To ride an off-highway vehicle on public or state trust land in Arizona, you need a $25 annual OHV decal, an Arizona title, and a registration under one of three usage categories. Since January 1, 2025, at least one owner listed on the title also has to complete a free online safety course before buying or renewing the decal. The rules apply to residents and visitors alike, and they cover most ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, and sand rails.
Which Vehicles Need to Be Registered
Arizona defines an off-highway vehicle as a motorized vehicle operated primarily off highways and designed, modified, or built for recreational off-road travel.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-1171 – Definitions The decal requirement applies when the vehicle was built primarily for travel over unimproved terrain and has an unladen weight of 2,500 pounds or less.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and Boating Registration
Heavier vehicles follow standard Arizona vehicle registration procedures even if they mostly travel off-road. Vehicles with engines smaller than 49cc are not titled in Arizona, but they still need the decal for public land use.3Arizona State Parks. Arizona OHV Registration Requirements
The Three Registration Categories
When you register, you pick one of three classifications. That choice sets your fees and whether the vehicle can legally be driven on maintained public roads.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and Boating Registration
- Exclusively Off-Highway. You receive a title, plate, and OHV decal. The vehicle cannot be driven on public roads. You pay the $25 decal fee and no standard registration fee.
- Primarily Off-Highway. Same title, plate, and decal, but the vehicle can also be driven on public roads if it meets street-legal equipment requirements. The standard registration fee is waived, and the vehicle license tax is reduced to $3.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-5801 – Vehicle License Tax Rate, Definitions
- Primarily On-Highway. The vehicle is registered as a street-legal vehicle. You still need the $25 OHV decal, and you also pay the full vehicle license tax and full registration fee.
Most recreational riders land in the Primarily Off-Highway category. It lets you cross a paved road or ride certain forest roads without breaking the law, and the $3 vehicle license tax is about as cheap as Arizona registration gets.
Documents You Need
Gather these before going to the MVD:
- Arizona Certificate of Title in your name. A dealer usually handles this for a new vehicle using the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. If you have an out-of-state title, transfer it to Arizona first at an MVD office or authorized third-party provider.3Arizona State Parks. Arizona OHV Registration Requirements
- Vehicle Identification Number.
- Valid Arizona driver license or ID.
- Proof of insurance, but only if you register for on-road use under Primarily Off-Highway or Primarily On-Highway.
If you aren’t sure whether a plate and title are already on file, you can pull a motor vehicle record at AZMVDNow.gov or at an MVD office for $3 using the VIN and your driver license number.3Arizona State Parks. Arizona OHV Registration Requirements
How to Buy the Decal
The OHV decal can be purchased three ways: online through AZMVDNow.gov, in person at any MVD office, or through an authorized third-party provider. The decal is often processed at the same time as titling and registration, especially with a new vehicle. Once you have it, attach it to the upper left corner of the license plate. The plate itself must be securely mounted on the rear of the vehicle and clearly visible.3Arizona State Parks. Arizona OHV Registration Requirements
Fees and Renewal
The decal costs $25 per year and is valid for one year from the date of purchase.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and Boating Registration Renewal is the owner’s responsibility, and you can renew online, in person, or through a third-party provider.
Total cost depends on the category. Exclusively Off-Highway and Primarily Off-Highway registrations skip the standard registration fee. Primarily Off-Highway adds the $3 vehicle license tax. Primarily On-Highway carries both the full registration fee and a vehicle license tax that varies with the vehicle’s value.4Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-5801 – Vehicle License Tax Rate, Definitions
The Mandatory Safety Course
As of January 1, 2025, at least one registered owner on the title must complete a free online safety course before purchasing or renewing an OHV decal. The course, created by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, is a 10-minute video followed by 20 multiple-choice questions, and you only need to complete it once.5Arizona Game and Fish Department. Free Course Will Be Needed to Register an OHV The requirement is currently set to remain in effect through June 1, 2027.
Equipment Every OHV Must Have
Regardless of category, every OHV operated in Arizona must have:6Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-1179 – Off-Highway Vehicle Equipment Requirements, Rule Making
- Brakes adequate to control, stop, and hold the vehicle under normal conditions.
- Working headlights and taillights meeting or exceeding the manufacturer’s original specs, required between a half hour after sunset and a half hour before sunrise.
- A muffler or noise dissipation device keeping sound at or below 96 decibels.
- A USDA-approved spark arrestor in constant operation, unless you are on a closed course.
- A safety flag at least six by twelve inches, mounted eight feet above level ground, required on sand dunes and in areas designated by the managing agency.
Registering under Primarily Off-Highway or Primarily On-Highway for street-legal use also requires certifying that the vehicle meets additional on-road equipment standards.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) and Boating Registration
Rules for Riders Under 18
Arizona sets no minimum age for riding an OHV, but anyone under 18 must wear a properly fitted DOT-rated helmet while operating or riding as a passenger on public or state land. A parent or guardian who allows an unhelmeted minor to ride faces the same violation.6Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-1179 – Off-Highway Vehicle Equipment Requirements, Rule Making
There is one exception: a child secured in a proper child restraint system inside an OHV equipped with a rollover protection system does not need a separate helmet.6Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-1179 – Off-Highway Vehicle Equipment Requirements, Rule Making In practice, this covers UTVs with enclosed cabs and factory roll cages.
Visiting From Out of State
Arizona does not honor OHV decals from other states. Visitors who want to ride on Arizona public or state trust land must purchase an Arizona non-resident OHV decal through the Arizona Game and Fish Department portal.7Arizona Game and Fish Department. OHV Decals
The non-resident decal has an important limit. It only allows travel on non-maintained roads and trails. It does not grant street-legal privileges on maintained public roads, even if your home state registration would.7Arizona Game and Fish Department. OHV Decals
Exemptions and Penalties
Not every situation requires the decal. Arizona law carves out exceptions for authorized OHV special events, operation on private land, and loading or unloading from a trailer, under ARS 28-1178. If your OHV never leaves private property, you don’t need the decal.
Operating on public land without a valid resident or non-resident decal can result in a civil citation. Fine amounts are set by the courts and vary, but riding without a decal is one of the most common citations issued by rangers and game wardens on Arizona public lands.