ATV Riding Laws – Wisconsin

All-terrain vehicle safety is a major concern in Wisconsin. In October 2016, the state’s Off-Highway Motorcycle Program was launched by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which regulates ATV use. New rules apply to annual trail passes for non-residents, which must be purchased, and five-day passes that visitors must print off their computers before riding. Vehicles expected to be in the state for under 15 days are exempt from trail pass rules. The legal definition of a smaller vehicle was changed as well, increasing the upper size limit of engines to 130 cc’s.

Operation Restrictions and Age

Safety education requirements were changed as well to allow children at least 12 years old to ride in public and designated private areas. The age requirement was previously 16. These changes were made with the availability of small vehicles that can accommodate younger riders. However, the minimum age was raised from 12 to 16 for operating an all-terrain vehicle on a roadway to navigate obstruction or get around bridges and culverts.

A helmet is required for anyone under age 12 unless they're driving an ATV on a family’s agricultural land. Those under 18 must wear one too, except when on a family’s property, conducting agricultural work, hunting, or fishing.

Wisconsin Regulations for All-Terrain Vehicles

Registration requirements come in two forms. If a vehicle is to be registered for use on public land, it must be renewed every two years. An ATV registered for use on private land maintains that status for as long as it is operating. All vehicles must have a plate at their rear, which must be four inches by 7½ inches, white, and feature the registration ID characters for the specific vehicle.

In Wisconsin, such a vehicle is defined as one that is 900 pounds or less, 50 inches wide or less, and commercially designed and manufactured. It also has a seat that is straddled and has at least three low-pressure or non-pneumatic tires. No ATV is permitted to be used on a paved road except to cross, and must have front and rear lighting if operated during dark hours.

Other Restrictions

If a rider is carrying a firearm, it must be unloaded before the vehicle is in motion. Discharging a firearm from an ATV is illegal, except for disabled hunters authorized to do so. Placement, possession, and transportation of a cocked crossbow is illegal in a motorized vehicle as well.

Wisconsin saw 372 fatalities due to all-terrain vehicle accidents during a reporting period spanning 1982 through 2015, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which also noted 56 deaths from 2013 to 2015. The DNR reported 22 fatalities in 2016. Common types of violations in its annual report include illegal operation on or near highways, operation without a valid safety certificate, registration, headgear, while intoxicated, or on public/private property without consent. Equipment violations were on the list as well.