ATV, Dirt Bike and OHV Injuries in Riverside County

Identification: green, red and street plates

What needs ID	Off-highway vehicles such as ATVs, trail bikes, dune buggies and electric motorcycles do not need regular registration but must display a DMV-issued ID plate or placard. [source]
Cost and term	OHV identification (the Green Sticker) costs $54 per vehicle and is valid for two years. [source]
Green vs. red	A Green Sticker allows riding on public lands open to motor vehicles all year; a Red Sticker (2003-2021 motorcycles and ATVs that do not meet state emission standards) limits riding to certain areas and seasons. [source]
Private land	No Green or Red Sticker is needed on your own private property or on private property where permission is required and has been obtained. [source]
Street use	ATVs do not meet federal standards for on-highway use and cannot be converted for street use. [source]

The off-highway rules apply on land open to the public, but not on private land where the owner's permission is required and has been given (Vehicle Code § 38001). An OHV with only an off-highway plate may use a highway in very limited cases, such as crossing a two-lane road at about 90 degrees where a quick, safe crossing can be made (Vehicle Code § 38025). A dirt bike or ATV ridden along a public street is exposed to car traffic it was not built for.

ATV safety rules

Helmets	The operator and any passenger of an ATV must wear an approved helmet. [source]
Passengers	Most ATVs are designed for the operator only; a passenger may ride only if the manufacturer designed the ATV to carry one, and add-on seat kits are unsafe. [source]
Young riders	ATV riders aged 14-17 need an ATV Safety Certificate or supervision by an adult who has one; riders 13 and under must be directly supervised by a parent, guardian or authorized adult. [source]
Right-sized vehicle	Every OHV operator must be able to reach and operate all controls, and a parent can be cited for letting a child under 14 ride a vehicle that is too big. [source]
Dirt bikes	State Parks says a helmet is not legally required on a motorcycle off-highway, though it is highly recommended. [source]

The statutes behind these rules: riders under 18 on public lands need a safety course, a safety certificate or supervision by an adult with one (Vehicle Code § 38503), and an ATV operator may not carry a passenger on public lands unless the ATV is designed for one (Vehicle Code § 38506).

Who may be responsible when someone is hurt

The driver or rider. A careless OHV operator is responsible like any other driver (Civil Code § 1714). Passengers, especially children riding on an ATV not built for two, are often the ones seriously hurt.
An adult who allowed a child to ride. State Parks notes that parents can be held responsible for letting a young child ride a vehicle that is too big.
A car driver who hits an OHV crossing or riding near a road, with fault shared by percentage (CACI No. 405).
A landowner. California's recreational use statute gives landowners broad protection when they let people ride on their land for free, but not for willful or malicious failure to warn of a danger, when a fee was charged, or when the rider was expressly invited (Civil Code § 846).
A manufacturer or seller, when a defect such as a failed throttle or brake caused the crash.
A public agency, in limited cases involving a dangerous condition of public property; claims are generally due within six months (Gov. Code § 911.2).

Insurance

Car insurance may not cover an OHV, and a homeowner's policy may exclude it away from the insured property. Check the rider's OHV policy, the owner's policies and your own health and uninsured motorist coverage. Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years (CCP § 335.1).

Every fact on this page links to the official source it came from. We checked each one in September 2026. Agencies change fees and procedures, so confirm with the agency before you go. How we research.

Common questions

Do I need a green sticker to ride on my own land?

No. State Parks says no Green or Red Sticker is needed on your own private property or on private property where permission is required and has been obtained.

Can my child ride on the back of my ATV?

Only if the manufacturer designed the ATV to carry a passenger (Vehicle Code § 38506). Most ATVs are built for the operator only, and add-on seats are unsafe.

I was hurt riding on a friend's property. Can I make a claim?

It depends. Landowners who let people ride for free have broad protection, with exceptions for willful or malicious failure to warn, paid access and express invitations (Civil Code § 846). A claim against a careless driver is a separate question.

ATV, dirt bike and off-highway vehicle injuries