ATVs are not illegal in California. They are legal to own and legal to ride, but only off-highway, only with the right registration and safety gear, and only in places where motor vehicles are allowed. What is illegal is riding one on public streets, riding without an Off-Highway Vehicle registration, skipping the helmet, or putting a young rider on a machine without the required supervision. Break any of those rules and you are looking at infraction fines that grow quickly once state assessments are added on top of the base amount.
The reason the rules look so different from car rules comes down to classification. California treats ATVs as off-highway motor vehicles under Division 16.5 of the Vehicle Code, not as street vehicles.1California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 38006 – Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Vehicle Code Section 111 defines an ATV specifically: 50 inches or less wide, 900 pounds or less, three or more low-pressure tires, a straddle seat, handlebar steering, and a design intended for no more than one operator and one passenger.2California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 111 – All-Terrain Vehicle If the seat is built for one, carrying a passenger on it violates that specification and can draw a citation.
Registration Is the First Legal Requirement
Any ATV ridden on public land in California needs an OHV registration from the DMV. Instead of a license plate, the vehicle displays a colored sticker that signals its emissions status. Registration costs $54 for both initial registration and biennial renewal, broken down as $33 registration, $10 CHP, $7 service, and $4 licensing.3California Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration Fees
Green Sticker vs. Tan Sticker
An ATV that meets California Air Resources Board emission standards receives a green sticker, which allows year-round riding in any designated OHV area.4California Air Resources Board. OHRV – Red Sticker Program The old red-sticker program for noncompliant models ended in 2025. Starting with model year 2022, ATVs that do not meet emission standards now get a tan sticker instead. Tan-stickered machines are classified as competition-only and cannot be ridden recreationally on any public land; they are limited to closed-course use.5California State Parks. Legislation Updates If you are buying used, check the sticker color before you pay. A tan-stickered ATV is legal to own but has nowhere legal to ride outside a closed course.
Sales and Use Tax
Dealer purchases include sales tax at the point of sale. Private-party buyers owe use tax at registration, and the DMV will not process the registration until the tax is paid or the buyer produces a CDTFA exemption.6California Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual – Transactions Subject to Use Tax
Public Roads Are Off-Limits
California prohibits ATVs on public streets, highways, and roads under Vehicle Code Section 38025. An OHV-registered vehicle may travel on a highway only under narrow exceptions, never as a way to get around.7California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 38025 – Motor Vehicle Operation on Highway
You can cross a two-lane highway at roughly a 90-degree angle, but only where the crossing can be made quickly and safely. On roads with more than two lanes or limited-access highways, crossings are allowed only at spots specifically designated by Caltrans or the local authority.7California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 38025 – Motor Vehicle Operation on Highway There is no general right to ride along any public road, even briefly.
The other exception is a “combined-use” route. Under Vehicle Code Section 38026, a local government, federal agency, or the Director of Parks and Recreation can designate a short stretch of road, generally no more than three miles, that connects trail segments or links riding areas with service and lodging. The California Highway Patrol has to confirm the route is safe, and the road must be marked with approved signs. These are relatively rare. Do not assume a road that runs near a riding area is fair game.
If you ride between sunset and sunrise, even on off-highway land, your ATV must have at least one headlight that lights the ground 200 feet ahead and a red taillight visible from 200 feet behind.8California State Parks. Operation / Equipment Requirements
Where You Can Legally Ride
California has a large network of designated OHV areas. The state’s Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division runs several State Vehicular Recreation Areas, including Ocotillo Wells in the Anza-Borrego desert, Hollister Hills near the Bay Area, and Prairie City outside Sacramento. These parks have maintained trails, staging areas, and rangers on-site.
Federal land opens up more options. The Bureau of Land Management manages substantial desert and open acreage in California where ATV use is allowed, subject to protected habitat rules and seasonal closures.9Bureau of Land Management. Off-Highway Vehicles National forests permit ATVs only on routes shown on the Forest Service’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps. Riding off a designated forest route is a federal violation, and rangers enforce it.
