Register your bike
Answer what you can and the steps below adjust to match. Without answers, you'll see everything.
Which registration you need
Answer "Where do you want to ride?" above and we'll recommend one.
Choose your city above. Whether you need a plate depends on its rules.
OHV only
RecommendedYou're riding trails, so OHV registration covers you.
opens some streets to OHVs, usually only to reach trails. Read its rules before you ride.
- An OHV decal, no license plate
- No insurance requirement
- OHV trails and areas, and streets only where a city opens them
The steps below walk you through it.
Street-legal OHV
RecommendedRiding roads takes a plate. Street-legal OHV registration lets an off-highway motorcycle use streets and highways at up to 50 mph, and it keeps trail access.
doesn't open its streets to OHV-only bikes, so riding there takes a plate. Read its rules.
We couldn't confirm whether opens its streets to OHVs. Until the city confirms it does, plan on a plate. See what we found.
Without a city ordinance opening streets, an OHV can't be ridden on them. Until your city confirms it has one, plan on a plate.
- A license plate, insurance, and a safety inspection
- Required equipment, including lights, turn signals, mirrors, and a horn
- A driver license. Whether an electric bike also needs an M endorsement is unclear, so getting one is the safe choice.
- A 50 mph cap, and never on interstates
The steps below now include the street-legal parts. For the equipment list, costs, and license rules, see the Street-legal tab.
Full motorcycle registration is a third option, but very few dirt bikes meet its requirements.
Compare all three registration types
| OHV only | Street-legal OHV | Full street-legal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where you ride | OHV trails and areas, plus city streets only where a local ordinance allows | Streets and highways at the posted limit or 50 mph, whichever is lower, plus OHV trails. Never interstates. | Public roads as a motorcycle, including freeways |
| Driver license | Not required, but you need the OHV education certificate | Required | Required |
| M endorsement | Not required | Not required for gas bikes. Unclear for electric bikes: the Driver License Division's street-legal ATV page says no, and its electric motorcycle page says yes. Getting one is the safe choice. | Required |
| Insurance | Not required on designated OHV routes | Required | Required |
| License plate | No, OHV decal | Yes | Yes |
| Safety inspection | No | Yes, the first time and when ownership changes | VIN inspection for first Utah title |
| Minimum age | No state minimum. Riders under 18 without a license need an adult nearby on roads open to cars. | 16, with a driver license | 16, with a license and M endorsement |
| Helmet | Under 18 on public land | Under 21 | Under 21 |
The DMV calls street-legal OHV registration a "street-legal ATV," even for a dirt bike. Full motorcycle registration is rarely possible for a dirt bike, because on-road motorcycles have to be certified by the manufacturer.
The steps, in order
Get a bill of sale from the seller
If the bike came without an MSO (Manufacturer's Statement of Origin), ask the seller or importer for one. If they can't provide it, ask for a signed bill of sale that lists the VIN, model, and motor power. Check the seller's support page or contact form for title paperwork.
Why it matters: without an MSO, this signed bill of sale is what makes your ownership statement credible.One owner's exampleX-Pro's contact page has an MSO/Title/Bill of Sale option in its dropdown. They sent a signed bill of sale from the importer listing the VIN, model, and power output.
Fill out the three DMV forms
TC-656Vehicle Application for Utah Title and RegistrationCheck "New title" and "Registration." For vehicle type, check Off-highway vehicle, then Motorcycle. Section 4 is for plates. One owner getting OHV-only registration left it blank, and that was fine.
TC-656Vehicle Application for Utah Title and RegistrationFor vehicle type, check Street-legal ATV. That's the DMV's term for a dirt bike made street legal. By signing, you certify that you'll keep insurance.
TC-569AOwnership StatementWith an MSO you may not need this form. Ask the DMV before you fill it out.
TC-569AOwnership StatementTakes the place of the missing MSO. Explain how you got the bike: who sold it, when, that it was built for off-highway use, and what paperwork you have, such as a bill of sale, order confirmation, or delivery records. You sign it under penalty of perjury, so read what that means before you sign.
TC-661Certificate of InspectionThe VIN inspection. The inspector fills this one out and signs it (step 3).
Bond tip: a surety bond can be required only if the bike is worth more than $3,000. If yours is, read how the bond works.Equip, insure, and pass a safety inspection
- Equipment: add the lights, turn signals, mirrors, horn, and other parts on the equipment list.
- Insurance: get liability coverage. Utah's minimums are $30,000 per person and $65,000 per accident for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage, or a $90,000 combined limit.
