Can you drive your ATV or four-wheeler on Missouri roads? Here’s what state law says
All-terrain vehicles come out more frequently during the warmer months in Missouri, when drivers are eager to feel the breeze as they cruise on their four-wheelers.
While it’s tempting to hit the road on a nice day, there are certain restrictions in place for where ATVs can ride on roads in the state and who can drive them. You will also need a few attachments before you hit the road.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol defines ATVs as “any motorized vehicle manufactured and used exclusively for off-highway use, with an unladen dry weight of 1,500 pounds or less, traveling on three, four, or more nonhighway tires, with either a seat designed to be straddled by the operator and handlebars for steering, or a width of 50 inches or less measured from the outside of the tire rim to the outside of the tire rim, regardless of seating or steering arrangement.”
Here’s what you need to know about driving an ATV in Missouri.
Where can I drive my ATV in Missouri?
ATV riders can drive on streets in Missouri, but with restrictions.
Anyone operating an ATV must have a valid driver’s license, according to Missouri state law. They don’t need to have a license to operate a motorcycle, however. ATVs must drive at speeds less than 30 miles per hour.
Riders must have the following on their ATVs to legally ride in Missouri:
- A bicycle safety flag mounted on the rear of the vehicle for operation on the highway. The flag must be at least 7 feet above the ground, be triangular, have an area of at least 30 square inches, and shall be bright in color.
- Helmets for drivers under 18 years old.
- A lighted headlamp and tail lamp any time it is operated on the highway or street.
- An equilateral triangle displayed on the rear of the vehicle at least 2feet above the road to designate it as a slow-moving vehicle. It shall be fluorescent yellow-orange and have a reflective red border at least one inch in width. Each side shall measure at least 10 inches.
- A braking system maintained in good operating condition.
- An adequate muffler system in good working order.
- A U.S. Forest Service-qualified spark arrester.
Passengers are not allowed on an ATV unless it’s for farm purposes and the seat is designed to carry more than one person. State law also says ATVs “cannot operate in a stream or river, unless the waterway flows within the boundaries of land the operator owns, or upon land owned by another for agricultural purposes with the permission from the landowner.”
Kansas City’s ordinance follows the same guidance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Can I drive an ATV on a Missouri highway?
As for driving an ATV on the highway, you need to meet a special requirement: working for the government. The highway patrol says only government entities are allowed use ATVs on highways for official purposes.
Other requirements for driving an ATV on a highway include:
- Using the ATV for agricultural purposes or industrial on-premises purposes between official sunrise and sunset.
- If a city has issued a special permit to operate on the highways within city limits by licensed drivers.
- If a county has issued special permits to operate on county-maintained roads.
- If a municipality, by resolution or ordinance, allows ATV vehicle operation on the streets or highways under the governing body’s jurisdiction. Any person operating an ATV pursuant to a municipal resolution or ordinance shall maintain proof of financial responsibility.
How old do I have to be to drive an ATV in Missouri?
While the Missouri State Highway Patrol says there is no age requirement for driving an ATV, they say it does not mean a child of any age should safely operate one.
The highway patrol recommends parents have their children attend a certified safety course before driving an ATV. A child has to be at least 6 years old to take a course, and parental supervision is required for the course if they’re between the ages of 6-11.
“It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children are prepared mentally and physically to drive an ATV,” the highway patrol says on its website. “These vehicles come in many sizes, and it is important to match the rider with the ATV.”
This story was originally published August 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM.
