ATV Florida Forum

i heard you can street legalize a atv but is it the same standards as for a dual purpose bike and who make dot approved tires for one

I'm not sure if this is correct but you might need to get it registered out of state and then transfer the registration to FL. There was a Banshee on here that had the same thing done.

94Hardbody4x4 got it right. You have to register it in a state that allows it then transfer the title / registration here. But you better hurry. Federal law is getting ready to supercede state laws in January and no ATV will be allowed to be street legal anywhere.

Thank Charlie Christ for that one. He was the leader in the whole thi ng since Florida is ranked second in the world for ATV sales. California being first.

new mexico and arizona will let you get plates for an atv. You are only supposed to ride them on certain roads and at certain times but you will have plates and no cop in florida will know anyways.

State laws can be passed that are less restrictive than Federal law, but not more restrictive.
p.s. it does'nt matter if it was previously registered in another State it still wont be legal in Florida :(

yeah but Florida cops will see a license plate from another state and think its ok.  My point is that it will "look" legit:)

Its not the registration, Its the title. To make an ATV street legal you have to get the "off road" on the title off and the "motorcycle" on. I have been looking into it for a while and I guess now have to do it before the end of the year.

To start, you have to make the necessary changes (lights, turn sig, mirrors, wheels and tires) to DOT specs. Then take a long ass road trip to a state that will inspect the quad and change the title to a motorcycle title. At that point you will have to pay all the titling fees and taxes. Then you can re-register the quad back here in Florida along with the titling fees and taxes again, the idiots at your local tag office wont know the difference because the title is now a motorcycle title. The only catch is.... If it was previously registered in Florida it will set a red flag and may complicate the whole registration process.

but..........
there is a farm vehicle clause and I have shown the paperwork and links to a few members of this site. State of Florida will allow you to register an off road vehicle with plates for the purpose of "temporary on-road use". You can either dig through my posts from back in 2003-2004 or just go to any dmv in Ocala or Polk County and they should be able to help you. I was allowed to do it but I actually knew back then someone that owned an Orange grove in Lake Placid but then the dreaded :08 accident happened and there went my Banshee.

Yes, but not all of us here have friends that own Orange Groves, Live in Ocala or want a slow moving vehicle. And I do believe a slow moving vehicle is only allowed on certain roads in certain areas. I don't think I would be successful convincing a Sunrise PD officer that I'm on my way home from picking oranges at 2am.

The state defines an ATV as below:

317.0003  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:

(1)  "ATV" means any motorized off-highway or all-terrain vehicle 50 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of 900 pounds or less, designed to travel on three or more low-pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control, and intended for use by a single operator and with no passenger.

As a law enforcement officer who enforces ATV laws, I can tell you it's not possible to make an ATV street legal in this state. Adding turn signals, rear view mirrors and changing tires/rims does not change the fact of what the vehicle is designed for, which is clearly stated in the legal description and the vehicle's title.

Used as a farm implement, the vehicle must be actively used for agricultural purposes during daylight hours on, or travelling to another Ag property. It must be equipped with a slow moving triangle and have proper lighting and reflectors.

Those counties that didn't opt out of 316.2123(1) allow ATV operation on unpaved public roads during daylight hours, as long as you register your ATV and have the registration decal displayed.

The state website, floridaohv.org , can answer most of your questions and it's right from the horse's mouth, not just someone's opinion.

I was also asked about law enforcement being able to ride on public roads, so included the below:

316.21265  Use of all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, low-speed vehicles, or utility vehicles by law enforcement agencies.--

(1)  Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any law enforcement agency in this state may operate all-terrain vehicles as defined in s. 316.2074, golf carts as defined in s. 320.01(22), low-speed vehicles as defined in s. 320.01(42), or utility vehicles as defined in s. 320.01(43) on any street, road, or highway in this state while carrying out its official duties.

(2)  Such vehicles must be clearly marked as vehicles of a law enforcement agency and may be equipped with special warning lights, signaling devices, or other equipment approved or authorized for use on law enforcement vehicles.

(3)  The vehicle operator and passengers must wear safety gear, such as helmets, which is ordinarily required for use by operators or passengers on such vehicles.

Whats the difference, I see Harleys and home made street bikes converted into 3 and 4 wheelers driving down the street legally all the time that fall into that criteria. The next fad is going to be ATV's street legal from the manufactures, your already seeing them now. Pretty soon they have Enduro models like they do for the Dirt bikes too.
Maybe then the police will start fighting real crime!

Street tires are no problem getting. Through an Axle and front end a-arm conversion on an Enduro bike and you have yourself a street legal quad.
Or  attach a mower blade underneath a quad and be legal. ;)

I wish the manufactures would produce a street legal ATV. Then it would have a tag, insurance, and a licensed rider on it. Everyone could just ride to the track or mud.

I think its coming, one of these days.

I just figured out how to get around all this.

(1)  "ATV" means any motorized off-highway or all-terrain vehicle 50 inches or less in width, having a dry weight of 900 pounds or less, designed to travel on three or more low-pressure tires, having a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering control, and intended for use by a single operator and with no passenger.


1="50 inches or less in width"........Put wider tires or wider A-arms on

2="designed to travel on three or more low-pressure tires".....install DOT approved 14" wheels and tires.

3="handlebars for steering control".......Build an adapter to install a steering wheel. If you plan on riding on trails or track, just take your handlebars with you and have a quick connect to take off the steering wheel and attach the handlebars.

The way it says in the description is that it must have all of those features to be considered an ATV.

lol, you can register it without a steering wheel. handlebars are accepted. That would be cool to see though

Can Am has already done it with 3 wheels.

Just type in street legal atv on youtube. Here is one.


http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=L6bmPt7CXQo

I meant he lobbied for the federal law to be passed not local or state. I understad federal supercedes state.