Do you want to know how to make a dirt bike street legal in California? Making a dirt bike street legal in California can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s definitely worth it in the end. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the entire process of making your dirt bike street legal in California, step by step. 

How Do You Get a Dirt Bike Street Legal in the State of California?

California has imposed severe restrictions on automobile emissions for many years. This has ruled out the majority of dirt motorcycles. The California DMV makes registering a car in the state difficult. 

In the early 2000s, the DMV required that you have a permit and a licensed motorcycle operator to register a bike. While this requirement is no longer in place, you will still need to have a valid license to register your dirt bike.

Professionals at 5 Star Registration have the expertise to make a dirt bike street legal in California. You can avail of 5 Star registration services to get the title, tag, and California license plate of your dirt bike. 

You won’t have to deal with tedious paperwork. when you register a dirt bike. You also won’t be faced with long waiting times. Contact 5 Star Registration to do all the work for you to make your dirt bike street legal in California.

For a dirt bike to be street legal in California, it must meet a list of requirements. If you’re not sure what the requirements are, check with your local DMV. 

Here is what you need to do to make your dirt bike street legal in California.

Parts Required For Street Legal Dirt Bike

Headlight

In all fifty states, drivers are mandated to have a headlight that works and can be toggled between low and high beams. This legislation will not be satisfied until the headlights are DOT approved. However, the low/high switching aspect of this rule appears to be applied differently in various contexts, leading to some ambiguity. 

The capacity to turn on the high beams, however, is something that should never be overlooked, since it has immediate implications for safety. Headlights are not required to be battery-operated, but because the brake lights are, it makes sense to connect them to the back battery. The rider should be able to easily use the low/high beam switch and have a clear view of the indicator light.

Tires

A motorcycle designed for use on public roads must have tires that meet the minimum standards set by the Department of Transportation (DOT), regardless of who manufactured the bike or how it was constructed. 

But whatever tires are chosen for the bike greatly depends on the wheels it will be using on the road. The factory wheels, or a comparably sized pair, is fine for a “dual sport” conversion that will preserve the bike’s dirt-capability to a large extent, as long as DOT-approved tires are installed.

Horn

Another easy modification that must be made in order to lawfully ride a dirt bike on the street is the installation of a horn. The rider’s safety should always come first, hence the most crucial factor is how loud the horn is while the bike is moving. This is much simpler to do with an electric device. 

According to California law, the horn’s audible range must be at least 200 feet. Noise levels shouldn’t exceed 110 DBA. So you need to choose the horn of your dirt bike required by law.

Tail Lights

For a dirt bike to be street-legal in California, it must have a DOT-approved tail light that includes a brake light and is powered by a permanently attached battery.

Exhaust

The first thing you will need if you plan to ride your dirt bike on the streets in California is DOT-approved exhaust. Exhaust systems are a big deal in California. Without a DOT-approved exhaust system, you risk being pulled over because California law requires that all vehicles have a muffler.

With a muffler, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of air pollution control, such as better air quality, cleaner surroundings, and fewer cancer-causing chemicals being pumped into the air. Mufflers are not cheap. Even if you’re buying a pre-made exhaust system, you are going to be looking at a few hundred dollars.

Speedometer

It is prudent to be aware of your bike’s top speed at all times. There has to be a system in place to calculate velocity and distance.

There is a wide variety of aftermarket speedometers to choose from, and most of them can be mounted on your dashboard with no effort. 

Mirrors

You also need to install rearview mirrors on your dirt bike. Mirrors have a very important role to play on a dirt bike. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to install a pair of mirrors so you can see what’s going on both to your sides and behind you. A mirror is a great way to check out any upcoming obstacles or to make sure you aren’t about to run over another rider.

You can also use a mirror to see if someone is behind you. If you go to the side, you can see if someone is coming up behind you. You can also see if you need to turn left or right to avoid an obstacle.

Turn indicators

In California, turn signals must be installed on both the front and back of the vehicle, and each must have at least two lights.

Registration

Now the hard part comes in. After installing all the necessary parts in your dirt bike, you need to register it. 

The easiest way to go when you’re ready to become street legal is to delegate the paperwork to the experts at 5 Star Registration. 

We have done the legwork for you to find out what the state needs to make a dirt bike street legal. If you don’t have the title or MSO that came with your dirt bike, don’t worry; we can still register it.

To get help from 5 Star Registration, click here.