The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles says utility terrain vehicles cannot be registered for use on public roads until a new law takes effect Nov. 18, and it is urging owners to prepare their vehicles now.
Based on a release from S.C. Dept. of Motor Vehicles.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding residents that Utility Terrain Vehicles cannot be operated on public roads until Nov. 18, when a newly enacted law, Bill S. 222, takes effect, according to the SCDMV.
“Our priority is the safety of all South Carolinians, whether they will be riding in a UTV on a public road or in a passenger vehicle next to a UTV,” said SCDMV Executive Director Kevin Shwedo. “Until this law takes effect, I encourage owners to get their vehicles road ready with proper insurance and safety equipment, so we are able to register them come November.”
To qualify as street legal, UTVs must be four-wheel drive, have an engine displacement of at least 450cc, reach a top speed greater than 55 mph, measure 80 inches or less in width, and have a gross weight rating of 4,000 pounds or less, according to the SCDMV. Vehicles must also have factory-approved Type 2 seat belts for every seat, headlights, brake lights, taillights and working turn signals.
Owners must register UTVs the same way as passenger vehicles, maintain liability insurance and display an official license plate, the SCDMV said. Registration costs $10 for two years, and UTVs registered for on-road use are exempt from county property taxes.
Drivers must be at least 17 years old and hold a valid driver’s license; beginner’s permits, moped or motorcycle licenses, and temporary, route-restricted or provisional licenses are not accepted, according to the SCDMV. Drivers and passengers under 21 must wear helmets with a face shield approved by the Department of Public Safety, and children under 8 are prohibited from riding in a UTV on public roadways.
UTVs are limited to roads with speed limits of 55 mph or less, are barred from interstate highways, and cannot travel more than 10 miles from the address listed on the vehicle’s registration, the SCDMV said. Local municipalities and counties may further restrict the hours, methods and locations of UTV operation.
The SCDMV also said dealers may not use their dealer number to sell UTVs, since the vehicles are considered retail items, and UTV sales will not be processed through the Electronic Vehicle Registration program.
