You can drive a side-by-side on the road in Tennessee, but only on state highways and county roads with a posted speed limit of 45 mph or less, and only if the vehicle is registered, insured, and properly equipped and the driver is licensed. House Bill 810 amended Tennessee Code 55-8-185 to open those roads to utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), a category that covers low-speed vehicles, medium-speed vehicles, Class I and Class II off-highway vehicles, and ATVs.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles City streets are not part of the deal, and neither are interstates.
Which Roads Are Open to Side-by-Sides
A qualifying UTV can travel on any state highway or county road posted at 45 mph or less. Even where the posted limit is higher up to that ceiling, you cannot exceed 35 mph. Operation is limited to daylight, which the statute defines as including the 30 minutes before dawn and the 30 minutes after dusk.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles
Two categories of road are entirely off-limits: any highway that is part of the interstate and national defense highway system, and any controlled-access highway. There are no exceptions.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles
City Streets Are Not Included
This is the point owners most often miss. The statute authorizes UTV use on “state highways” and “county roads.” Municipal streets are not on that list. If you live inside city limits, the state law alone does not give you the right to drive your side-by-side on local streets, even if the posted limit is 25 or 30 mph. A separate, narrower provision allows ATVs on certain unpaved streets inside designated adventure tourism districts, but only after a two-thirds vote of the local governing body and with extra requirements.2Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-185 – Use of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles on Highways Don’t assume that provision covers your side-by-side or your street.
Who Can Drive
The operator has to be at least 16 and hold a valid driver’s license. A learner’s permit does not count. The statute is explicit that the license “does not include a permit,” so a teenager with only a permit cannot legally drive a UTV on public roads, even with a licensed adult riding along.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles
Equipment That Has to Work
Tennessee does not force you to bolt on aftermarket parts. The rule is that whatever your UTV came with from the factory, or whatever you have added, must be operational and in use on public roads.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles The list:
- Functioning brakes.
- At least two headlights and two taillights, plus stoplights.
- Two turn signal lamps or equivalent devices.
- A horn that meets Tennessee Code 55-9-201.
- The roll bar, if the vehicle was built with one.
- Seatbelts for each seat, if the vehicle is equipped with them.
- A manufacturer-installed spark arrester or equivalent.
- A muffler in proper working order, connected to the exhaust.
- An intact windshield, if the vehicle has one. Wipers are optional. If there is no windshield, the driver and every passenger must wear impact-resistant glasses, safety goggles, or a face shield.
Most modern side-by-sides ship with headlights, taillights, seatbelts, and a roll cage, so the practical question is usually whether everything still works. The windshield rule is worth flagging: plenty of UTVs come without one, and the state doesn’t make you add it. Eye protection for everyone on board fills the gap.
Registration and Insurance
The UTV has to be titled and registered through your county clerk’s office before it goes on a public road.3Tennessee Department of Revenue. Off-Highway Vehicles Bring proof of ownership. Depending on the vehicle class, the clerk may also require an affidavit; low-speed and medium-speed vehicles each have their own. Once registered, the vehicle displays a license plate.
Liability insurance is required at Tennessee’s standard financial responsibility limits: either a single-limit policy of at least $65,000 per accident, or split limits of $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident.4Justia. Tennessee Code 55-12-102 – Part Definitions Not every insurer writes UTV road-use policies, and a standard off-road recreation policy will not satisfy this requirement. Shop around before you register.
Local Rules Can Still Shut You Down
State compliance is the floor, not the ceiling. Municipalities can regulate or prohibit the operation and crossing of off-highway vehicles on any street they control, provided they notify the Department of Safety and post signs. Counties have the same authority over county roads through lawfully enacted resolutions.2Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-185 – Use of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles on Highways A fully registered, insured, properly equipped UTV can still be banned on a specific road if the local government has acted. Call your county clerk or local police before you ride somewhere new.
Separately, the statute names specific state route segments where off-highway vehicles are allowed regardless of the general 45-mph rule, in counties with heavy trail and tourism use. Riders on those designated routes must wear helmets and follow the rules of the road, and the segments are defined intersection to intersection in the statute itself.2Justia. Tennessee Code 55-8-185 – Use of Off-Highway Motor Vehicles on Highways The legislature has added segments over the years, most recently in 2024, so check current text if you plan to ride one.
What a Violation Costs
Breaking the UTV road-use rules is a Class C misdemeanor with a $50 fine. There is no jail exposure for the offense itself.1Tennessee General Assembly. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-8-185 – Utility Terrain Vehicles The fine is small, but a citation still leaves a misdemeanor on your record. And driving unregistered or uninsured on a public road opens the door to separate charges under Tennessee’s registration and financial responsibility statutes, which hit harder than the $50 UTV fine.