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Are side-by-sides street legal in South Dakota?

South Dakota'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 South Dakota

  • Side-by-side (UTV): Yes, with a plate. South Dakota lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

    "Any all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more or any off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred twenty cubic centimeters or more or any all-terrain vehicle, with four or more wheels, propelled by an electric motor that draws power from a battery that is capable of being recharged may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway."

  • ATV (quad): Yes, with a plate. South Dakota lets you register an ATV for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

    "Any all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more or any off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred twenty cubic centimeters or more or any all-terrain vehicle, with four or more wheels, propelled by an electric motor that draws power from a battery that is capable of being recharged may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway."

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

    "Any all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more or any off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred twenty cubic centimeters or more ... may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway."

SDCL 32-20-13. All-terrain or off-road vehicles: License requirements: Public highway use: Violation., checked November 2026.

Street Legal UTV Check
What do you ride?

Side-by-side (UTV) · South Dakota. Yes, with a plate. South Dakota lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules.

Side-by-side (UTV) · South Dakota

Street legal with a plate

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

"Any all-terrain vehicle with four or more wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of two hundred cubic centimeters or more or any off-road vehicle with two wheels and with a combustion engine having a piston or rotor displacement of one hundred twenty cubic centimeters or more or any all-terrain vehicle, with four or more wheels, propelled by an electric motor that draws power from a battery that is capable of being recharged may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway."

Conditions

  • "Any vehicle licensed pursuant to this section may not be operated on the interstate highway system."
  • "No person may operate on a public street or highway an off - road vehicle except for crossing from one side of the road to the other."
  • "A person twelve years of age or older may operate an off - road vehicle in a highway ditch if the vehicle is operated as close as possible to the outer edge of the highway right - of - way. However, no person may operate an off - road vehicle in a highway ditch along the interstate highway system"
  • "Notwithstanding the provisions of § 32-20-12 , the Transportation Commission or any board of county commissioners by ordinance may prohibit the operation of off-road vehicles in any highway ditch along any section of highway under its jurisdiction."

Registration and plates

"may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway. Prior to being licensed, the vehicle shall meet the necessary light, brake, and other vehicle accessory requirements provided by chapters 32-15 , 32-17 , and 32-18 that are applicable to motorcycles."
Required equipment (1)
  • Prior to being licensed, the vehicle shall meet the necessary light, brake, and other vehicle accessory requirements provided by chapters 32-15 , 32-17 , and 32-18 that are applicable to motorcycles.
More from South Dakota's law
"Off - road vehicles need not be registered and licensed for use upon the highways except as provided in § 32-20-13 . Off - road vehicles shall be titled."
"An off-road vehicle is any self-propelled, two or more wheeled vehicle designed to be operated on land other than a highway. Off-road vehicles may not be registered and licensed for highway use but must be titled."
"For out-of-state off-highway vehicles (OHV) to be street legal in South Dakota, they must: Have a hard license plate issued by your home state's DMV (no temporary or paper plates). Be legally allowed to ride on public roads (including highways) in your home state."

Source: SDCL 32-20-13. All-terrain or off-road vehicles: License requirements: Public highway use: Violation., checked November 2026.

Also read on: SDCL Chapter 32-20 - Motorcycle Regulation (32-20-1, 32-20-12, 32-20-12.1) · South Dakota Department of Revenue: Off-Road Vehicles

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 South Dakota

23 off-road parks listed in South Dakota. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

See South Dakota 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

Yes, with a plate. South Dakota lets you register a side-by-side for public roads if it meets the state's rules. Source: SDCL 32-20-13. All-terrain or off-road vehicles: License requirements: Public highway use: Violation..

Yes, with a plate. South Dakota lets you register an ATV for public roads if it meets the state's rules. Source: SDCL 32-20-13. All-terrain or off-road vehicles: License requirements: Public highway use: Violation..

South Dakota's law says: "may be licensed as a motorcycle pursuant to chapter 32-5 to be used on a public highway. Prior to being licensed, the vehicle shall meet the necessary light, brake, and other vehicle accessory requirements provided by chapters 32-15 , 32-17 , and 32-18 that are applicable to motorcycles."

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