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Rules and Regulations for West Virginia ATV Use (Part A)

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All-terrain vehicles (ATV) are growing in popularity in West Virginia. But in order to enjoy ATV recreation, you should always keep safety in mind. To that end, West Virginia has established certain rules and regulations for ATV use in order to prevent ATV accidents.

The state laws pertaining to ATV use are outlined in Section 17-A of the West Virginia penal code. These laws are enforced by the West Virginia State Police, which is also the state agency tasked with regulating ATV usage. All of these laws are designed to prevent injuries and deaths, which can result from a West Virginia ATV accident.

West Virginia ATV Laws: Titles

State law requires that every all-terrain vehicle must be accompanied by a title, just like any other vehicle. This helps authorities keep track of the owners of such vehicles in case they are stolen or involved in a West Virginia ATV accident.

West Virginia ATV Laws: Lights

There are also regulations involving the operation of ATVs in non-daylight hours. Every all-terrain vehicle must have a working headlight and taillight if it is being driven at night. Proper illumination can prevent many types of collisions and accidents.

West Virginia ATV Laws: Paved Roads

Generally speaking, all ATVs are banned from driving on paved roadways in the state. This law was approved in an effort to avoid ATV collisions with passenger cars, trucks, and other larger vehicles.

There are a few exceptions to the "no paved roads" rule that include:

two-lane paved roads;
paved roads with no center stripe or lane markings;
crossing a paved road to get from one ATV trail/field to another; and
driving on a paved road to get from one ATV trail/field to another - if the distance is less than 10 miles and the ATV's speed is less than 25 miles per hour.

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