{"id":14284,"date":"2020-04-15T15:31:09","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T22:31:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/off-highway-vehicles\/introduction\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T09:19:26","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T17:19:26","slug":"introduction","status":"publish","type":"dmv_handbook","link":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/es\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/off-highway-vehicles\/introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"15.00 Chapter 15 Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

15.000 Introduction<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Off-highway vehicles (OHV) are motor vehicles not otherwise registered under this code, operated exclusively off the highways on lands that are open and accessible to the public. OHV display an identification plate or device issued by the DMV (Vehicle Code<\/em> [VC] \u00a738010).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The term \u201chighway\u201d does not<\/strong> include fire trails, logging roads, or service roads regardless of surface composition, or other roughly graded trails and roads upon which vehicular travel by the public is permitted (VC \u00a738001).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) (VC \u00a7111)<\/strong>\u2014A motor vehicle which is designed for off-highway operation by an operator with no passengers. An ATV has a single seat for the operator and handlebars for steering control. It is 50 inches or less in width with an unladen weight of 900 pounds or less, and is suspended on three or more low-pressure tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ATVs are manufactured for off-highway use, do not<\/strong> meet federal standards for on-highway use, and cannot <\/strong>be converted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Recreational Off-highway Vehicles (ROVs) VC \u00a7500<\/strong>\u2014An ROV has a:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Steering wheel for steering control, and non-straddle seating provided by the manufacturer for the operator and all passengers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Maximum speed capability of greater than 30 miles per hour, an engine displacement equal to or less than 1000cc, and has a complying emissions system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Note<\/span> Do not<\/strong> register non-straddle single seat ROVs as ATVs: register as ROVs (for example, register a Polaris ACE as an ROV).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do not register non-straddle single seat ROVs as ATVs: register as ROVs (for example, register a Polaris ACE as an ROV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    OHV (VC \u00a738012)<\/strong>\u2014Includes, but is not<\/strong> limited to:<\/p>\n\n\n

      \n
    • A motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, except <\/strong>for a motorcycle eligible for a special transportation identification permit. See Competition (Racing) Motorcycles section in this chapter.<\/li>\n
    • A snowmobile or other vehicle designed to travel over snow or ice. A snowmobile is a motor vehicle designed to travel over ice or snow in whole or in part on skis, belts, or cleats (VC \u00a7557).<\/li>\n
    • A motor vehicle commonly referred to as a sand buggy, dune buggy, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or jeep.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/body>\n\n\n

      Note<\/span> An OHV does not <\/strong>have to be equipped with a spark arrester for registration. OHV identification of an otherwise-qualified vehicle cannot be denied due to the absence of a spark arrester. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Utility-Terrain Vehicle (UTV) (VC \u00a7531)<\/strong> \u2014A motor vehicle:<\/p>\n\n\n

        \n
      • Designed for off-highway operation.<\/li>\n
      • Suspended on four tires.<\/li>\n
      • Has a steering wheel for steering control.<\/li>\n
      • Has one seat to accommodate a driver and one passenger sitting side by side.
        \n<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/body>\n\n\n
        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        eMotos (VC \u00a7436.1)<\/strong> and (VC \u00a738012)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Off-highway electric motorcycles<\/em>, commonly referred to as eMotos, are classified as off-highway motorcycles and are subject to off-highway vehicle registration requirements (VC \u00a7436.1) which defines off-highway electric motorcycles and updated<\/em> (VC \u00a738012) <\/strong>to include off-highwayelectric motorcycles as off-highway motor vehicles subject to identification and must <\/strong>display an OHV permit or plate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        To be qualified as an off-highway electric motorcycle<\/em>, the vehicle must<\/strong> meet the following requirements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          \n
        • Designed by manufacturer for operation primarily off the highway<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Powered by an electric motor (a motor number is not <\/strong>required)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Handlebars for steering<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Straddle seat provided by the manufacturer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Two wheels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • No Pedals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":14281,"menu_order":1,"template":"","dmv_task":[11],"dmv_functional_page_type":[64],"dmv_handbook_category":[922,595],"class_list":["post-14284","dmv_handbook","type-dmv_handbook","status-publish","hentry","dmv_task-educational","dmv_functional_page_type-informational","dmv_handbook_category-off-highway-vehicles","dmv_handbook_category-vehicle-industry-reg-procedures-manual"],"featured_image_src":null,"yoast_head":"\n15.00 Chapter 15 Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) - California DMV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/es\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/off-highway-vehicles\/introduction\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"15.00 Chapter 15 Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) - California DMV\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"15.000 Introduction Off-highway vehicles (OHV) are motor vehicles not otherwise registered under this code, operated exclusively off the highways on lands that are open and accessible to the public. 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