To make your ATV or UTV roadworthy in West Virginia, it must first be equipped with all of the following devices: West Virginia ATV riders who are injured in driving crashes may be entitled to compensation if their accidents are due to the reckless or reckless actions of another person. BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – ATV RIDERS CAN NOW HIT THE ROADS WITHOUT FEAR OF GETTING A TICKET. ATVs are now legal on the street in some scenarios. With regard to distance travelled, the law states: “It is prohibited for specially designed and approved vehicles on the road to travel a distance of more than 20 miles on a highway bearing central markings.” This seems to mean that 20 miles is the total distance traveled, not 20 miles in one direction or within a 20-mile radius of the starting point. In this context, the term “highway” refers to any public road. Continuing our series of articles analyzing ATV laws in each state that emerged from this article, this article examines ATV laws in West Virginia. It`s also worth noting that while I`m a lawyer, I`m not your attorney, I`m not licensed to practice in West Virginia, and I don`t give legal advice. If you have any questions, you should consult a local lawyer. It is best to always wear a helmet to protect yourself from head trauma in the event of an accident, even if this is not required by the law on private property. Out-of-State Registered Vehicles: West Virginia does not have specific helmet laws for street-approved UTVs registered in other states. Since helmets are mandatory for occupants under the age of 18 in all other circumstances, we recommend that you do the same, as local law enforcement is more familiar with them. A new law in West Virginia, Senate Bill 690, states that you must equip your ATV or side-by-side to make it road legal so it can pass inspection. To pass the inspection, ATVs need headlights, turn signals, and even a windshield or pair of goggles, as well as other specifications.
A legal UTV for the West Virginia highway means having the freedom to travel the Hatfield-McCoy trail system without worrying about the roads you can use to connect the segments. You can drive to Blue Ridge Drive, explore a new ORV area, or drive a new HMT segment without taking out the truck and trailer. If you go from one ride to another, you are allowed to drive up to 10 miles at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less along the shoulder of the road. Keep in mind that not all SUVs are made for passengers and it is illegal to carry an additional driver on a single-driver ATV. The law states that to operate on the road, ATVs and SxS must have certain safety equipment to be legal. It got to the point where Gravely Polaris started stockpiling turn signal kits and road-approved tires so they wouldn`t have to order them all the time. Smalley said the typical upgrade to make a side-by-side road legal is $1,000 to $1,500. You can cross a highway on an ATV or UTV in West Virginia under the following circumstances: West Virginia allows UTVs and certain other off-road vehicles to register as special purpose vehicles (SPVs) authorized on the road. It`s a great option for connecting local hiking trails, but it`s not enough to allow for UTV route approval at all levels. SPV driving distance is limited to just 20 miles, highways and controlled access highways are prohibited, and SPV registration does not provide road legality outside West Virginia.
There are always significant limitations if you can`t ride an ATV or UTV, even if it`s legal on the street. They are as follows: The most important caveat is that an SPV registration does not make your vehicle legal on the road elsewhere. It`s up to local authorities to decide if your vehicle is legal outside of West Virginia, and in most cases, it won`t. The DMV told us that West Virginia is establishing reciprocal relationships with surrounding states, but these will certainly have limits as well. There may also be exceptions to the general ban on ATV and ATV use on the road in certain areas of West Virginia. Any municipality, county or HOA (with the approval of County Commissioners) may issue an order authorizing the use of ATVs or UTVs beyond what is permitted nationally. (j) The owner of a special purpose vehicle operated as a road-approved special purpose vehicle shall ensure that the vehicle is equipped with: In general, you are not allowed to operate an ATV or UTV on a public highway in West Virginia. This includes all highways and any road with a centre line or more than two lanes. So basically, you can ride an ATV or UTV on a one- or two-lane road with no center axis. PHEVs that are not authorized to travel on the road can still use the right side of non-centered roads for limited distances to connect trails.
You can also use the hard shoulders of most highways in the state. Unlicensed PHEVs are discussed in more detail in the final section. First, to be operated legally, the vehicle must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles as an “authorized special purpose vehicle on the road”. You must have valid insurance to register and obtain a license plate. In many ways, the registration and licensing requirements are similar to those for registering a motorcycle. If you plan to drive your ATV or UTV on the road, you must register it as a “special purpose vehicle legal for the road” under the new law passed in March 2020. Registration as a special purpose vehicle is a great option for local driving in West Virginia, especially for connecting hiking trails, but SPVs are far from allowed on the road. On March 7, 2020, the West Virginia State Legislature passed a new law allowing ATVs allowed on the street. This new bill (Senate Bill 690) “came into force” 90 days after its passage. Parents, guardians or others who are responsible for a child under the age of 18 and who know that their child is driving an SUV without a helmet may be charged with an offence that: Once you have installed all the necessary equipment, you must have your ATV checked to ensure that it meets all legal requirements. ATVs are popular in West Virginia and across the country, but using them can also lead to dangerous accidents. If you own one of these vehicles, you should familiarize yourself with the laws that apply to its use.
Compliance with the law will help you avoid ATV accidents as well as the legal penalties that come with non-compliance. Please note that we are not lawyers, so this should not be construed as legal advice. Read the bill and make sure you fully comply with the law. For some, these restrictions lead them to seek more traffic legality in West Virginia and beyond, such as registration as a regular passenger vehicle or registration out of state. Mountain bikes are only legal on roads without a yellow line, and in some areas you can ride up to ten miles from the starting point on any road. Recent changes to state law in 2020 legalized ATV riding on certain public roads, as long as the person driving that vehicle follows certain rules and restrictions. West Virginia`s traffic laws regarding ATVs, UTVs, and side-by-sides have changed. Under Senate Bill 690, passed in March 2020, drivers can now drive their vehicles on certain public roads with certain restrictions. If you only drive your vehicle on private land, the vehicle only needs to have a title and the following traffic law requirements do not apply.
As of February 4, 2020, it will now be possible to make your ATV or UTV street legal in West Virginia. Thanks to Chad Freeman for providing us with the updated legislation! In addition to the requirements described below, you must register and register your ATV or UTV in the same way as registering a motorcycle. Many people are already rushing to modify their vehicles so they can drive on the roads, said Matt Smalley, director of Gravely Polaris of Dunbar. He received about five calls a day from people asking what needs to be done to legalize existing off-roaders. ATV operators and passengers driving exclusively on private property with the owner`s permission are not required to comply with the laws described above. West Virginia requires all vehicles to be equipped with a manufacturer-installed muffler or equivalent that operates and is fully connected to the vehicle without cut-outs, bypasses, or similar devices installed. In short, modified exhausts are not allowed in West Virginia. We do not know how this would be handled for an out-of-state registered vehicle.