ATV Riding Laws – Virginia

The state police regulate the use of ATVs in Virginia, and titling is handled by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. All new vehicles purchased on or after July 1, 2006, and over 50 cc’s, must be titled. That means operators riding an all-terrain vehicle, with an engine displacing more than 50 cubic centimeters, must obtain a title, and new ones can be sold only by licensed motorcycle dealers.

The Virginia DMV requires the appropriate documents such as the Application for Certificate of Title and Registration, Certificate of Origin, and proof address to title a vehicle. Fees also apply. Individuals can also select an electronic or paper title. Even if an electronic record is preferred, one can request a paper copy at a customer service center at no fee if the title-holder was never issued one, unless there is a lien on an existing title or the owner previously received a title in paper form. One can request a physical title online to be delivered by mail as well.

Virginia state law also requires all riders to wear helmets, regardless of age. No vehicle designed for single-person use can legally carry passengers. There are also rules for how old a rider can be, based on the specifications of the vehicle. Children from 12 to 16 years old can ride ATVs with up to 90 cc’s, and those under 12 are limited to vehicles with a top capacity of 70 cc’s.

Additional All-Terrain Vehicle Restrictions

Public highways are off limits in general, as is public property. Operators can ride in these areas only if an appropriate authority permits them to, one must cross a public highway, or if law-enforcement officer, firefighter, or rescue personnel need to. Other statutes cover:

• The use of a protective helmet approved by the Superintendent of State Police.
• Written consent to drive an ATV on another person’s property.
• The limiting of use on public highways in Buchanan County, unless to cross roads or conduct agricultural activities.

ATV Trends in Virginia

The Consumer Product Safety Commission ranked the state in the middle in terms of accident fatalities, from 1982 to 2015. It reported 268 deaths during this time, which included 29 from 2013 to 2015 per ongoing reporting.

More recently, deaths of teens and others have raised concerns about safety. A WDBJ7 report noted the death of a 17-year-old in Bedford County, Virginia, in May 2017, who was not wearing a helmet. In April, there were reports of a large group of ATV riders in Arlington, who crossed the Key bridge the wrong way. Police followed the group but didn’t stop any of the operators, who eventually returned to Washington D.C.