March 16, 2020 by Mark Sheffield

Texas OHV License Plates for ORV and ROV Off Road Vehicles

A recent change to TX law means that some Off Highway Vehicles (Polaris Ranger, Can-Am Defender, Kawasaki Mule, and the Yamaha Viking) are now eligible for OHV plates. While an OHV plate looks like a standard license plate, it does come with some restrictions and doesn’t make these vehicles legal to operate on all roads in the State of Texas. The law currently states that these vehicles may only be operated on roads with a speed limit of 35MPH or less. There are also some sections of the law that allow individual Counties/Cities to expand or contract eligibility and we recommend you contact your local tax assessor’s office to determine the eligibility in the County where you will be operating the vehicle. As this legislation is relatively new, not all offices will be up to speed on the nuances of this legislation.

It’s also important to point out that the majority of Off Road Vehicles are not designed for use on the street, and the title for these vehicles will specify that they are designed only for off road use. An ORV does not need to meet federal crash standards, and they don’t contain certain safety items like air-bags, bumpers, anti-lock brakes, traction control, safety glass, etc. and they may not hold up well in an accident.

In the event of a component failure (driveshaft, gearbox, engine, etc.) we don’t know how each OEM may interpret warranty coverage on vehicles that are operated on the street. Most ORV’s have drive trains designed for a surface that has some flexibility and give (dirt, mud, fields). Asphalt and concrete 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. It’s possible (and probably likely) that most OEM’s will deny certain warranty claims on vehicles that have been operated on the street.

The OHV plate is also separate from the OHV decal. OHV decals are required by law for all individuals operating an OHV in Texas at an OHV legal venue which is located on the public lands of Texas, or on lands which have received OHV grants from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Here is the text from the State website on the subject of the OHV plates

The TxDMV is required to title off-highway vehicles (ATVs, ROVs, UTVs, and Sand Rails), but these vehicles are not eligible for registration. Off-highway vehicles are eligible to receive an Off-Highway Vehicle license plate, and you may obtain an Off-Highway Vehicle license plate from your county tax assessor-collector’s office. The Off-Highway Vehicle license plate will be available for issuance in early 2020. For Driver License requirements to operate any of these vehicles, contact your local law enforcement agency. Texans purchasing off-highway vehicles in other states owe Texas use tax. Find details on paying use tax here: https://comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales/use-tax.php.

An All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) is a motor vehicle that:

has a seat or seats for the rider and one passenger;
has three or more tires;
is not more than 50 inches wide;
is designed for off-highway use; and
is not designed by the manufacturer for farm or lawn care.

A Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle (ROV) is a motor vehicle that:

has a seat or seats for the rider and one or more passengers;
has four or more tires;
is designed for off-highway use; and
is not designed by the manufacturer for farm or lawn care.

A Utility Vehicle (UTV) is a motor vehicle that:

has side by side seating for the operator and passenger;
has four or more tires;
is designed for off-highway use; and
is designed by the manufacturer for utility work and not for recreational purposes.

A Sand Rail is a motor vehicle that:

is designed or built for off-highway use in sandy terrains;
has a tubular frame;
has an integrated roll cage;
has an engine that is rear-mounted or placed midway between the front and rear axles; and
has a gross vehicle weight between 700 and 2,000 pounds.

An off-highway vehicle operated on public off-highway vehicle land must have:

a brake system;
a muffler system;
U.S. Forest Service qualified spark arrester;
a headlight and tail light; and
an Off-Highway Vehicle decal issued by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

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; or
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; and
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*; or
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.

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