CHP Q&A

recently I have seen several of these side by side OHV type vehicles on the road. They have lights,seatbelts, windshield, finders,ect just like a car but are they legal on the road?

I will have to ask someone who owns one of these things how they were able to register it for highway use in California. Other states such as Arizona allow them on the road. California has been strict about limiting OHVs to the off road environment. In fact, California even went so far as to prevent buyers of off road motorcycles from making them street legal.

So I am really not answering your question well because I really don’t know. But here’s a few issues that could be raised: Does the vehicle have turn signals? Brake lights? Running lights? Mirrors? DOT approved tires? You can see where I am going with this. Just because someone put a license plate on it doesn’t necessarily mean all is well.

If these vehicles can be made street legal in California, I may just start running my local errands in a Yamaha Rhino.

There are always loop holes in every system. People are still getting green sticker "dirt bikes" licensed here in California. I as a matter of fact have a lifted gas golf cart that is plated and street legal. Again to your point, just because it has a plate on it, it doesn't really mean it is street legal ( my golf cart and street legal dirt bike both do not have DOT approved tires..). Depending on what DMV office you go to, you can almost get a license plate for anything. And yes, I would LOVE to have a California street legal Rhino!!!