ATV Riding Laws - Florida

The state of Florida defines an ATV as any motorized off-highway or all-terrain vehicle that weighs under 900 pounds or is less than 50 inches wide. Such vehicles have three or more tires that are under low pressure, handlebars for steering, and a seat straddled by the driver. Although state registration is not required, any ATV used on public land must have a title, in accordance with the Florida Off-Highway Vehicle Titling Act.

State law also forbids:

  • Riders under 16 years old from operating, riding, or being propelled by a vehicle defined in this category, unless they wear a helmet. The equipment must provide eye protection and meet the standards of the United States Department of Transportation.
  • Any person younger than 16 from riding without a helmet, eye protection, or over-the-ankle boots.
  • All-terrain vehicles from being operated on a public state road, street, or highway, unless a state or federal agency grants permission to the owner.
  • Passengers to be transported unless the vehicle manufacturer has designed it to support an operator and single passenger.
  • Operating an off-highway vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It’s also illegal to drive one if a prescription or over-the-counter medication has impaired an operator in any way.

Police officers can use four-wheeled ATVs on public roads to perform their duties, or if they are within five miles of public beach access. Law enforcement personnel are permitted to drive on public beaches to enforce traffic laws.

Also, an operator of a vehicle involved in a crash must notify relevant agencies if a person is injured, requires treatment by a physician, or dies as a direct result of the incident. The state laws on ATV driving are well-established. In the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s fatality statistics, it ranks sixth in terms of accidental deaths from 1982 to 2015; the Commission reported 576 during this time.

Florida Off-Highway Vehicle Safety

While the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles regulates all-terrain vehicle use, the state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is committed to off-highway vehicle safety. Its safety guidelines provide additional insights beyond drivers simply obeying the law. The Department urges people to ride within their abilities, wear protective gear, travel in groups, and ride a vehicle that is sized for their capabilities. It also suggests notifying another person of one’s riding destination and expected time of return.

Safety Certification

Although the state requires just riders under 16 to have an OHV Safety Certification Card, approved training courses are available to anyone. Any person age six or older can complete a safety training course and receive a certification card. Approved providers include the ATV Safety Institute (ASI), Dirt Bike School: Motorcycle Safety Foundation, and The National Youth Project Using Minibikes. The ASI’s 4.5-hour ATV Rider Course covers starting, stopping, and riding over obstacles, among other topics, and each participant gets a copy of the ATV Rider Course Handbook. An e-learning course is also available.