It is unlikely you will ever be faced with a situation where you have to take your riding mower out on the streets, but if you do have to so as you can get your mower from one place to the other, you might be wondering if it’s legal.
Well, this typically comes down to where you are taking your riding mower out on the streets. For example, if you want to take your riding mower out the highway, this will not be legal or any high traffic areas, however, passing through one country lane to the other will mostly be fine. It might be a good idea to consult your local authorities if you need to travel with it.
To find out more about the rules of riding mowers and whether or not you take them out on the road we have produced a small guide below to help you out.
Figuring out whether or not you can ride your mower on the road all comes down to your location and context. Riding mowers are typically not approved of for taking out on the roads due to their slow speed, lack of registration and safety features such as headlights or rear lights.
A riding mower will typically be fine to take out on a rural road however in farming areas as it doesn’t matter as there is a little traffic, it’s highly unlikely you will be ticketed for doing this as long as it’s with a purpose to get from point A to B in a quiet area.
We have summarised the points as to why a riding mower is not street legal below.
A riding mower is classed as a motorised slow vehicle in a lot of places, so yes, the same rules apply for issues such as driving the mower without a license on public roads and you can even receive a DUI if you decide to drive your lawnmower out on the streets under the influence.
If you decide to take your riding mower out even on lanes or rural roads, make sure you are carrying your license to prevent any misunderstandings.
No, a riding mower only has one seat so it is not legal for a passenger to be seated on the mower at the same time.
All kinds of motorised vehicles such as electric bikes are banned for sidewalks, including a riding mower as they are a danger to pedestrians.
If you take your riding mower out on public roads no matter what you will need a license to do so, trying without will be an offence.
To conclude, we recommend only taking your riding mower out on rural roads, avoid using your riding mower on high traffic areas and only ride your mower out if you have a valid driving license just in case.
