{"data":{"id":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-17a-13-1","jurisdiction":"us-wv","citation":"W. Va. Code § 17A-13-1","heading":"Street-legal special purpose vehicles; operation on highways; registration procedures; licensing requirements; equipment requirements.","body":"(a) Except as required in subsection (c) of this section, an individual may operate a “street-legal special purpose vehicle” on a street or highway.\n(b) For the purposes of this section:\n(1) “Special purpose vehicle” includes all-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, mini-trucks, pneumatic-tired military vehicles, and full-size special purpose-built vehicles, including those self-constructed or built by the original equipment manufacturer and those that have been modified.\n(2) “Street-legal special purpose vehicle” is a special purpose vehicle that meets the requirements of this section.\n(c) An individual may not operate a special purpose vehicle as a street-legal special purpose vehicle on a highway if:\n(1) The highway is a controlled-access system, including, but not limited to, interstate systems; or\n(2) The county, municipality, or the Division of Natural Resources where the highway is located prohibits special purpose vehicles.\n(d) Street-legal special purpose vehicles are prohibited from traveling a distance greater than 20 miles on a highway displaying centerline pavement markings.\n(e) All street-legal special purpose vehicles are subject to the certificate of title provisions of §17A-1-1 et seq. of this code.\n(f) Nothing in this section authorizes the operation of a street-legal special purpose vehicle in an area that is not open to motor vehicle use.\n(g) A street-legal special purpose vehicle may be registered in the same manner as provided for motorcycles pursuant to this chapter.\n(h) Upon registration of any street-legal special purpose vehicle pursuant to this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall issue a registration plate that is of the same size as Class G special registration plates for motorcycles.\n(i) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a street-legal special purpose vehicle shall comply with the Division of Motor Vehicles’ licensing, fee, and other requirements pursuant to this chapter.\n(j) The owner of a special purpose vehicle being operated as a street-legal special purpose vehicle shall ensure the vehicle is equipped with:\n(1) One or more headlamps;\n(2) One or more tail lamps;\n(3) One or more brake lamps;\n(4) A tail lamp or other lamp constructed and placed to illuminate the registration plate with a white light;\n(5) One or more red reflectors on the rear;\n(6) Amber electric turn system, one on each side of the front;\n(7) Amber or red electric turn signals;\n(8) A braking system, other than a parking brake;\n(9) A horn or other warning device;\n(10) A muffler and, if required by an applicable federal statute or rule, an emission control system;\n(11) Rearview mirrors on the right and left side of the driver;\n(12) A windshield, unless the operator wears eye protection while operating the vehicle;\n(13) A speedometer, illuminated for nighttime operation;\n(14) For vehicles designed by the manufacturer for carrying one or more passengers, a seat designed for passengers; and\n(15) Tires that have at least 2/32 inches or greater tire tread.\n(16) When owners of a street-legal special purpose vehicle have ensured that such vehicles are equipped as required by this subsection, and those owners obtain a valid registration card and certificate of insurance for such vehicles, those vehicles are eligible to apply for a motorcycle trailer sticker.\n(k) Mini-trucks may not be operated as street-legal special purpose vehicles on highways that have been constructed pursuant to a federal highways program.\n(I) Low-speed vehicles as defined in §17A-1-1 of the code are not considered special purpose vehicles or street-legal special purpose vehicles under this section. However, low-speed vehicles may cross state routes at traffic lights when the state route does not have a posted speed limit greater than 40 miles per hour.\n(m) The Division of Motor Vehicles shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to implement this section.","path":["CHAPTER 17A. MOTOR VEHICLE ADMINISTRATION, REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, AND ANTITHEFT PROVISIONS.","ARTICLE 13. STREET-LEGAL SPECIAL PURPOSE VEHICLES."],"source_url":"https://code.wvlegislature.gov/17A-13-1/","current_through":"as of 2026-08-03; contains at least the enactments of the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T00:24:16Z","sha256":"5ada1d54d66420039002ee56980ef15fd43e56c80ec128b4f4a40dc8b55e75f4","source_id":"us-wv","stale":true,"prev":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-17a-12-2","next":"us-wv/w.-va.-code-17b-1-1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}