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Are side-by-sides street legal in West Virginia?
West Virginia'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 West Virginia
Side-by-side (UTV): On some roads. West Virginia allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(a) No all-terrain vehicle may be operated in this state: (1) On any interstate highway except by public safety personnel responding to emergencies; (2) On any road or highway with a center line or more than two lanes except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway ... (b) An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon the shoulder, or as far to the right on the pavement as possible when there is not enough shoulder to safely operate, on any road, street or highway referred to in subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section other than an interstate highway for a distance not to exceed ten miles to travel between a residence or lodging and off-road trails, fields and areas of operation, including stops for food, fuel, supplies and restrooms, if: (1) The vehicle is operated at speeds of twenty-five miles per hour or less;"
ATV (quad): On some roads. West Virginia allows an ATV on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(a) No all-terrain vehicle may be operated in this state: (1) On any interstate highway except by public safety personnel responding to emergencies; (2) On any road or highway with a center line or more than two lanes except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway ... (b) An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon the shoulder, or as far to the right on the pavement as possible when there is not enough shoulder to safely operate, on any road, street or highway referred to in subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section other than an interstate highway for a distance not to exceed ten miles to travel between a residence or lodging and off-road trails, fields and areas of operation, including stops for food, fuel, supplies and restrooms, if: (1) The vehicle is operated at speeds of twenty-five miles per hour or less;"
Dirt bike: On some roads. West Virginia allows a dirt bike on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(a) No all-terrain vehicle may be operated in this state: (1) On any interstate highway except by public safety personnel responding to emergencies; (2) On any road or highway with a center line or more than two lanes except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway"
West Virginia Code §17F-1-1. Acts prohibited by operator; penalties for violations., checked November 2026.
Side-by-side (UTV) · West Virginia. On some roads. West Virginia allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
Side-by-side (UTV) · West Virginia
Some roadsOn some roads. West Virginia allows a side-by-side on certain public roads, under the conditions below.
"(a) No all-terrain vehicle may be operated in this state: (1) On any interstate highway except by public safety personnel responding to emergencies; (2) On any road or highway with a center line or more than two lanes except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway ... (b) An all-terrain vehicle may be operated upon the shoulder, or as far to the right on the pavement as possible when there is not enough shoulder to safely operate, on any road, street or highway referred to in subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section other than an interstate highway for a distance not to exceed ten miles to travel between a residence or lodging and off-road trails, fields and areas of operation, including stops for food, fuel, supplies and restrooms, if: (1) The vehicle is operated at speeds of twenty-five miles per hour or less;"
Conditions
"On any road or highway with a center line or more than two lanes except for the purpose of crossing the road, street or highway"
"for a distance not to exceed ten miles to travel between a residence or lodging and off-road trails, fields and areas of operation, including stops for food, fuel, supplies and restrooms"
"The vehicle is operated at speeds of twenty-five miles per hour or less"
"(6) Anytime from sunset to sunrise without an illuminated headlight or lights and taillights;"
"The governing body of a municipality may regulate in any manner or prohibit, by lawfully enacted ordinance, the operation of all-terrain vehicles upon any street, road or avenue within the municipal corporate limits."
Required equipment (3)
- Anytime from sunset to sunrise without an illuminated headlight or lights and taillights;
- Without a manufacturer-installed or equivalent spark arrester and a manufacturer-installed or equivalent muffler in proper working order and properly connected to the vehicle’s exhaust system;
- Unless riders under the age of eighteen are wearing size appropriate protective helmets that meet the current performance specifications established by the American National Standards Institute standard, z 90.1, the United States Department of Transportation federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 218 or Snell safety standards for protective headgear for vehicle users;
Driver's license
"(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a motor vehicle operator's license is not required of an operator of an all-terrain vehicle when he or she is operating said vehicle in conformity with the provisions of subdivision (2), subsection (a) or subsection (b), section one of this chapter except when the operator is under the age of eighteen and is transporting a passenger under the age of eighteen."
More from West Virginia's law
"(b) As used in this article, “all-terrain vehicle” and “vehicle”, or the plural, mean all-terrain vehicles, utility-terrain vehicles, motorcycles and off-highway vehicles."
"(c) No person under the age of eighteen may operate an all-terrain vehicle without a certificate of completion of a vehicle rider safety awareness course as offered or approved by the commissioner."
"(3) The county commission of any county which has in effect and is operating under a countywide comprehensive plan may by lawfully enacted ordinance regulate or prohibit the operation of all-terrain vehicles on any road in the county, except interstate highways"
Source: West Virginia Code §17F-1-1. Acts prohibited by operator; penalties for violations., checked November 2026.
Also read on: §17F-1-9. Definition of all-terrain and utility terrain vehicle. · §17F-1-7. Applicability of rules of operation. · §17F-1-3. Local government authority to regulate. · §17F-1-2. Safety awareness courses.
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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 West Virginia
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Other states
Side-by-side and ATV road laws in other states
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
- Wisconsin
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