New Law Adds Width to Criteria For Where ATVs Can Ride

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has announced a new law that will impact ATV riders across the state.

On July 1, the state of Minnesota will begin using the width of all-terrain vehicles to determine how ATVs are classified and where they can be ridden. This change will affect ATV owners, but they don’t need to take action until their current registration expires.

ATVs were defined in the past by weight and engine size. As a result of legislation passed in 2015, Minnesota law now defines an ATV as a motorized vehicle with:

• Three to six low-pressure or non-pneumatic tires and;

• A total dry weight of 2,000 pounds or less; and

• A total width (measured from outside of tire rim to outside of tire rim) that is 65 inches or less.

An ATV with a total width of 50 inches or less is considered a Class 1 ATV. A Class 1 ATV is typically designed for a single operator who straddles the machine and uses handlebars to steer, but some Class 1 ATVs are designed by the manufacturer for off-road use with a seat belt, rollover protection and a steering wheel.

An ATV with a total width that is greater than 50 inches but not more than 65 inches wide is considered a Class 2 ATV. Class 2 ATVs typically have a steering wheel and are designed for the operator and passenger to be seated side by side.

ATV owners can continue to display an unexpired registration for their Class 1 or Class 2 ATV until it expires. New registrations and transfers will continue using the present registration system until the DNR upgrades are complete. The ATV registration system will not be programmed with the new definition of an ATV until 2016.