Dirt bikes are typically manufactured for tough terrains and an off-road experience. However, if you want to ride your dirt bike on the streets, public roads, and highways of Florida, it is probably a good idea to first understand the dirt bike laws and if it is street legal in Florida.
In order for a two-wheeler to be considered street legal in the state of Florida, it has to comply with regulations governing safety, emission, and antitheft standards. Since dirt bikes are not manufactured to comply with any of those federal and state statutes, they are not considered street legal in the state of Florida. That being said, there are some mechanical and non-mechanical procedures to make your dirt bike street legal in the state of Florida.
Each state in the US relies on its own regulations and guidelines to determine if a vehicle is safe to ride on the roads. However, if you’re a beginner rider, the regulations and guidelines may initially become a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry, I have compiled an extensive guide on making a dirt bike street legal in the state of Florida.
Related: Are Dirt Bikes Street Legal in Georgia?
Is it Illegal to ride dirt bikes on Florida roads?
Riding a dirt bike is a lot of fun. However, you can not ride your dirt bike anywhere you want in Florida. There are state rules, regulations, and laws you’ll need to follow while riding your dirt bike in Florida. Since dirt bikes in stock form are not street legal in Florida, it is illegal to ride them on Florida roads, streets, and highways. Dirt bikes can be ridden on the public roads and streets of Florida only if it is registered and plated. In order to register a dirt bike in Florida, you’ll need to make it street legal in Florida first. Ignoring the dirt bike laws and riding them on Florida streets may likely lead to a citation(ticket). Moreover, your dirt bike may be towed and a small fine may be imposed.
Where can you ride your dirt bikes legally in Florida?
If your dirt bike is not registered and plated, you can not legally ride it on public roads, streets, and highways in Florida. Therefore, if your dirt bike is not street legal in Florida, the best place to ride it is your own backyard. Although no one can stop you from riding a dirt bike on your private property, there are laws and regulations regarding pollution and noise violations in Florida. Therefore, if your property is close to other homes, you might not be able to ride your dirt bike even on your private property. Since every city and county in Florida has its own laws and regulations regarding pollution and noise violations, I would highly recommend taking some time to research and understand these local regulations before riding dirt bikes on private property.
The next best place to ride your dirt bike is the local state park trails or public dirt bike parks. However, make sure you glance at the park’s basic rules, as some parks or trails in Florida only allow certain types of vehicles to be ridden and some may even require you to buy a permit.
How do you make a dirt bike street legal in Florida?
Florida is like most other states when it comes to making a dirt bike street legal. The state of Florida has its own set of rules and regulations regarding the legalities of dirt bikes on its public roads and highways. The first and most important thing to remember while making your dirt bike street legal in Florida is to make your dirt bike resemble more like a street bike or a motorcycle.
In Florida, a motorcycle is defined as any motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground. This term includes autocycle but excludes a tractor or a moped.
The process of making your dirt bike street legal in Florida includes some mechanical adjustments as well as some non-mechanical procedures.
Mechanical Additions to make a dirt bike street legal in Florida
The first step to making your dirt bike street legal in the state of Florida is making sure all the safety components of a motorcycle is present in your dirt bike. Knowing the parts you need in your dirt bike to make it street legal in Florida may sound pretty simple. However, assembling all the required parts and modifying your bike can be an overwhelming process. Be at ease, though! I have linked exactly where you should go to purchase every part you require to legally ride your dirt bike on the public roads of Florida.
Your dirt bike should have the following equipment:
- A working headlight (high and low beam) and a taillight,
- A working brake light,
- A functioning pair of front and back brakes,
- A functioning turn signal and a horn,
- Two Rearview Mirrors,
- DOT-approved Tires,
- A License Plate Bracket,
- Additional Components (Odometer, Kickstand, Charging System, Stator )
Keep in mind, Florida restricts the sound that the dirt bike makes. Therefore, every motor vehicle must be equipped with an exhaust system in good working order and in constant operation, including a muffler, manifold pipe, and tailpipe to prevent excessive or unusual noise.
Non-mechanical procedures to make a dirt bike street legal in Florida
Once you install all the safety components in your dirt bike and make it look more like a street bike, you’ll need to follow a few more steps in order to make your dirt bike street legal in Florida.
1. Get a Florida Motorcycle License
Florida is one of the few states in the US which require a Florida motorcycle license in order to register their bike. You must register and get Florida license plates even if your old plates are still valid in your previous state.
If you just moved to Florida from a different state and already have a motorcycle license, you can easily transfer your credentials by going to the local Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) driver licensing office and providing proof of your valid out-of-state license, Identity, and Florida residence. You must also surrender your out-of-state motorcycle license and provide the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course completion card if you’re from Alabama.
2. Have a VIN inspection and odometer reading completed
Once you get your Florida motorcycle license and get the liability insurance sorted for your dirt bike, the next step is to have your vehicle identification number (VIN) verified on the Vehicle Identification Number and Odometer Verification form (Form HSMV 82042). Your VIN is often mistakenly referred to as a Florida vehicle registration number. You may be able to have your dirt bike verified at the county tax collector’s office or you can get it completed before going in to register your dirt bike from:
- Any police officer.
- Florida automobile dealers.
- A dealer from the previous state on dealership letterhead.
- Florida DMV examiners/inspectors.
- Florida Notary Public.
