment standards specified in chapter 9 and has been registered for highway use."

Off-Highway Vehicles: Montana FWP, checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · Montana

Street legal with a plate

Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

"If you wish to ride your OHV on paved highways, it must be street legal and have a license plate. The license plate must be attached to the rear of your OHV."

Conditions

"OHVs must be street legal to be ridden on roads. To be street legal, vehicles must be registered for on-highway (paved roads only) use."
"(1) A person may operate an off-highway vehicle on a controlled-access highway or facility only if the vehicle is registered and licensed under 61-3-301 and the operator possesses a license to drive the vehicle issued under Title 61, chapter 5."
"(2) Off-highway vehicle operation is permitted on the roadway or shoulder of any public road or highway, state highway, county road, or city street located within the boundaries of any municipality only if: (a) the operator has received permission or is otherwise authorized for that travel by the municipality in the case of town or city streets, the board of county commissioners for county roads, or the state highway patrol for all other highways; or (b) operation is authorized on municipal streets by municipal ordinance."
"Is operating an OHV that is not subject to street legal requirements, i.e. operating on trails or unpaved highways (MCA 23-2-824) ."

Registration and plates

"The Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Title & Registration Bureau is responsible for issuing certificates of title, registrations, and license plates for OHV. ... If you wish to ride your OHV on paved highways, it must be street legal and have a license plate."

Required equipment (2)

These vehicles must have specific equipment (functioning headlamp, stop lamp, brakes, electric horn, rearview mirror, exhaust muffler, and spark arrestor) and a license plate on the rear of the machine. (MCA 61-3-301)
(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), an off-highway vehicle may not be operated as allowed under subsection (2) unless it is equipped with at least one headlamp and one taillamp, which must be lighted at all times during operation, and unless it is equipped with a suitable braking device operable by either hand or foot.

Driver's license

"(4) (a) Except as provided in subsection (4)(b), a person who operates an off-highway vehicle when allowed under subsection (2) must have in the person's possession a license to drive a motor vehicle issued under Title 61, chapter 5."

Riding in Montana

35 off-road parks listed in Montana. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See Montana off-road parks

Other states

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

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules. Source: Off-Highway Vehicles: Montana FWP.

Yes, with a plate. Montana lets you register an ATV for public roads if it meets the state's rules. Source: Off-Highway Vehicles: Montana FWP.

Montana's law says: "The Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Title & Registration Bureau is responsible for issuing certificates of title, registrations, and license plates for OHV. ... If you wish to ride your OHV on paved highways, it must be street legal and have a license plate."

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