- Safety inspection: take the bike to a certified motorcycle and ATV inspection station. Each sets its own price, so call ahead. A passing bike gets two certificates. If it fails, you have 15 days to fix it and get it rechecked for free. The station can sign your TC-661 at the same visit.
Already registered as an OHV? Skip the bill of sale and ownership statement. Equip, insure, and inspect the bike, then take a TC-656 marked Street-legal ATV, the safety certificate, and your title or current registration to the DMV.License: you need a driver license to ride on the street. Whether an electric bike also needs a motorcycle (M) endorsement is unclear, because the Driver License Division's own pages disagree. Getting one is the safe choice. Why.Get the VIN inspection (TC-661) done
Only certain people can sign the TC-661: a DMV employee, a designated contractor, a law enforcement agency employee, a licensed dealer, a certified safety inspector, or someone the DMV authorizes in writing. The Utah Highway Patrol lists certified motorcycle and ATV inspection stations by city; use your browser's find to look up yours, and call ahead because each station sets its own price. If you can't haul the bike, look for a mobile inspector who will come to you.
- Find the VIN, usually stamped on the frame, and clean it so nothing covers it.
- Have your bill of sale or MSO out so the inspector can match the VIN.
Bought new from a Utah dealer? The TC-661 says a bike registered in Utah for the first time must be inspected unless it's new and came from an in-state dealer or manufacturer, so you may be able to skip this step.One owner's exampleWith accessories, the bike weighed about 200 lbs, too much for a 160 lb hitch carrier, and there was no truck available. A mobile emissions and inspection company came to the house for $65. They said mobile homes, bikes, and ATVs make up a lot of their business.
Build the packet
Bring everything in one stack: the three forms, the purchase paperwork, and photos of the bike. Use the packet checklist.
Go to the DMV
You don't need to bring the bike. You'll pay title and registration fees plus sales tax based on the purchase price. The decal goes on the bike, often on a fork leg, and you need to carry the registration certificate with you when you ride.Bring the safety inspection certificate. Street-legal registration is up to $72 a year plus an age-based fee, and you get a license plate instead of a decal.
Mileage: if your bike has an odometer, the DMV may still mark the mileage exempt, which is normal for OHVs. The VIN inspection doesn't decide this. Write down the actual reading for your records anyway.One owner's exampleThe packet went through on the first try. Title and OHV registration for a $2,099 bike came to $222.20.
Take the OHV education course
Every OHV operator in Utah has to complete it before riding on public land, roads, or trails. It's free, online, takes under 30 minutes, and you only do it once. Street-legal registration doesn't replace it.
Things to watch for
- Less common brands may not be in the DMV system. One registration listed the make as "UNKN" because the system didn't recognize X-Pro, though the VIN and model were correct. Check your title when it arrives in the mail.
- OHV registration renews every year at the end of the month you bought the bike.
- Street-legal registration renews every year, or every 24 months, with no new inspection. A new inspection is needed only if the bike changes owners.
- Keep the registration certificate on the bike. A zip bag under the seat works.
Street-legal OHV requirements
Under Utah Code § 41-6a-1509, an off-highway motorcycle that has the right equipment can be registered for the street. The DMV calls this a street-legal ATV, even for a dirt bike, so that's the term to use at the counter. You get a license plate, and you keep trail access. The steps walk through the process; this tab has the details.
What it costs
- Registration: up to $72 a year, the state maximum for street-legal registration.
- Age-based uniform fee: $38 for 2024 to 2026 models, $28 for 2021 to 2023, $20 for 2018 to 2020, $14 for 2015 to 2017, and $4 for 2014 and older (2026 table).
- Title: $6 if you're titling it, plus sales tax on a new purchase.
- Inspection: set by the station.
Small state add-on fees apply too. For your exact total, use the DMV fee estimator.
License and riding gear
- Driver license required, so riders must be 16 or older.
- M endorsement for electric bikes: unclear. The Driver License Division contradicts itself. Its street-legal ATV page says you can drive a street-legal ATV without an endorsement, and its electric motorcycle page says you need one to drive an electric motorcycle. A street-legal electric dirt bike fits both descriptions, and we can't tell which rule applies. Our suggestion is to get the endorsement, because riding without one when it's required carries a $350 minimum fine. Gas bikes don't need one.
- Helmet for riders under 21, DOT-rated.
- Passengers only if the bike was built for two, with a passenger seat and footrests.
- Still take the OHV education course. Street-legal registration doesn't replace it.
