Children who are at least age 12 and who are born on or
after January 1, 1988 may operate and ATV on public riding
areas, (trails, frozen waters, open county and forest areas,
etc) if they hold a valid WI ATV safety certificate. Other
state agency and provincial safety certificates are accepted
in WI.
NOTE: ASI (All-terrain Vehicle Safety Institute)
certificates are not valid in Wisconsin.
No one under the age of 12 may operate and ATV on a
roadway under any circumstance.
No one under 16 may rent or lease an ATV.
Riders under age 18 must wear a helmet (motorcycle type, Snell or DOT approved) when operating on public riding areas.
Agriculture exemption - Children who are at least age 12
and who are born on or after January 1,
1988 may operate an
ATV on lands under the management and control of a person
immediate family without certification for agricultural
purposes. If you operate on someone else’s land and you are
at least 12 and born on or after January 1, 1988, you must
be certified. Children age 12 and who were
born on or after January 1, 1988 may operate an ATV on
certain roadways ONLY when the ATV is used
exclusively as an implement of husbandry and
the person holds a valid ATV safety certificate. Operators
born before January 1, 1988 are not required to hold a
safety certificate for the agriculture-roadway exemption,
but riders are strongly encouraged to consider taking an ATV
safety course.
Children under age 12 may operate a small all-terrain vehicle on an all-terrain vehicle trail designated by the Department if the child is wearing a helmet and accompanied by a parent. (Small ATV means an ATV that has 4 wheels and that has either an engine certified by the manufacturer at not more than 90 cc's or an equivalent power unit - s. 23.33(1)(jp).) (Accompanied means being subject to continuous verbal direction and control per s. 23.33(1)(a)).