Is it legal to drive ATVs, tractors or golf carts on the road in Illinois or Missouri?

Whether you live in a rural area, a suburb or even a larger city, you may see slow-moving vehicles such as golf carts or tractors on the road from time to time.

Illinois and Missouri have unique laws regulating the use of non-highway vehicles, and municipalities can also enact ordinances restricting them on local roads. For example, an ordinance in Belleville requires residents to have their non-highway vehicle inspected and must obtain a permit to drive on city roads.

A 2021 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Illinois had 51 fatalities from 2016 to 2018 as the result of incidents involving off-highway vehicles with more than two wheels, and 62 such deaths were reported in Missouri over the same period.

Here’s what to know about driving non-highway vehicles, including tractors, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts and more on Illinois and Missouri roads.

Illinois laws on non-highway vehicles

Illinois law regulates the use of “non-highway vehicles,” a definition that includes all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), golf carts, off-highway motorcycles or another recreational off-highway vehicle.

To legally operate a non-highway vehicle on Illinois roads, you must have a valid driver’s license and follow several conditions, such as only using roads where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. The speed limit requirement does not apply when non-highway vehicles are just crossing through an intersection.

Non-highway vehicles must have the following features to be used on roads that allow them:

• Brakes

• Steering apparatus

• Tires

• Rearview mirror

• “Red reflectorized warning devices in the front and rear”

• A sign indicating it is a slow-moving vehicle located on the rear of the vehicle

• Headlight that emits a white light visible from 500 feet to the front

• Tail lamp emitting a red light visible from at least 100 feet from the rear

• Brake lights

• Turn signals

Mandatory insurance requirements also apply.

It is lawful to operate a non-highway vehicle on county or township roadways “for the purpose of conducting farming operations to and from the home, farm, farm buildings, and any adjacent or nearby farm land,” the Illinois law says.

Farm tractors may be operated on highways if they are being used as an “implement of husbandry in connection with farming operations,” another section of the law says. The tractors must meet safety standards outlined in the law.

This is not an exhaustive list of requirements, and you can find the full text of the law online.

Another Illinois law outlines the situations in which golf carts can legally be operated on public roads.

Golf carts may make a “direct crossing” over a street, road or highway that runs through a golf course if the following provisions apply:

• “The crossing is made at an interchange approved by the local unit of government and at a place where no obstruction prevents a quick and safe crossing

• The golf cart is brought to a complete stop before attempting a crossing

• The operator of the golf cart yields the right of way to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic which constitutes a hazard

• There is no tunnel or overpass ramp provided for the golf cart to cross through the golf course.”

The law does not permit golf carts to make direct crossings on any highway under jurisdiction of the state or any toll roads, interstate highways or controlled access highways in Illinois.

Local governments may allow golf carts and other non-highway vehicles to be operated on roads in their jurisdiction. For example, Belleville allows non-highway vehicles to be lawfully operated on city streets (“Any of the streets or roadways under the jurisdiction of the City of Belleville and within the corporate city limits”) so long as they comply with requirements:

• Must possess proof of current liability insurance as required by Illinois law

• “Must possess a non-highway vehicle permit from the city, after first having the subject non-highway vehicle inspected by a city certified inspector.”

• Must display city decal on vehicle’s rear

• Must have a current, valid Illinois driver’s license

The city ordinance also requires non-highway vehicles meet specific standards, outlines prohibited locations and includes more information about obtaining a permit.

What to know in Missouri

Missouri law bans residents from driving all-terrain vehicles on public roads, with some exceptions:

• ATVs “owned and operated by a government entity for official use”

• ATVs used for industrial onsite or agricultural purposes between official sunrise and sunset

• ATVs operated by people with disabilities for short distances occasionally only on the state’s secondary roads, between sunrise and sunset

• City governments may issue special permits to licensed drivers for special uses of ATVs on highways within city limits, the law says. City officials may collect a $15 fee.

• County governments may issue special permits to licensed drivers for special uses of ATVs on county roads within the county. County officials may collect a $15 fee.

In Missouri, a municipality can enact a resolution or ordinance allowing ATVs on streets or highways under its jurisdiction. Those operating ATVs under such an ordinance must “maintain proof of financial responsibility” or an insurance policy providing equal liability coverage for an ATV, the relevant state law says.

St. Louis police officers said in 2019 they would enforce state laws banning ATVs on public roads after receiving reports of “disturbances” caused by large groups driving the vehicles, according to an article from Fox 2 Now.

Golf carts may not be driven on state or federal highways in Missouri, “but may be operated upon such highway in order to cross a portion of the state highway system which intersects a municipal street,” the law says.

Motorized wheelchairs and golf carts are prohibited from crossing a highway at an intersection if the highway has a posted speed limit above 45 miles per hour.

Municipal officials may enact ordinances or resolutions to allow golf carts or motorized wheelchairs to be operated on streets or highways under their jurisdiction.

Golf carts must have functional brakes and meet other safety requirements, but Missouri law does not require them to be registered.

Farm machinery such as tractors may be driven for agricultural purposes on Missouri roads between the official times of sunrise and sunset, but drivers must display a safety flag and take precautions.