Arizona OHV |
| Definitions | |
| Arizona OHV Laws | |
| Title, Registration and License Plates | |
| Equipment Needed for Registration | |
| Traveling on Arizona Streets or Highways | |
| Traveling on State Trust Land | |
| Traveling on Federal Land | |
| Bureau of Land Management Use | |
| Areas Closed to Off-Highway Vehicles | |
| OHV Laws and Rules Regarding Wildlife and Habitat | |
| OHV Tips | |
| Trip Planning Checklist | |
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is responsible for managing Arizona's wildlife and for helping protect wildlife habitat. By law, the department is responsible for identifying habitat damaged by off-highway vehicles, providing information and education about off-highway vechicles, and enforcing OHV laws. The Arizona Game and Fish Department encourages OHV users to protect wildlife habitat by following OHV-related rules and regulations. Responsible and courteous use of OHVs will help ensure your privilege to use public lands for off-highway riding. Please stay on existing roads and trails, have fun, be safe and encourage others to do the same. |
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| All-terrain vehicle means a motor vehicle that satisfies all of the following: | |
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Off-road recreational motor vehicle means a motor vehicle that is designed primarily for recreational nonhighway all-terrain travel and that is not operated on a public highway. ARS 28-101.34 Street or highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way if a part of the way is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. (This includes the shoulders of the roadway) ARS 28-101.48 |
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| Off-highway vehicle means a motorized vehicle when operated off of highways on land, water, snow, ice or other natural terrain or on a combination of land, water, snow, and ice or other natural terrain. Includes a two-wheel, three-wheel, or four-wheel vehicle, motorcycle, four-wheel drive vehicle, dune buggy, amphibious vehicle, ground effects or air cushion vehicle and any other means of land transportation deriving motive power from a source other than muscle or wind. ARS 28-1171.3.a.b. | |
| Off-highway vehicle trail means a multiple use corridor that is all of the following: | |
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Arizona OHV Laws |
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The operation of an ATV requires skill and good judgment. Drugs and alcohol impair both. Laws regarding driving under the influence apply everywhere in the state and apply to operators of ATVs. You can be arrested for driving under the influence even if you are riding on a backcountry trail. Penalties for operating an ATV under the influence of alcohol or drugs are the same for drivers of any motor vehicle. They include jail time and the loss of your driver's license. |
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Title, Registration and License Plates |
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| The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is responsible for title and registration of motor vehicles in Arizona. Individual offices are located statewide and are listed in the phone book and on the Department of Transportation Web site . | |
| Title and registration are two different things. A title is proof of ownership, while registration allows you to operate a vehicle on public roads. For title purposes ATVs are classified as off-road recreational vehicles. When you buy an ATV from a licensed dealer in Arizona, you must apply for a title at the time of purchase. The dealer will submit the information to the MVD, and the new owner will receive a title in the mail. If you buy a used ATV, you must apply for a transfer of title with the MVD. | |
| The MVD will send the new owner of an ATV an off-road license plate. This plate only allows for off-road travel and will be clearly marked with the letters RV. The license plate is issued for identification purposes only and should not be confused with registration. The license plate does not mean the ATV is street legal, nor does it mean the driver can operate the vehicle on streets or highways. | |
| If the driver of an off-highway vehicle is going to drive on Arizona streets or highways the vehicle must be registered. An ATV must be street legal in order to get it registered and some ATVs may require additional equipment or modivications in order to be street legal. AN ATV must also pass inspection in order to be registered. you can take the ATV to MVD to have it inspected. Only after inspection will the mVD issue a registration plate, which will be clearly marked with an MC. This plate show the ATV is street legal in Arizona and can be operated on streets or highways. | |
| Arizona law requires either an off-road plate or a current registration plate to be securely fastened in a clearly visible position to the rear of the ATV. | |
Equipment Needed for Registration |
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| In order to get an ATV registered in Arizona it must have the following equipment: | |
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Traveling on Arizona Streets or Highways |
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Traveling on State Trust Land |
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| For information on state trust lands contact: | |
| Arizona State Land Department 1616 W. Adams Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-364-2753 |
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Traveling on Federal Land |
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| The minimum equipment necessary to ride on federal public land is: | |
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National Forests in Arizona |
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| There are six national forests in Arizona and OHV rules vary from forest to forest; therefore, it is important to check with the forest you plan to visit to find out what is allowed. Forestlands where OHV use is prohibited have been declared off-limits in order to protect wildlife, vegetation or for your safety. Stay on existing roads and trails | |
| Some Arizona forests have completely prohibited cross-country travel, with a very limited number of exceptions. Those include picking up legally killed big game during certain hunting seasons and traveling from a designated trail to a campsite. Other Arizona forests are moving in that same direction, but rules and regulations are ultimately up to each individual forest. A good rule of thumb is to avoid cross-country travel. | |
| Some roads in national forests require off-highway vehicles to be registered. Generally, roads marked with a horizontal sign on national forestlands require motor vehicle registration. Roads marked with vertical signs generally do not mandate registration. | |
| Some forest areas may be seasonally closed for wildlife or other issues. Each national forest is divided into ranger districts. You can get the best information on riding opportunities, rules and seasonal closures from individual ranger district offices. See National Forest and Other Contacts. | |
Bureau of Land Management Land |
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| The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has divided the state into seven field offices. See National Forest and Other Contacts. In general, off-highway vehicles are permitted, with restrictions, on many areas under BLM administration in Arizona. However, designated Wilderness Areas and other sensitive areas are closed to OHV use. The BLM has divided the property that is open to OHV use into two categories, open areas and limited areas. | |
| Open Areas | |
| Open areas are public lands where all types of vehicles, including OHVs, are permitted subject to operating regulations and vehicle standards. ATVs do not need to be registered to ride in open areas. You will find information on BLM open areas its Web site. Another resource is the BLM's Public Lands Information Center Web site. | |
| Limited Areas | |
| Limited areas are restricted to certain types of vehicular use and cross-country travel is not allowed. You must stay on existing roads and trails. The BLM does not require an ATV to be registered in limited areas. Some roads and trails are marked but many are not, so contact a BLM field office regarding specific roads and trails that are open to off-highway vehicles. Keep in mind, if you plan to travel on public roads or highways that cross BLM lands your ATV must be registered. | |
Areas Closed to Off-Highway Vehicles |
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There are some ares in Arizona closed at all times, marked or not, to OHV use. These include designated Wilderness Areas, tribal lands and military lands. Areas closed to cross-country travel at all times are any national, state, county or city park, any wildlife refuge or in the case of private lands, check for proper posting because access can change depending on the landowner. |
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OHV Laws and Rules Regarding Wildlife and Habitat |
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| Arizona law prohibits taking (pursuing, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, killing, capturing, snaring or netting) wildlife from a motorized vehicle. An ATV may be used only as a means of travel and not as a hunting aid. It is also unlawful to harass, molest, chase, rally, concentrate, herd, intercept, torment or drive wildlife or livestock from any motorized ground vehicle. Citations can also be issued for damaging habitat or private property. | |
| The Arizona Game and Fish Department urges all OHV users to be neighborly to other recreationists and to wildlife, and to understand that Arizona's wildlife relies on the land, plants and water around you. It is your responsibility to know the laws. | |
| Arizona law gives the Game and Fish Department the authority to determine if the operation of motor vehicles within a certain area, except private land, is or may be damaging to wildlife reproduction, management or habitat. In such cases, the department is authorized to order such areas closed to motor vehicles. ARS 17-452 | |
OHV Tips |
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| The laws referenced on this web site are those most likely to affect recreational OHV users. Other laws may apply and information on this site is subject to change. | |