Maryland ATV Laws: Titling, Trails, and Penalties

Maryland ATV laws require every all-terrain vehicle to be titled with the Motor Vehicle Administration, restrict riding to private property with the owner’s permission or to specific Department of Natural Resources trails, and generally prohibit road use except in Allegany and Garrett counties. Helmets and eye protection are mandatory, DUI rules apply on the trail the same as on the highway, and trespass or reckless operation can lead to jail time.

Titling Your ATV With the MVA

Every off-highway recreational vehicle purchased after October 1, 2010 must be titled with the Maryland MVA, even if you plan to keep it on your own land and never ride it anywhere else.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Titling and Registrations of Golf Carts ATVs UTVs and Off-Road Vehicles The title is your legal proof of ownership for selling, transferring, or insuring the machine.

As of September 2025, the MVA charges $70 for an off-highway recreational vehicle title certificate. You’ll also owe a 6.5% excise tax on the purchase price, with a $41.60 minimum.2Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing Bring proof of ownership: a manufacturer’s certificate of origin for a new ATV, or a properly assigned title from the previous owner for a used one.

ATVs don’t receive license plates or registration stickers, because they aren’t approved for general road use. The MVA does keep a database of titled off-road vehicles, which helps recover stolen ATVs and verify ownership at resale.

Buying private-party? Confirm the seller signs the assignment section on the back of the title. If the previous owner never titled the ATV at all, you may need a notarized bill of sale, and in some cases a court order, before the MVA will issue a title in your name.

Where You Can Legally Ride

Maryland has fewer public ATV trails than several neighboring states, and riding somewhere you shouldn’t is one of the easiest ways to end up with a citation.

DNR Trails and the ORV Permit

The Department of Natural Resources allows off-road vehicle use only in specific state-managed areas. The main designated locations include St. John’s Rock ORV Trail in Savage River State Forest and trails within Potomac-Garrett State Forest. ORV permits can be purchased at Deep Creek Lake and New Germany State Parks, Savage River State Forest, Herrington Manor State Park, and Potomac-Garrett State Forest.3Maryland Department of Natural Resources. ORV Registration Requirements

To ride on DNR-managed trails, your ATV must be registered annually with the DNR and display the sticker. The permit costs $10.4Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Application for Off Road Vehicle Registration If your vehicle is already licensed and registered with the MVA, you’re exempt from the separate DNR off-road permit.3Maryland Department of Natural Resources. ORV Registration Requirements

Don’t assume every state forest is open to ATVs. Green Ridge State Forest prohibits off-road vehicles entirely; only licensed motorized vehicles may use its designated roadways.5Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Trails – Green Ridge State Forest

Private Property and Trespass Penalties

Private land is where most Marylanders actually ride, and it requires the landowner’s explicit permission. Trespassing with an ATV on posted property is a misdemeanor. A first offense carries up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. A second offense within two years raises the maximum to six months and $1,000, and a third or subsequent offense within two years can bring up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.6Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Criminal Law Code Section 6-402 – Trespass on Posted Property Even on unposted land, riding on after being told to leave can support trespass charges under a separate statute. Counties including Baltimore and Montgomery have their own ordinances restricting ATV use in residential areas over noise and safety.

Road Use: The Allegany and Garrett Exception

Public roads are off-limits to ATVs in most of Maryland. They don’t meet highway safety standards and aren’t registered for road use. The exceptions are Allegany and Garrett counties.

Under Maryland Transportation Code Section 21-104.1, riders in those two counties may operate ATVs on state highways other than controlled-access highways, provided they follow the applicable rules of the road.7New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. Maryland Code Transportation 21-104.1 – All-Terrain Vehicle or Snowmobile Operation on Highway Garrett County adds its own ordinance on top:

  • Operators on county roadways must hold a valid Maryland driver’s license.
  • ATVs must have at least a working headlight and brake light.
  • Helmets are required unless the ATV or UTV has a factory roll-over protection system, in which case factory seat belts must be used instead.
  • The speed limit is 25 mph, even if the vehicle can go faster.
  • Riders may travel no more than five miles on county roads.
  • Riding position is single file on the right-hand shoulder or extreme right side of the road.
8Garrett County Government. ATV-Snowmobile-Permit-brochure

ATVs may not operate on municipal roads in Garrett County unless the town has adopted its own authorizing legislation, and they may never operate on state highways within town limits. Illegal road use can bring fines, vehicle impoundment, and misdemeanor charges when reckless operation is involved.

