If you plan to enjoy Ohio’s off-road riding areas and trails, you’ll want to know the OHV permit requirements and ATV/UTV laws you’ll need to follow.
This page will provide you with the details on OHV stickers and ATV registration for Ohio residents and out-of-state visitors.
For more information and other details regarding ATVs, UTVs, and other off-road vehicles and recreation areas, please visit: https://www.bmv.ohio.gov/vr-firstissuance.aspx
ATV title and registration is required in Ohio.
If you purchase an ATV at an Ohio dealership, they will typically submit your title and registration paperwork for you.
When buying an ATV from a private seller, you should be sure to get the signed-over title from the previous owner as part of the transaction.
To register, you’ll need to visit your local deputy registrar’s office with the follow items:
ATV registrations are valid for 3 years in Ohio, and will expire on December 31 of the 3rd year. You can renew your registration up to 90 days before it expires.
Upon registration, you’ll receive a metal license plate and tags that you’ll need to secure to the back of your ATV in a clearly visible location.
If you are not a resident of Ohio and plan to ride your out-of-state ATV on public lands, you’ll need to be sure to comply with the OH ATV registration requirements.
If your ATV is properly registered in your home state, you will typically be able to operate in Ohio.
If not, you’ll need to purchase a temporary ATV permit, which is valid for up to 1 year.
The price for Ohio ATV registration for residents is $34.75.
Temporary ATV registration costs $14.
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Be sure to check the rules, regulations and fees for the Ohio off-road trails you plan on riding. Local laws and regulations may vary.
ATV riders must hold a valid driver’s license.
Riders under 16 years old must be accompanied by a licensed adult to ride on public land.
Regardless of whether a particular state or trail requires it, ATV/UTV and dirt bike riders and passengers should always wear the proper safety equipment and helmets while riding.
Never operate an off-road vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Failing to obey the off-road vehicle laws of Ohio and the local jurisdiction may result in tickets, fines, and penalties.
Check out some of these other great ATV/UTV and dirt bike resources from MotorcycleZombies.com:
ATV & UTV Insurance
Dirt Bike Insurance
ATV vs. UTV
ATV Age Ranges
What to Wear ATV Riding
How to Ride an ATV
How to Ride a Dirt Bike
How Fast is a Dirt Bike?
Continuing in our series of articles analyzing the ATV laws in every state, which stemmed from this article, we are addressing the ATV laws in Ohio in this article.
It should also be noted that, while I am an attorney, I am not your attorney and am not giving legal advice. If you have questions, you should consult a local attorney.
Ohio lumps ATVs in a much broader description of all-purpose vehicles. Ohio defines an “All-purpose vehicle” as “any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for cross-country travel on land and water, or on more than one type of terrain, and steered by wheels or caterpillar treads, or any combination thereof, including vehicles that operate on a cushion of air, vehicles commonly known as all-terrain vehicles, all-season vehicles, mini-bikes, and trail bikes.”
You may not operate an ATV or UTV within the state of Ohio unless you have first had the same registered and numbered.
You can file an application for registration, and the fee, with the registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, on blanks furnished by the registrar for that purpose and containing all of the following information:
The statement shall include a check list of the required equipment items in the form the registrar shall prescribe.You will receive a license plate and a decal registration sticker. They must be placed on your ATV or UTV, and they must remain clearly visible.
There is an exception to the registration requirements for ATVs and UTVs used exclusively for agricultural purposes such that they qualify for a current agricultural use valuation tax credit.
This exception is only available if the ATV or UTV is not to be used on any public land, trail, or right-of-way, except when traveling from one farm to another
There is also no registration requirement for ATVs and UTVs operated on an island in Lake Erie between the first day of November and the thirtieth day of April.
In the event your ATV or UTV is lost, destroyed or otherwise disposed of, you must return the certificate of registration within 15 days. The certificate of title must also be returned to the clerk of the court that issued the title.
You must also submit a certificate of registration within 15 days of a change of address, and you will received an updated certificate displaying the new address.
A non-resident may obtain a temporary operating permit, good for up to one year, for $11.25. The permit must be displayed upon request.
You are not permitted to operate an ATV or UTV in Ohio on any state highway, including a limited access highway or freeway or the right-of-way thereof, except for emergency travel as designated by the Director of Public Safety.
You are not permitted to operate an ATV or UTV on any private property, or in any nursery or planting area, in Ohio without the permission of the owner or other person having the right to possession of the property;
Unless permission is posted by sign, you are not permitted to operate an ATV or UTV on any land controlled by the state.
You are not permitted to operate an ATV or UTV on any operable railroad tracks in Ohio.
Okay, enough of where you can’t ride. Here is where you are able to ride an ATV or UTV in Ohio:
e. insurance, on the ATV or UTV.The short answer is no, you are not permitted to hunt with an ATV or UTV in Ohio. You are prohibited from transporting any firearm, bow or other implement for hunting on an ATV or UTV unless it is unloaded and securely encased.
You are also prohibited from using an ATV or UTV for the purpose of chasing, pursuing, capturing, or killing any animal or wildfowl.
If you are involved in an ATV or UV accident in Ohio that results in bodily injury to or death of any person, or damage to the property of any person in excess of one hundred dollars, you must report the accident within forty-eight hours to the state highway patrol, the sheriff of the county within which the accident occurred, or the chief of police.
