Get Approval

Quad bikes must be approved, registered, taxed and have an MOT (if over 3 years old) to be used on the road.

Most quad bikes cannot be used on the road because they do not meet road safety standards. They are not sold with the Required Type Approval that the DVLA accept as approval for road registration.

Check with the manufacturer if your quad bike has been approved for road use. If your quad bike has not been approved but meets road safety standards, you can apply for ‘type approval’.

Rules for riding Quad Bikes on Road

Registering

You must register your quad bike with DVLA and the bike must have front and rear number plates.

MOT certificates

Quad bikes used on the road need a valid MOT certificate if they are more than 3 years old.

Driving licence

To drive a quad bike on the road you need to have a full car licence or a category B1 licence if it was issued before January 1997.

Insurance

You must have third party insurance to drive a quad bike on the road.

Passengers

A quad bike can only carry passengers if it is designed to do so and has the right number of seats. Check with the manufacturer if you’re not sure.

Crash helmets

Quad bike drivers and passengers in England, Scotland and Wales do not have to wear crash helmets, but it’s recommended.

Using a quad bike off-road

You do not need a driving licence to ride a quad bike off-road.

You do not have to tax and register your quad bike if you’re only going to use it off-road. However, there is an ‘off-road register’ where you can record the details of your off-road quad bike, which could help the police find it if it’s stolen.

British Quad Bikes Strongly recommends that you undertake the process of Voluntary Registration of your off road Quad Bike.

British Quad Bikes offer FREE assistance in the Off Road Registration of all the Quad Bikes we sell. We have an Admin Fee of £30 applicable to any Quad that was not purchased from us.

Agricultural quad bikes

If you’re using a quad bike for agriculture, horticulture and forestry work you need to register it as a light agricultural vehicle.

Using an agricultural quad bike on the road

An agricultural quad bike used on the road does not need an MOT, but must be registered and licensed for road use and must have a number plate and third party insurance.

It will also need lights if it’s being used on the road after dark.

Vehicle tax

You do not have to pay vehicle tax on quad bikes used for agriculture, horticulture or forestry.

If you do have to pay tax, the class will depend on how you use your quad bike:

• limited use tax class for bikes used on the road

• agricultural machine class for bikes not licensed for road use

Passengers

Quad bikes used as light agricultural vehicles should be made with only a driver’s seat. They are not allowed to carry passengers.

In Greater Detail....

Quad bikes must be registered with the DVLA before they can be used on public roads. Once registered, they can only be used for short distances on public roads. They must have a number plate, and be fitted with lamps and reflectors if used on public roads before sunrise or after sunset.

They should also be fitted with indicators and a hazard warning light if capable of travelling above 15 miles per hour. If they are capable of travelling above 20 miles per hour, a horn and a speedometer should also be fitted; and if they are capable of travelling above 25 miles per hour – a fog light should also be fitted.

If the quad bike is not fitted with indicators and brake lights, the rider should make hand signals when changing direction or slowing down.

It is not permitted to carry passengers on a quad bike.