State OHV Regulations

This is the latest table of State OHV regulations provided by the National Association of OHV Program Managers (NAOPM). This data is for off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (4-wheelers) primarily and not for street legal vehicles. This material was provided to NAOPM by state OHV program managers. Be sure to always double-check all the latest rules and regulations with the agency overseeing the trails you intend to ride on before embarking on your trip.

State Helmet Eye Protection Minimum Operator Age Rider Education Certificate Operator License Headlight Taillight Muffler Maximum Sound Level Spark Arrestor Registration Vehicle Title
Alabama Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Alaska Required if under 18 & passengers Not required No minimum Voluntary Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Required Not required
Arizona Required if under 18 Required if under 18 No minimum Voluntary Not required Not required Not required Required None Required on State & federal lands Not required Required off-road recreational plate or registration plate
Arkansas Not required Not required Under 12 requires adult supervision Not required Not required After sunset After sunset Required None Required Required Required
California ATVs only Not required Under 14 requires adult supervision and is either taking a safety class, possesses a safety certification, or is supervised by an adult with a safety certificate Under 18 and is either taking a safety class, possesses a safety certification, or is supervised by an adult with a safety certificate Not required After sunset After sunset Required 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Not required
Colorado Not required Not required Under 10 prohibited on public roads Not required Not required After sunset After sunset Required 84 dBA @ 50 feet Required Required Not required
Connecticut Not required Not required Under 12 prohibited; 12-16 requires licensed, adult supervision Required if under 18 Not required On 90 cc + On 90 cc + Required Excessive/unusual noise prohibited Not required Required Not required
Delaware Required Not required Under 12 requires adult supervision Required Not required After sunset After sunset Required 88 dBA at 60% throttle @ 50 feet Required Required Not required
Florida Yes if under 16 on ATV Required if under 16 on ATVs No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Required Not required
Georgia Required Required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Required None Not required Required Not required
Hawaii Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Idaho Yes if 17 Or younger Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Required 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Required
Illinois Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Required Required
Indiana Not required Not required Under 14 requires adult supervision Not required Only for use on roads After sunset After sunset Required None Not required Required Required
Iowa Required on funded OHV parks Not required ATV operators must be 12 years or older. No age restriction for OHMs Required for ATV riders under 18 Only for farm use on roads After sunset After sunset Required 86 dBA @ 50 feet Not required Required Required for ATVs
Kansas Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required After sunset After sunset After sunset None Not required Not required Required
Kentucky Required Not required Under 16 may operate 90 cc or less; under 12 = 70 cc or less w/adult Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Louisiana Required if under 18 Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Maine Required if under 18 Not required Under 15 requires adult supervision; under 10 prohibited on public land Required if under 16 Not required ATVs only ATVs only Required 96dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Not required
Maryland Not required Not required Under 12 prohibited; above 12 must have license or learners permit Not required Not required After sunset After sunset Required 84 dBA @ 50 feet Not required Required Not required
Massachusetts Required Not required Under 10 prohibited; 10-14 requires adult supervision Not required Not required Not required Not required Required 103 dBA @ 20 inches Not required Required Not required
Michigan Required Required Under 10 prohibited on 4 wheel ATV; Under 16 prohibited on 3 wheel ATV: Under 16 requires adult supervision Required if under 16 Not required After sunset After sunset Required 94 dBA @ 20 inches Required License is required Required
Minnesota Required if under 18 Required Class I ATV: Over 10 on public land w/ adult; under 10 on private land Class II ATV: Must be at least 15 OHM: Under 12 w/ adult on public land; no age limit on private land Required for ATV if born after July 1, 1987. OHMs required over 12. Not required Required Required Required ATV: 99dBA @ 20 inches OHM: 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Not required
Mississippi   Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Missouri Required if under 18 Not required Under 16 requires adult supervision Not required Not required Only ATVs Only ATVs Yes None Required Required Required
