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Are side-by-sides street legal in Washington?

Washington'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 Washington

Side-by-side (UTV): On some roads. Washington allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(1) A person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon any public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less subject to the following restrictions and requirements:"
ATV (quad): On some roads. Washington allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(1) A person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon any public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less subject to the following restrictions and requirements:"
Dirt bike: Yes, with a plate. Washington lets you register a dirt bike for public roads if it meets the state's rules.
"(1) A person may operate an off-road motorcycle upon a public road, street, or highway of this state if the person: (a) Files a motorcycle highway use declaration, as provided under RCW 46.16A.435, with the department certifying conformance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards and state standards; (b) Obtains and has in full force and effect a current and proper ORV registration or temporary ORV use permit under chapter 46.09 RCW; and (c) Obtains a valid driver's license and motorcycle endorsement issued to Washington residents in compliance with chapter 46.20 RCW for a motorcycle."

RCW 46.09.455 Authorized and prohibited uses for wheeled all-terrain vehicles., checked November 2026.

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Side-by-side (UTV) · Washington

Some roads

On some roads. Washington allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.

"(1) A person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon any public roadway of this state, not including nonhighway roads and trails, having a speed limit of thirty-five miles per hour or less subject to the following restrictions and requirements:"

Conditions

"(b) a utility-type vehicle designed for and capable of travel over designated roads that travels on four or more low-pressure tires of twenty psi or less, has a maximum width less than seventy-four inches, has a maximum weight less than two thousand pounds, has a wheelbase of one hundred ten inches or less"
"(c)(i) A person may not operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on a public roadway within the boundaries of a county, not including nonhighway roads and trails, with a population of fifteen thousand or more unless the county by ordinance has approved the operation of wheeled all-terrain vehicles on county roadways, not including nonhighway roads and trails."
"(d)(i) A person may not operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle on a public roadway within the boundaries of a city or town, not including nonhighway roads and trails, unless the city or town by ordinance has approved the operation of wheeled all-terrain vehicles on city or town roadways, not including nonhighway roads and trails."
"(ii) Except as otherwise provided in (a) of this subsection, the legislative body of a county with a population of fewer than fifteen thousand may, by ordinance, designate roadways or highways within its boundaries to be unsuitable for use by wheeled all-terrain vehicles."
"(a) A person may not operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon state highways that are listed in chapter 47.17 RCW; however, a person may operate a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon a segment of a state highway listed in chapter 47.17 RCW if the segment is within the limits of a city or town, or if the county in which the segment is located has first consulted with the department of transportation, and then adopted an ordinance approving the operation of wheeled all-terrain vehicles on that segment, and the speed limit on the segment is thirty-five miles per hour or less;"
"(iii) Any public roadways, not including nonhighway roads and trails, authorized by a legislative body of a county under (c)(i) of this subsection or designated as unsuitable under (c)(ii) of this subsection must be listed publicly and made accessible from the main page of the county website."

Registration and plates

"(3) Except as provided in subsections (6)(a) and (7) of this section, a person who operates a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon a public roadway must have a current and proper on-road vehicle registration, with the appropriate on-road tab ... (1) Any wheeled all-terrain vehicle operated within this state must display a metal tag to be affixed to the rear of the wheeled all-terrain vehicle."

Required equipment (11)

Headlights meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.030 and 46.37.040 and used at all times when the vehicle is in motion upon a highway;
One tail lamp meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.525 and used at all times when the vehicle is in motion upon a highway; however, a utility-type vehicle, as described under RCW 46.09.310 , must have two tail lamps meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.070 (1) and to be used at all times when the vehicle is in motion upon a highway;
A stop lamp meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200 ;
Reflectors meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.060 ;
During hours of darkness, as defined in RCW 46.04.200 , turn signals meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.200 .
A mirror attached to either the right or left handlebar, which must be located to give the operator a complete view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of the vehicle; however, a utility-type vehicle, as described under RCW 46.09.310 (19), must have two mirrors meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.400 ;
A windshield meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.430 , unless the operator wears glasses, goggles, or a face shield while operating the vehicle, of a type conforming to rules adopted by the Washington state patrol;
A horn or warning device meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.380 ;
Brakes in working order;
A spark arrester and muffling device meeting the requirements of RCW 46.09.470 ; and
For utility-type vehicles, as described under RCW 46.09.310 (19), seat belts meeting the requirements of RCW 46.37.510 .

Riding in Washington

31 off-road parks listed in Washington. National forest roads open to your vehicle today.

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Other states

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Common questions

Street legal UTV questions

On some roads. Washington allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: RCW 46.09.455 Authorized and prohibited uses for wheeled all-terrain vehicles..

On some roads. Washington allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below. Source: RCW 46.09.455 Authorized and prohibited uses for wheeled all-terrain vehicles..

Washington's law says: "(3) Except as provided in subsections (6)(a) and (7) of this section, a person who operates a wheeled all-terrain vehicle upon a public roadway must have a current and proper on-road vehicle registration, with the appropriate on-road tab ... (1) Any wheeled all-terrain vehicle operated within this state must display a metal tag to be affixed to the rear of the wheeled all-terrain vehicle."

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