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Wyoming is one of the few states that has allowed the use of ATVs and UTVs on public roads. In this article, we will be exploring the most important aspects you will need to know before taking your ATV or UTV into Wyoming’s roads. We will aim to provide answers to these questions below to help you transition from trails to highways in Wyoming.
- Is there any law in Wyoming that allows for ATVs or UTVs to be street legal?
- How does Wyoming’s law formally classify an ATV or UTV?
- Can an ATV or UTV be street-legal in Wyoming?
- What are the requirements to make an ATV or UTV street-legal in Wyoming?
- What are the operational and safety requirements when driving a street-legal ATV or UTV in Wyoming?
- Where can I drive my street-legal ATV or UTV in Wyoming?
- I am not a resident of Wyoming; can I still register my vehicle in this state?
Wyoming Legal Classification of ATVs and UTVs
In the state of Wyoming, ATVs and UTVs are categorized as off-road recreational vehicles. These are vehicles that have these definitions:
- Recreational vehicles primarily designed for off-road use, with a width 50 inches or less, and an unladen weight of 1,100 pounds or less;
- Motorcycles that are not required to be licensed, with a seat or saddle, with two tires and an unladen weight of not more than 600 pounds, and are designed for off-road use;
- Multi-wheeled motorized vehicles that are not required to be licensed, with an unladen weight greater than 900 pounds, and are designed for cross-country travel on or over land, sand, snow, ice, or other natural terrain.
Most ATVS and UTVs: Multipurpose vehicles
Off-road recreational vehicles fall under a broader category called “multipurpose vehicles” or MPVs. This is defined as motor vehicles with at least 4 wheels in contact with the ground, an unladen weight between 300 to 3000 pounds, with a permanent upright seat or saddle mounted at least 24 inches from the ground and has an identifying number. From the definition provided, we can infer that not all off-road recreational vehicles are multipurpose vehicles. Take an off-road motorcycle as an example. An off-road motorcycle has two tires whereas a multipurpose vehicle has at least 4 tires. This characteristic of an MPV coincides with that of most ATVs and UTVs. Hence, ATVs and UTVs that have at least 4 wheels are considered MPVs in the state of Wyoming.
Can an ATV or UTV be street-legal in Wyoming?
Yes, an ATV and UTV can be street-legal in Wyoming! In Wyoming, ATVs and UTVs or, legally, multipurpose vehicles, are required to be registered if operated on public roads and highways. However, because an ATV or UTV is designed for off-road use, it must be equipped with parts that will make it ready for road use.
MPVs: What are the requirements to make an ATV or UTV street-legal in Wyoming?
Since ATVs and UTVs are classified as multipurpose vehicles (MPVs) in the state of Wyoming, we will be providing a list of the registration requirements for MPVs. In Wyoming, the required equipment for MPVs differs according to the width of the vehicle. You should refer to the specific measurements of your ATV or UTV to know what type of equipment you will need to install on your vehicle.
To make your ATV or UTV street-legal in Wyoming, you must fulfill specific requirements for MPVs, which can be divided into two categories: paperwork and parts.
1. Paperworks
- Title
- Insurance
- Registration
- License Plates
2. Parts
A. MPVs greater than 50 inches wide
- Head lamps
- Must have at least two – one on each side
- Tail lamps
- Must have at least two – one on each side
- Reflectors
- Must have at least two on the rear
- Stop lamps
- Must have at least two
- Brakes
- Must have a service braking system and a parking brake system
- Horn
- Muffler
- Mirrors
- Must have two mirrors. One on the left side of the vehicle, and the other either on the center of the inside of the vehicle or on the right side of the outside of the vehicle.
- Windshield
- If the vehicle is equipped with a windshield and an enclosed cab, it must be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield, and the device must be controlled by the driver of the vehicle.
- Tires
B. MPVs less than or equal to 50 inches wide
- Head lamps
- Must have at least one
- Tail lamps
- Must have at least one
- Reflectors
- Must have at least one
- Stop lamps
- Must have at least one
- Brakes
- Must have a service braking system and a parking brake system
- Horn
- Muffler
- Mirrors
- Must have two mirrors. One on the left side of the vehicle, and the other either on the center of the inside of the vehicle or on the right side of the outside of the vehicle.
- Windshield
- If the vehicle is equipped with a windshield and an enclosed cab, it must be equipped with a device for cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture from the windshield, and the device must be controlled by the driver of the vehicle.
- Tires
What are the operational and safety requirements when driving a street-legal ATV or UTV in Wyoming?
When driving an ATV or UTV on public roads in Wyoming, you are required to adhere to the following operational and safety requirements:
- An operator of an ATV or UTV, or legally, MPV, is required to have a driver’s license when driving upon public streets or highways in the state.
- Insurance
Where can I drive my street-legal ATV or UTV in Wyoming?
A street-legal ATV or UTV, or a multipurpose vehicle as it is legally classified in Wyoming, may be driven on streets and highways in Wyoming. However, these are not allowed on interstate highways. Additionally, if your street-legal ATV or UTV is incapable of achieving the maximum speed on a specific street or highway, it must have a reflectorized flag, or if it is designed to operate at speeds less than 25 miles per hour, it must have a slow-moving vehicle emblem attached.
If my ATV or UTV is registered as “street-legal” in Wyoming, can I drive it on the roadways in other states?
Yes! However, it is important to understand that each state has its own set of laws and regulations regarding the operation of off-road vehicles on public roadways. While some states may have “Registration Reciprocity” agreements or similar regulations that recognize the street-legal status of your ATV or UTV from Wyoming, others may have different requirements or may not permit the operation of such vehicles on their roadways.
Our best advice here is to familiarize yourself with the specific laws and regulations of the state or states you plan to visit or travel through. Contacting the Department of Motor Vehicles or relevant authorities in those states can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the operation of street-legal ATVs or UTVs.
I am not a resident of Wyoming; can I still register my vehicle in this state?
Maybe? We are unable to definitively say you can as the Wyoming Department of Transportation has not provided guidance on non-resident registration of vehicles in this state. We recommend that you contact the Wyoming DOT for current and accurate information for your situation.
Out-of-state registration of UTVs and ATVs is a detailed and nuanced topic though and requires more specific advisement to your individual situation than we can provide in this article. As such, we have partnered with Dirtlegal.com. DirtLegal.com helps drivers to register their ATVs and UTVs in “street legal” states like Wyoming, so that they can be driven on roadways in other states that honor Registration Reciprocity.
Get STREET LEGAL with DirtLegal.com
Conclusion
Wyoming’s legal classification of ATVs and UTVs has allowed for these vehicles to become street legal. And not only that, because these are considered multipurpose vehicles and not motorcycles, an ATV or UTV operator is not even required to wear a helmet to operate it on public roads. It is important to remember though that because your street-legal ATV or UTV is treated like any other registered and roadworthy vehicle in Wyoming, you, as an operator of these types of vehicles, will be subject to the same rules of the road that other motor vehicle users are subjected to. So when you are out and about in Wyoming in your street-legal ATV or UTV, you must obey traffic regulations to avoid any infractions and ultimately, tickets and penalties.
While this article has provided a comprehensive overview of the street-legal laws on ATVs and UTVs in this state, it is important that you consult with the Wyoming DOT for more specific and accurate information regarding ATV and UTV regulations. Because state laws can change over time and regulations differ between jurisdictions, the information presented here may not provide the most up-to-date or region-specific details. Remember that street legality is determined by state and local laws, and it is your responsibility as an ATV or UTV owner to ensure that you are operating your vehicle within the legal boundaries while also getting the most fun out of it.
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