What to know about ATV/UTV training and safety education in Wisconsin
What to know about riding ATVs and UTVs in Wisconsin
These are the required and/or recommended basics for operating ATVs or UTVs in Wisconsin according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) is one of the fastest growing segments of outdoor recreation in Wisconsin, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
The DNR reported a record-high 512,792 ATV and UTV registrations in 2024, up 3% year-over-year and 16% since 2020.
Accidents also have increased with increased use of the vehicles.
Through July 15, 21 fatalities were documented in ATV or UTV accidents in Wisconsin in 2025, according to a DNR report. The pace is similar to 2024 when 40 were recorded for the full year.
State and industry experts say training and education are key to safely operating the vehicles. Here is what to know.
What training is required to operate an ATV or UTV in Wisconsin?
ATV and UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who are at least 12 years old for ATV (and at least 16 years old for UTV) must complete an ATV and UTV safety certification course in order to drive on public trails and areas in Wisconsin, according to the DNR.
Classes are offered in person and online. At least one ATV and UTV safety course is held annually in each county of the state, according to the DNR.
DNR conservation wardens recommend all ATV and UTV operators complete a safety course.
In 2024, 13,483 people in Wisconsin earned a ATV/UTV safety certificate, including 10,940 through an online course and 2,543 through an in-person course, according to DNR data.
What is the goal of safety training?
The DNR says the objective of the training is to reduce the potential for incidents, injuries and fatalities; to reduce the potential for conflict between participants, landowners and other resource users; and to promote safe, responsible and ethical use of the environment and our resources.
What safety equipment is required?
All ATV/UTV operators and passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear a minimum DOT standard ATV or motorcycle helmet with the chin strap properly fastened. Bicycle helmets do not meet this requirement.
Helmets are not required for people 18 and older or when the vehicles are used on farms; however, safety officials recommend they be worn in all settings and by all ages of riders.
ATVs and UTVs are required to have a lighted headlamp and tail lamp at all times during operation. ATV operators cannot have a passenger riding in or on any part of an ATV that is not designed or intended to be used by passengers.
What are the efforts to increase safety among ATV and UTV users?
On July 14, 2025, the DNR started an ATV/UTV safety message displayed on gas pumps at Kwik Trip stores in the state, according to Jacob Holsclaw, DNR off-highway vehicle administrator.
It also is planning a “Think Smart Before You Start” campaign over Labor Day weekend. The effort will include DNR wardens and local law enforcement officials doing safety checks on off-road vehicle trails in the state.
The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association, or WATVA, which has131 member clubs, partners with the DNR and the Ride Safe Foundation to promote ATV/UTV safety in Wisconsin.
WATVA presented safety information to school students earlier in 2025 and also has set up booths and tents along state trails, WATVA president Randy Harden said. On May 14-15, WATVA volunteers staffed a helmet-fitting station at the Midwest Outdoor Heritage Education Expo in Poynette. The event attracted about 3,400 students in grades 4 through 7.
It also had club members along a trail over Memorial Day weekend in Danbury in Burnett County and over the July 4th weekend on the Cheese Country Trail in Darlington in southern Wisconsin. It plans to staff a similar education tent Labor Day weekend in Townsend in Oconto County.
Do operators need to display registration?
Unless specifically exempt, all ATVs and UTVs operated in Wisconsin must display current Wisconsin registration decals, possess a temporary operating receipt or possess a copy of a signed registration application from a dealer.
The registration sticker must be displayed on both sides of the vehicle as well as on a rear facing plate. The plate must have a white background and use black text, according to the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association (WATVA).
An exception applies to ATVs and UTVs with valid non-resident trail passes.
How much does it cost to register an ATV or UTV?
It costs $30 to register an ATV or UTV in Wisconsin, according to the DNR.
To find a course or for more information on ATVs and UTVs, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/atv.
link
