A change to Texas State law means that some Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) are now eligible for OHV plates, which includes some of Alamo Cycle Plex’s best selling off-road vehicles Polaris Ranger, Kawasaki Mule and more. While an OHV plate appears more like a standard license plate, it has some restrictions and doesn’t necessarily make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in Texas. The law currently permits these vehicles to only be operated on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. There are also some parts of the law that allow individual Counties/Cities to increase or reduce eligibility. We recommend talking to your local municipality or legal professional for more information.
It’s also important to point out that the majority of Off Road Vehicles are designed for just that – off roads – and may not be best suited for use on the street. Because these Off Road vehicles have a license for just that, an ORV does not need to meet federal crash standards, and they lack certain safety items that would be present on other vehicles you’ll likely be sharing the road with – like air-bags, bumpers, anti-lock brakes, traction control, safety glass, etc.
In the event of a component failure, OEMs may interpret warranty coverage differently for vehicles that are operated on the street. Asphalt and concrete provides a different terrain and wear and tear than off road environments. For instance, road conditions don’t allow tires to slip and this will not only accelerate wear on the tires, but also places an excess load on drive train components. With the differences in driving conditions, it’s probable that most OEM’s will not allow certain warranty claims on ORV that have been operated on road.
The OHV plate and OHV decal are different. Here’s the breakdown:
OHV decals are required for ALL individuals operating an OHV on public lands of Texas, or lands with OHV grants from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
OHV plates are required for on-road driving of OHV’s, following local guidelines.
For more information, please see the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for the most current information.
Information current as of 1.26.2021
ATVs, ROVs, UTVs and Sand Rails with an Off-Highway Vehicle license plate may be operated on roads in the following situations:
In a master planned community with a uniform set of restrictive covenants and a county or municipality-approved plat
On a road with a posted speed limit of not more than 35 mph, during the daytime and not more than two miles from the location where it is usually parked for transportation to and from a golf course
To cross intersections, including a road or street that has a posted speed limit of more than 35 mph.
Additionally, cities and certain counties may authorize operation of ATVs, ROVs, UTVs, and Sand Rails on roads within the boundaries of the city or within unincorporated areas of certain counties. The ATV, ROV, UTV and Sand Rail must display an Off-Highway Vehicle license plate when operated on roads authorized by the city or county. Operation may be authorized only on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. If operated on the roads at a speed of 25 mph or less, an ATV, ROV, UTV and Sand Rail is required to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
ATVs, ROVs, UTVs and Sand Rails may be operated on roads without the issuance of a license plate if the vehicle is:
Owned by a state, county, or municipality and operated on a public beach or highway to maintain public safety and welfare
Operated by a farmer or a rancher during the daytime and traveling no more than 25 miles from the point of origin to the destination and used in connection with the production, cultivation, harvesting, etc., of agricultural products*
Operated by a public utility worker during the daytime for utility work and traveling no more than 25 miles from the point of origin to the destination*
Operated by a law enforcement officer, or other person who provides firefighting, ambulance, medical, or other emergency services, and traveling no more than 10 miles from the point of origin to the destination*.
*ATVs, ROVs, UTVs and Sand Rails operated on a road without an Off-Highway Vehicle license plate require a triangular orange flag (slow moving emblem) mounted to the back of the vehicle at least six feet above ground level and the vehicle’s headlights and taillights to be illuminated.
Polaris is also an excellent resource for ATV/SxS rules and suggestions. Visit their page here to get state-by-state guidance.
While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site, errors can occur. Please verify all pricing information with a customer service representative. This is easily done by calling us or visiting us at the dealership.
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