South Carolina Passes New Law Allowing UTVs on Public Roads

Starting November 18, 2026, South Carolina’s new UTV law will let certain side-by-sides be registered, plated, and driven on public roads. There are rules they must follow, including only driving on secondary roads posted at 55 mph or less and within 10 miles of the address on the registration, among others.

Most South Carolinians won’t own a UTV, but they will start sharing back roads with them. A crash with a UTV is now treated much more like a car. If you’re injured in a crash involving a UTV, the team at Armada Law Injury Attorneys can help you sort out who’s responsible.

When Does South Carolina’s UTV Law Take Effect?

South Carolina’s UTV law takes effect on November 18, 2026. The Governor approved the law on May 18, 2026, and it takes effect six months later. Until then, the SCDMV says driving a UTV on a public road is not permitted. If you own a UTV, that doesn’t mean you can drive it on the road starting November 18. You have to register it first.

Which UTVs Qualify and Who Can Drive Them

Act 164 defines a UTV narrowly, and adds rules for the vehicle, the driver, and the passengers. Registration costs $10 every two years. A registered UTV is also exempt from county property tax. Before hitting the road, the UTV must have a license plate on the rear and clear all of these requirements:

The Vehicle

The vehicle must be a four-wheel-drive side-by-side with a steering wheel and a seat you sit in, not straddle. It must also have a top speed over 55 mph, at least a 450cc engine, a width of 80 inches or less, and a gross weight rating of 4,000 pounds or less.

Required Equipment

The vehicle must have lap-and-shoulder seat belts at every seat, plus working headlights, brake lights, taillights, and turn signals. An exhaust modified to be louder than the factory design makes the UTV illegal to drive on the road.

Driver Requirements

Every driver must be at least 17 and have a full driver’s license. A provisional, route-restricted, temporary alcohol, moped-only, or motorcycle-only license doesn’t count. Neither does a beginner’s permit, even with a licensed adult riding along.

Additionally, any riders under 21 must wear a helmet and a face shield or goggles. The driver and every passenger must be buckled at all times, and children under eight are not allowed to ride as passengers.

Where Can a UTV Legally Drive in South Carolina?

Unless your city or county has passed its own UTV ordinance, a registered UTV can be driven only on secondary highways posted at 55 mph or less, and only within 10 miles of the address on its registration (or of the gate, if that address is in a gated community). A UTV can cross a faster highway at an intersection, but it can’t travel along one, and it can never use an interstate.

A city or county can set its own hours, methods, and locations for UTVs, but only on roads posted at 55 mph or less, and it can’t charge a UTV fee or tax. SCDOT can also close any highway to UTVs for safety, so check your local rules before you ride.

Farmers with a SCATE card and a driver’s license can also drive a UTV with a top speed under 55 mph within 10 miles of the farm without these restrictions.

What the New Law Means If a UTV Hits You

All street-registered UTVs should now have an insurance policy to make a claim against. A road-registered UTV must carry the same minimum liability insurance as a car: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage. Before this law, a UTV couldn’t be registered for the road, so the owner wasn’t required to carry coverage.

The act also added road-registered UTVs to the insurance code’s definition of a private passenger automobile, so the policy should also include uninsured motorist coverage, as every South Carolina auto policy must.

Those minimums are low next to the cost of a serious injury. The new law establishes the rules, but it can’t keep every unregistered or uninsured UTV off the road. If one hits you, your own uninsured motorist coverage may step in.

What It Means If You’re Riding in a UTV and a Car Hits You

If you’re riding in a UTV and a car hits you, your claim works like any other crash claim. The driver who caused it, and that driver’s insurance company, can be held responsible for your injuries.

One of the first things the insurance company may look at is whether the UTV was registered, on a road it was allowed to use, and driven by a properly licensed driver. If you broke a rule, or were partially at fault, that doesn’t automatically end your claim, but it can reduce the amount you can recover. One of our South Carolina car accident lawyers can help you sort that out, so your focus stays on getting better.

Can the UTV Maker or Dealer Be Held Responsible?

A UTV maker or dealer usually can’t be held responsible just because the UTV was on a public road. The new law says a dealer isn’t responsible for injuries from road use of a UTV that wasn’t designed for public roads. Companies that make off-road UTVs are responsible only if a defect that existed when the UTV left the company’s possession or control caused the injury.

Why Drivers Should Give UTVs Extra Room

The Consumer Federation of America counted 583 off-highway vehicle deaths in 2025, and 66 percent of them happened on roads. CFA only counts from news reports, so the real number is likely higher.

Because a UTV is built for dirt, it isn’t held to the federal safety standards a car has to meet. Its tires and suspension are meant for rough ground, not traditional roads. These crashes already happen on South Carolina roads. In February 2026, a Polaris Ranger ran off a Spartanburg County road, struck a ditch, and overturned, and the passenger died days later. If you’re driving near a UTV, leave extra following distance and give it plenty of room when you pass.

Talk to Armada Law Injury Attorneys About a UTV Crash

South Carolina’s new UTV law opens the road to side-by-sides and, for the first time, requires insurance behind them. That’s good news if you’re injured in one of these crashes, but the insurance company may still look for ways to pay less. Whether you were in the car or in the UTV, our team at Armada Law Injury Attorneys will listen to what happened and tell you exactly where you stand. Call 833-332-3128 or reach out through our contact page when you’re ready. You take care of getting better, and we’ll help you sort out who pays.