- Active duty military officers, provost marshal, or Navy legal man.
3. Register your dirt bike with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) in Florida
The registration of your dirt bike in Florida depends on where you purchase your dirt bike from. When you plan to take the trip to County Tax Collector’s Office in Florida, you must provide some crucial documents to complete the registration.
- A copy of the title or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin,
- Bill of Sale.
- A dealer’s affidavit (if the motorcycle was bought in another state),
- Proof of Insurance,
- VIN and Odometer Inspection Report (Form HSMV 82042),
- A completed Application for Certificate of Title/Registration Florida,
- Receipts of all the paid fees and taxes.
You’ll need to pay some fees for registration ($225), title ($85.75), and license plate ($28) at the county tax collector’s office in Florida for your dirt bike. Keep in mind, local county taxes and surcharges(varies by county) may also apply.
If you purchased your dirt bike from the dealer and the dirt bike’s certificate of Origin doesn’t mention your dirt bike being off-road only, you don’t need to do anything. The dealer will submit your documents to the DHSMV in Florida. You’ll receive copies of the documents sent for your records.
However, if you bought a dirt bike, which already has a title, from a private seller, it is your and the seller’s responsibility to register the motorcycle at the county tax collector’s office in Florida. You can title the dirt bike at the same time. To register your dirt bike:
- You and the seller must sign the title
- Provide proof of insurance
- Present the current registration
- Present the proof of ownership (MSO, title, or Bill of Sale)
- Pay all the applicable fees
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making your dirt bike street legal in Florida yourself, DirtLegal provides a dirt bike legal service for just $299. After you complete your order, they’ll be getting the paperwork ready for you and send you within 24 hours.
Do dirt bikes have titles in Florida?
Yes, it is possible to title a dirt bike in Florida. However, you will need either the Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO) or a Bill of Sale that meets the DMV requirements.
In case you don’t have the MSO, you can contact your dealer or the manufacturer to obtain this information. If you bought the dirt bike from someone else and the dirt bike is not yet titled, you may ask them for the certificate of origin. Furthermore, even if the previous owner doesn’t have the certificate of origin, you can use the VIN number to find out who the first owner is. This way you can contact them and ask them if they have the MSO of your dirt bike.
In order to register your dirt bike in Florida, the MSO of your bike must state that the bike meets or exceeds all federal emissions, safety, and anti-theft standards. If this statement is not present in your dirt bike’s MSO, it is usually considered for “off-road” purposes only and thus will be very difficult to get registered or even titled in Florida.
How to get a title for a dirt bike in Florida?
The process of getting a title for a dirt bike in Florida is very similar to getting a title for a motorcycle, car, or truck. The most important document you’ll need in order to get a title and registration in Florida is proof of ownership and insurance. Proof of ownership can typically be provided with one of the following documents:
- Title from the previous owner that has been filled out and signed,
- Bill of sale,
- Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin from the dealership(MSO),
- Documents that demonstrate the full chain of ownership.
If you purchased your dirt bike in another state and want to title and register it in Florida, you’ll also typically need to complete a VIN verification and inspection.
Once all the documents are ready, visit the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in Florida and:
- Provide all the proof of ownership documentation,
- Proof of Insurance Coverage,
- Photo ID,
- Complete an Application for Certificate of Title With/Without Registration (Form HSMV 82040),
- Pay the $85.25 title fee.
If you’re buying a used dirt bike and the previous owner doesn’t have the title, or the state doesn’t issue titles to dirt bikes, a bill of sale will often suffice. To register/title a dirt bike in Florida with just a bill of sale, you’ll need to be sure that it meets the DMV’s bill of sale requirements, which typically include:
- Full name, address, and signature of the seller,
- Full name, address, and signature of the buyer,
- Details of the dirt bike including year, make, model, and VIN,
- Details of the sale including date, sale price, and any other details.
Florida also requires you to notarize the signatures on the bill of sale. Alternatively, you can also request that the seller applies for a duplicate title before proceeding with the sale.
How to register your dirt bike with no title in Florida?
If you’re trying to register a dirt bike in Florida with no title, here are some things you could do.
- Get a valid bill of sale from the seller along with any other ownership and registration documents they may have. The more documentation you have that proves the chain of ownership, the easier the process will be.
- Run the dirt bike’s VIN to be sure that it’s not stolen and matches the dirt bike you’re buying.
- The county tax collector’s office also requires a VIN verification if your bike is not titled in Florida
If you are still having issues registering your dirt bike without title in Florida, you may register the dirt bike in a non-title, no residency requirement, mail-in registration application state. One such state in the US is Vermont.
Related: Are Dirt Bikes Street Legal in Vermont
Do you need a license and liability insurance to ride a dirt bike in Florida?
You don’t need a license or insurance if you plan to ride your dirt bike strictly off-road or even on your private property in Florida. However, if you plan to link trails by roads or want to experience riding your dirt bikes on public streets and roads or highways in Florida, you’ll first need to register it with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in Florida and get your dirt bike plated. Furthermore, you should also apply for a Florida motorcycle endorsement and have insurance in place.
A motorcycle endorsement is a credential added to your current, valid Florida driver’s license authorizing you to operate your dirt bike with that license. If you don’t already have an FL Class E license, you can apply for a “Motorcycle Only” driver’s license. And lastly, always carry your license, title, and insurance papers with you while taking your dirt bike on Florida roads.