Riding in an area closed to motor vehicles violates Vehicle Code Section 38301, an infraction with base fines of up to $50 for a first offense, $75 for a second within seven years, and $150 for a third or later offense, plus any property damage repair costs the court assesses.10California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 38301
Rules for Riders Under 18
California has stricter youth ATV rules than many states. Under Vehicle Code Section 38503, no one under 18 can operate an ATV on public land unless one of three things is true: they are in a certified safety course under an instructor’s direct supervision, they are supervised by an adult who holds a valid ATV safety certificate, or they personally hold a safety certificate from California or another state.11California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 38503 – Operation of All-Terrain Vehicles
Riders under 14 face an added condition. Vehicle Code Section 38504 requires that a child under 14 meet the Section 38503 requirement and also be accompanied by, and under the direct supervision of, a parent, guardian, or an adult authorized by the parent or guardian.12California State Parks. Minors and ATVs – Special Conditions A safety certificate alone is not enough at that age. A responsible adult has to be present.
Required Safety Equipment
Every person operating, riding on, or being towed by an ATV on public land must wear a helmet meeting the motorcycle safety standards set by Vehicle Code Section 27802.13California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 38505 This applies to adults as well as minors, and rangers cite for it at staging areas.
Given the state’s wildfire risk, every ATV operated on public land also needs a qualifying spark arrestor. Vehicle Code Section 38370 directs the DMV to refuse registration for any off-highway vehicle without one. The requirement is year-round and applies in every riding area.
Sound is regulated too. ATVs manufactured on or after January 1, 1986 cannot exceed 96 decibels; models built before that date have a 101 decibel limit.14California State Parks. OHV Sound Regulations Aftermarket exhaust that pushes a machine above the threshold can get you turned away at a staging area or cited on the trail.
Penalties for Common Violations
Most ATV violations in California are infractions rather than misdemeanors, so the consequence is a fine rather than jail. The base fines look modest until state penalty assessments multiply them.
- Riding an unregistered ATV on public land violates Vehicle Code Section 38020, an infraction.15California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 38020 – Motor Vehicles Subject to Identification
- Riding in a closed area draws base fines of $50, $75, and $150 for successive offenses under Section 38301.10California Legislative Information. California Code VEH 38301
- Riding without an approved helmet is cited under Section 38505.13California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code 38505
- Riding on a public road violates Section 38025, and the consequences climb if the conduct endangers others.7California Legislative Information. California Code Vehicle Code VEH 38025 – Motor Vehicle Operation on Highway
Each base fine gets stacked with state and county penalty assessments, court surcharges, and a 20% state surcharge under the Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules.16California Courts. Uniform Bail and Penalty Schedules A $50 base fine can reach $250 or more by the time you pay the total. Repeat violations can also lead to impoundment.
Visiting From Another State
Bringing your own ATV from out of state does not automatically make you legal to ride here. A California Nonresident OHV Use Permit is required if your vehicle lacks current registration from your home state, or if your home state requires California residents to buy a nonresident permit when they visit.17California State Parks. Nonresident OHV Use Permits Arizona-registered street-legal OHVs always need the California nonresident permit regardless of registration status.18California State Parks. OHV Registration The permit is $30 for the calendar year, with a $1.95 service fee when purchased online. California does not recognize street-legal OHV registrations from other states as valid for highway use here. Even a home-state street-legal ATV stays off California roads.
After an Accident
An ATV crash that causes any injury, a death, or property damage over $1,000 requires an SR-1 accident report filed with the DMV within 10 days, by the rider or an insurance representative. This is in addition to any police or CHP report made at the scene.19California Department of Motor Vehicles. Report of Traffic Accident Occurring in California (SR-1) Standard auto policies generally exclude off-highway vehicles, so without a separate ATV policy, a rider can be personally responsible for damages and medical costs.