Required equipment
The bike needs
- Headlamp marked USDOT, with a high-beam indicator
- Tail lamp, and a brake light that works from both the front and rear brakes
- White light over the rear license plate
- Red rear reflector
- Electric turn signals: amber in front, amber or red in back, on each side
- Brakes, and an electric horn you can hear from 200 feet
- Rearview mirrors on both sides
- Windshield, or eye protection for the rider
- Illuminated speedometer
- Passenger seat and footrests, if the bike was built for a passenger
- Factory-size tires, no larger than the manufacturer offered, with at least 2/32 inch of tread. They don't need to be DOT-rated.
- Muffler and emission control system, on gas bikes only
Inspection notes
- Tires: § 41-6a-1509 only requires factory size and tread depth, not DOT-rated tires. The UHP inspection manual's general tire rule also rejects tires "marked for other than highway use," so if your factory tires carry that marking, confirm with the station.
- Plate: mounted level, at least 12 inches off the ground.
- Handlebars: no higher than your shoulders.
- Electric bikes have no muffler or emissions requirements, the same as an electric car. There's no engine or exhaust to equip, and electric vehicles are exempt from emissions testing under § 41-6a-1642. The muffler rule is in § 41-6a-1626.
- Fenders: unclear. § 41-6a-1509 says street-legal ATVs don't need fenders or mudguards, but the UHP inspection manual applies its motorcycle fender rules to dirt bikes. We can't tell which one an inspector will use, so ask the station before you buy parts.
- Illuminated speedometer: unclear. § 41-6a-1509 requires one but doesn't define it, and neither does the inspection manual. Ask the station whether your bike's display counts.
Riding rules
- 50 mph cap. Ride at the posted limit or 50 mph, whichever is lower.
- Faster roads: on highways posted over 50 mph, ride on the far right side of the road, like a bicycle, with reflectors or reflective tape on the front and back of both sides.
- Never on interstates, or in areas closed to motor vehicles. In first-class counties, some fast roads near freeway interchanges are also closed.
Sources: Utah Code § 41-6a-1509, § 41-1a-205, § 41-22-8, and § 31A-22-304; the Utah DMV street-legal ATV page and 2026 uniform fee table; the UHP motorcycle and ATV inspection manual (2025 edition); and the Driver License Division. Checked November 2026.
The DMV packet and the cost
Prefer paper? Get the printable checklist or the free PDF.
Bring to the DMV
- TC-656 Title and registration application
- TC-569A Ownership statement, signed
- TC-661 VIN inspection, signed by the inspector
- Safety inspection certificate
- Signed bill of sale from the seller or importer
- Your MSO
- Order confirmation or receipt
- Delivery or shipping records, if the bike was shipped
- Photos of the bike: both sides and a VIN close-up (new-in-crate shots optional but helpful)
- Your lender's name and address, for the lien holder section of the TC-656
- Driver license and payment
What one owner paid
For that owner, renting a truck or trailer to haul the bike to an inspection would have cost about the same as the mobile inspector, and been a lot more hassle.
What "under penalty of perjury" means
The TC-569A replaces the missing MSO with your own sworn word, so the state treats it seriously. Just above the signature line, the form says:
"Under penalties of perjury, I declare that to the best of my knowledge and belief, this statement is true, correct, and complete." You also state the bike is free of liens and agree to indemnify the Utah State Tax Commission against any liability from issuing the title.
Knowingly making a false statement or hiding a material fact on a title or registration application, committing other fraud in the application, or listing false lien information. Up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
Read the statuteSigning a statement you don't believe is true on a form that warns false statements are punishable, which the TC-569A does. Up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Read the statuteIf the bike turns out to be stolen or has an undisclosed lien, you agreed to cover the state's costs and defend any lawsuit. The title can be cancelled, and the real owner or lender can take the bike back.
Where people get into trouble
The safe rule: write what actually happened, use the real price and date, disclose any loan secured by the bike, and keep the paperwork that proves it.
If the DMV asks for a surety bond
This part comes from the DMV and bond sellers rather than firsthand experience. Many e-motos cost more than $3,000, so it's worth knowing before you go in.
Questions about whether you'll need a bond: Utah DMV, 801-297-7780 or 800-368-8824, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Photos to take
The DMV needs photos of the bike: both sides and the VIN. Crate photos aren't required, but showing the bike arriving new, from the sealed box to fully assembled, backs up your ownership statement and puts the clerk at ease when there's no MSO. If you're still waiting on delivery, take them.
