Quad Bikes

Scramblers

These are designed primarily for off road use only. If they are to be

used on a road then they must comply with the same rules as for all

other motorbikes i.e. the correct driving licence category for the size

of engine, insurance, MOT and must be taxed and registered.

Quad bikes must be approved, registered, taxed and

have an MOT (see below) to be used on the road.

However most quad bikes cannot be used on the road

because they do not meet road safety standards.

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’. This can be done through the

Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) scheme

which the DVLA carry out at its Lisburn test centre.

Rules for riding quad

bikes on the 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 four years

old. (Different rules apply for

agricultural quads).

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

You must wear a helmet if you’re

riding a quad bike on a public

road in Northern Ireland. You can

be fined up to £500 if you do not.

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. More information can be found

online at www.gov.uk/government/publications/protect-your-off-

road-vehicle using form INF85

Agricultural quad bikes

If you’re using a quad bike for

agriculture, horticulture and

forestry work you need to

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.