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Are side-by-sides street legal in New Jersey?

New Jersey'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 New Jersey

Side-by-side (UTV): No, except to cross. New Jersey allows a side-by-side on a public road only to cross it.
"“[n]o person shall operate a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike upon the main traveled portion or the plowed snowbanks of any public street or highway or within the right-of-way limits thereof. . . .” ... (1) Properly registered ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes are permitted to cross public streets or highways, but not limited access highways, “provided that such crossing can be made in safety and that it does not interfere with the free movement of vehicular traffic approaching from either direction on the public street or highway.”"
ATV (quad): No, except to cross. New Jersey allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it.
"“[n]o person shall operate a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike upon the main traveled portion or the plowed snowbanks of any public street or highway or within the right-of-way limits thereof. . . .” ... (1) Properly registered ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes are permitted to cross public streets or highways, but not limited access highways, “provided that such crossing can be made in safety and that it does not interfere with the free movement of vehicular traffic approaching from either direction on the public street or highway.”"

New Jersey Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice: Guidance on Off-Road and All-Terrain Vehicle Use on Public Lands and Public Roads (May 22, 2023), checked November 2026.

Riding a dirt bike? Read New Jersey's dirt bike rule.

Street Legal UTV CheckNew Jersey

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Side-by-side (UTV) · New Jersey

Crossing only

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

"“[n]o person shall operate a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike upon the main traveled portion or the plowed snowbanks of any public street or highway or within the right-of-way limits thereof. . . .” ... (1) Properly registered ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes are permitted to cross public streets or highways, but not limited access highways, “provided that such crossing can be made in safety and that it does not interfere with the free movement of vehicular traffic approaching from either direction on the public street or highway.”"

Conditions

"Crossing public streets or highways is only permissible if the operator of the ATV brings the vehicle to a complete stop prior to crossing the road."
"(2) ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes can be operated adjacent and parallel to public highways when gaining immediate access to an appropriate area is impracticable."
"“[n]o person shall operate a snowmobile, all-terrain vehicle, or dirt bike upon limited access highways"
"State law also prohibits operation of ATVs, snowmobiles, and dirt bikes on public roads."

Required equipment (1)

(3) the vehicle is equipped with headlights, taillights, brakes, reflectors, and a muffler

Driver's license

"You do not need a permit or license to operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in New Jersey."

Riding in New Jersey

7 off-road parks listed in New Jersey. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See New Jersey off-road parks

Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

No, except to cross. New Jersey allows a side-by-side on a public road only to cross it. Source: New Jersey Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice: Guidance on Off-Road and All-Terrain Vehicle Use on Public Lands and Public Roads (May 22, 2023).

No, except to cross. New Jersey allows an ATV on a public road only to cross it. Source: New Jersey Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice: Guidance on Off-Road and All-Terrain Vehicle Use on Public Lands and Public Roads (May 22, 2023).

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