Within thirty days of the accident, you must also file a written report of the accident to the registrar of motor vehicles on a form prescribed by the registrar.
If you are physically incapable of making the reports and there is another participant in the accident not so incapacitated, the participant shall make the reports.
In the event there is no other participant, and you are not the owner, the owner, within the prescribed periods of time, shall make the reports.
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ATV registration and registration There are many real stories when, due to the lack of "paperwork", extreme sports enthusiasts received a fine, and their equipment was confiscated. Therefore, it is better to protect yourself and prepare all the necessary documents for the ATV. The first thing an off-road fan needs to do is get an ATV license.
When driving without a license, you can get a serious fine and even lose your "favorite". But picking up a quadric from the impound without the presence of driver's documents will not work.
Therefore, before you buy an inexpensive ATV and go off-road, you definitely need to get an A1 category license. However, such a certificate is only suitable for devices weighing no more than 400 kg and with a capacity of at least 50 cubic meters.
To obtain a driver's license, you need:
Only adult citizens (18 years old) are allowed to take the A1 exam.
Important: If your ATV is considered a self-propelled machine, then you need to get a license from Gostekhnadzor. Actually there is training and examination. After passing the tests and practice, you will receive the rights of category A1 (tractor driver).
The number of extreme and off-road riders is growing rapidly, but most of them treat ATVs like toys. However, it is a powerful technique that needs to be registered.
If the rider does not have a driver's license, inspection and registration, then meeting with the traffic police will be a very unpleasant event. After the protocol is drawn up, the motorist will be issued a tidy fine, and his “horse” will be confiscated.
But how to register an ATV? To register, you need to visit the traffic police or Gostekhnadzor. And this is where the nuances come in. If you have an ordinary ATV, then the documents are drawn up at the traffic police, and if you have a self-propelled vehicle, then at the Gostekhnadzor. Therefore, check with the dealer in advance where the paperwork is carried out.
To register the equipment you will need:
After collecting the necessary papers, you will need to visit the nearest traffic police department (at the place of registration). But getting numbers is a lengthy process. At the traffic police you will have to fill out an application and pay all fees. However, this is not the end. The final stage of registration is the technical inspection.
Experienced motorists have found one useful "life hack" that allows you to avoid paperwork when registering vehicles. Now there are many salons that provide services for the design of motorcycles. Using their services, the rider will be able to get rid of a serious headache. However, paperwork when buying an ATV will cost a pretty penny, since the owner will have to pay for the delivery of equipment, duties, travel expenses and technical inspection.
One of the most common questions for registered riders is when to deregister an ATV. There are several reasons for such a procedure:
Deregistration of the device is carried out through Gostekhnadzor.
Although ATVs' natural habitat is off-road, they can also be found on public roads. And this is not surprising, because all-terrain vehicles are equated to tractors, and can move along ordinary routes. But there are several nuances here. The rider should remember that:
It should be noted that riding an ATV on the tracks is still a pleasure. Since all elements of the equipment (suspension, shock absorbers, tires) are “sharpened” for off-road, the rider will feel shaking and vibrations. In addition, not all quadrics can develop high speed, so it can be difficult for them to stay in the stream of cars.
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We are often asked what kind of license is needed for an ATV, who can drive it, and is it necessary to get a license at all if you plan to ride only in rural areas?
Our answer: yes, of course it is.
Any self-propelled vehicle with an engine capacity of more than 50cc. cm must be registered with Gostekhnadzor. From the date of purchase, you have no more than 5 days to register the equipment.
The document received at the inspection confirms that you have successfully passed the theory and practice, and have the necessary level of special skills to drive a four-wheeled all-terrain vehicle.
In the absence of rights, a license plate or a banal helmet, the traffic police inspector, even on a country dirt road, has the right to fine you up to towing an ATV to a parking lot. Remember that, in addition to random collisions with law enforcement officers on the roads, it is very easy to get into a special raid, which can be organized near settlements to detect offenses.
Yes, as you know, ignorance of the law is no excuse. Therefore, it is better not to risk your life trying to escape from the police, but to get all the necessary documents in a timely manner.
To drive an ATV, you must have the rights of a tractor driver-driver of category A1. At the same time, you do not have to go to a tractor school at all. In the bodies of Gostekhnadzor there is an institute of external studies. This means that you can learn how to drive an all-terrain vehicle on your own.
You can be forced to take a tractor driver course only if you have not passed the theoretical exam three times. It is recommended to take a special course strictly in a specialized accredited institution.
If you are not sure about your skills for the practical part, the best option is to spend about an hour or two studying with an instructor. After that, pass the ride in front and back, emergency stop, start on the overpass, figure eight and snake will succeed on the first try.
Important! An additional paragraph of the rules states: “For persons who have a driver’s license of category “A”, issued before 01/01/2000, a tractor driver’s (tractor driver’s) certificate with a permit mark in column “A1” is issued without re-passing exams.
Many parents are concerned about whether it is necessary to obtain a driver's license when buying a children's ATV and how to do it. In this matter, everything is quite simple.
If you plan to use this type of transport for traveling on roads, then obtaining a category M license (engine capacity up to 50 cc) is mandatory. However, this is only possible if your child is over the age of 16.
Therefore, in practice, a children's ATV is bought for riding in the country, in closed villages and park areas. In this case, the traffic police inspector has no right to stop the driver and punish him with a fine.