Montana Not required Not required No minimum Voluntary Only for use on roads Not required Not required Not required None Not required Required Certificate of Ownership
Nebraska Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required After sunset After sunset Required None Required None Required
Nevada Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
New Hampshire Required if under 18 Required if under 18 Under 14 must be accompanied by licensed adult over 18 Required if 12 or older and not licensed Over 12 must have safety certif. or drivers license 1/2 hr. after sunset to 1/2 hr before sunrise 1/2 hr. after sunset to 1/2 hr before sunrise Required 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Not required
New Jersey Required Not required Under 16 limited to 90 cc or less; Under 14 prohibited on public lands Required if under 18 Liability insurance required After sunset After sunset Required None Not required Required Not required
New Mexico Required if under 18 Required if under 18 Under 10 requires adult supervision 10-18 requires adult supervision with several exceptions Required if under 18 Not required When visibility is < 500 ft When visibility is < 500 ft Not required 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Required
New York Required Not required Under 16 requires adult supervision Required if 10 to 16 Liability insurance required After sunset After sunset Required None Required Required Not required
North Carolina Required for ATVs only Required for ATVs only Under 16 can only operate ATV if 90cc or less. Under 12, can only operate ATV if 70cc or less. Minimum age 8. Required to operate ATV if born after 1-Jan-90 Not required For ATV required after sunset For ATV required after sunset Required None Required Not required Not required
North Dakota Required if under 18 Not required Under 12 prohibited from OHVs; 12-16 require OHV safety certificate 12 and older for OHVs if not licensed License or safety certificate if under 18 ATVs only ATVs only Required None Not required Required Required
Ohio Not required Not required 12-16 requires licensed adult present Not required Required After sunset After sunset Required If manufactured after 1/1/06 96dBA @ 20 inches Not required Required Required
Oklahoma Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Oregon Required if under 18 Not required Under 12 requires operator permit and licensed adult present Required if not licensed Required if not certified After sunset After sunset Required 99dBA @ 20 inches Required on public lands Required Not required
Pennsylvania Required Not required Under 8 prohibited on public land 8 & 9 year olds restricted to 70CC Required if under 16 Not required After sunset After sunset Required 99 dBA @ 20 inches Not required Required Required
South Carolina Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
South Dakota Required if under 18 Required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Required
Tennessee Required if under 18 Not required No minimum Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Required Required
Texas Required Required Under 14 requires adult supervision Required Not required After sunset After sunset Required None Required Required Not required
Utah Required if under 18 Not required Under 8 prohibited on public land; 8-16 requires safety certificate Required if no drivers license Required if not certified After sunset After sunset Required None Required Required Required
Vermont Not required Not required On public land Required if under 18 Not required After sunset After sunset Required 82 dBA @ 50 feet Required Required Not required
Virginia Required Not required 12-16 may operate 70-90cc ATVs Not required Not required Not required Not required Not required None Not required Not required Not required
Washington Not required Not required No minimum Not required Not required After sunset After sunset Required 86 dBA @ 50 feet Required Required Not required
West Virginia Required if rider or passenger is under 18 Not required If passenger is under 18 then operator must be over 18 or have a Level Two Intermediate driver's license or its equivalent. Any one under the age of 16 must be supervised at all times by an adult Required if rider is under 18 unless ATV is operated on a private or public recreational trail or area which has in place a safety program Operators license is not required except when the operator si under 18 and has a passenger under 18 Required if operated at night Required if operated at night Required to be installed and connected None Required to be installed and connected Not required Not Required
Wisconsin Required if under 18 Not required No minimum At least 12 and born on or after 1/1/88 Not required After sunset and on roads After sunset and on roads Required 96 dBA @ 20 inches Required Required Not required
Wyoming Required if under 18 & on enrolled road Not required None on trails; 15 on enrolled roads Not required Required on enrolled roads Required on enrolled roads Required on enrolled roads Required on enrolled roads Yes on roads - 102 @20 inches Required on enrolled roads & public land Required Required if licensed