Off-Highway Vehicles

Off highway motor vehicles (OHV) are vehicles that are not intended to be driven or moved on a public highway. However, if specifications are met, vehicles not intended for highway use may qualify for registration plates and may be operated on certain roads in Tennessee.

REGISTRATION CLASSES FOR OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES

“Low Speed Vehicle” means any four wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than 20 mph but not greater than 25 mph, including neighborhood electric vehicles. Low speed vehicles must comply with the standards in 49 CFR 571.500.

“Medium Speed Vehicle” means any four wheeled electric or gasoline vehicle, excluding golf carts, whose top speed is greater than 30 mph but not greater than 35 mph, including neighborhood electric vehicles and mini-trucks. Medium speed vehicles must meet or exceed the federal safety standards set forth in 49 CFR 571.500.

"Class I off-highway vehicle" means a motorized vehicle with not less than four non-highway tires, no more than six non-highway tires, whose top speed is greater than 35 mph, that is limited in total dry weight up to 2,500 lbs, that is 80 inches or less in width, and that has a non-straddle seating capable of holding no more than four passengers and a steering wheel. "Class I off-highway vehicle" includes mini-trucks.

"Class II off-highway vehicle" means any off-highway vehicle that is designed to be primarily used for recreational purposes, that has a non-straddle seating capable of holding at least two but no more than four passengers and a steering wheel, and that is commonly referred to as a sand buggy, dune buggy, rock crawler, or sand rail. "Class II off-highway vehicle" does not include a snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel exclusively over snow or ice.

REQUIREMENTS

For details regarding which types of OHVs qualify for registration plates, please click here : Plates for Off-Highway Vehicles.   Application for these plates should be made through the office of the local county clerk.  For title and registration of an OHV, requisite proof of ownership documentation is required.  For Low-Speed or Medium-Speed registrations, a Low-Speed Vehicle Affidavit  or Medium-Speed Vehicle Affidavit is also required.  The clerk may require an affidavit for registration of Class I/Class II OHVs.

“TITLE-ONLY” FOR OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLES AND TDR STICKERS

For OHV owners not registering the vehicle for operation on roads, a title-only may be issued  provided the applicant supplies the requisite proof of ownership documentation.  If a title has been issued for an OHV, a Tennessee Department of Revenue (TDR) sticker must be affixed to the vehicle as evidence that a title has been issued. The sticker is non-renewable and non-transferable and becomes invalid when the vehicle is sold or dismantled. A TDR sticker must be affixed to any OHV/ATV operated in many federal or state owned facilities such as parks and game reserves. TDR stickers are issued by the County Clerks.