Age and Youth Supervision

Maryland’s Natural Resources Code bars anyone under 16 from riding on DNR-managed land unless a parent or legal guardian is directly supervising.9Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Natural Resources Title 5 Subtitle 2 Section 5-209 Some counties layer on additional restrictions on where and when minors can ride, so check local ordinances first.

Even with supervision, size the machine to the rider. The Consumer Product Safety Commission classifies youth ATVs as Y-6+ (ages six and up), Y-10+, and Y-12+, and every new ATV sold in the United States must carry a label identifying its age category and certifying compliance with ANSI/SVIA safety standards.10Consumer Product Safety Commission. All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Putting a child on an adult-sized ATV is one of the most common causes of serious youth injuries.

Helmets, Eye Protection, and Passengers

Every operator and passenger must wear protective headgear meeting standards set by the MVA administrator. Eye protection is also required unless the ATV has a windshield; goggles or safety glasses meeting ANSI Z87.1 will satisfy the rule. A violation is a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500 and a typical District Court prepayment amount of $110.11Maryland General Assembly. Fiscal and Policy Note for Senate Bill 397

Passenger rules follow the machine’s design. A single-seat ATV carries one rider, period. On multi-seat ATVs and UTVs, passengers are limited to the number of factory-installed seats. Garrett County’s ordinance spells this out, and the same principle applies statewide.8Garrett County Government. ATV-Snowmobile-Permit-brochure

DUI and DWI Apply on the Trail

Maryland’s impaired-driving laws follow you onto an ATV. Riding with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher supports a DUI charge, and a BAC of 0.07 with evidence of impairment can support a DWI. Both are criminal offenses carrying jail time, fines, and license consequences. Being on a forest trail rather than a highway is not an exception, and officers patrolling state forests have full authority to conduct sobriety checks.

Insurance and Contributory Negligence

Maryland doesn’t require liability insurance for ATVs used only on private property. On public-access trails, the land management authority may require proof of coverage. Some homeowner’s policies include limited ATV coverage on the owner’s property, but that coverage typically ends the moment the machine leaves the premises.

Coverage matters more in Maryland than in most states because Maryland is one of only five U.S. jurisdictions following a pure contributory negligence rule. If you were even slightly at fault in an ATV accident, you can be completely barred from recovering damages from the other party.12Maryland Department of Legislative Services. Contributory Negligence, Comparative Fault, and Joint and Several Liability The rule works both directions. Someone injured on your property while riding your ATV may have no claim if they contributed to the accident. But if an accident is entirely your fault and you’re uninsured, you’re personally responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage. Many ATV owners carry specialized off-road policies covering liability, collision, and theft.

Trailering Your ATV

Most riders haul their ATVs to trailheads. Federal regulations require trailer safety chains or cables with an ultimate strength at least equal to the gross weight of the vehicle being towed.13eCFR. 49 CFR 393.70 – Coupling Devices and Towing Methods Trailers must have working tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals, and rear reflectors, and none of them can be blocked by the ATV or the rest of the load.14eCFR. Subpart B – Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Electrical Wiring

Secure the ATV with ratchet straps rated for its weight. A loose ATV on a trailer at highway speed is a hazard, and Maryland officers can cite you for an unsecured load.

Penalties at a Glance

The consequences for breaking Maryland’s ATV rules run from small fines to serious criminal exposure.

The Maryland Natural Resources Police patrol state forests and public trail systems. They issue citations, impound vehicles, and can arrest riders for criminal violations on the spot. They also check for valid ORV permits and required safety equipment during routine patrols.