ATV license in 2021 - what category, where to get it, fines for driving without a license

Do you need a license to drive an ATV?

First we need to look at the definition of a vehicle. An ATV is a self-propelled vehicle with the following characteristics:

• motor vehicles with 4 wheels;
• maximum speed exceeds 25 km/h;
• maximum engine power no more than 15 kW;
• weight not exceeding 400 kg or 550 kg in the case when it is planned to be used for the transportation of goods.

An ATV is an off-road vehicle not intended for use on public roads. Rights are a must!

What category of license is needed for an ATV in 2021?

Since this type of equipment is a motorized vehicle, in accordance with Art. 4 of Decree No. 796 dated July 12, 1999, to operate it you will need to have a license issued by Gostekhnadzor for a tractor driver of category “A I”.

To understand which document is needed, you should contact the PSM (self-propelled vehicle passport), which contains all the information about the ATV. Equipment with PSM falls under the competence of Gostekhnadzor, therefore, if you have the appropriate rights obtained from the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, you will still have to obtain rights from Gostekhnadzor.

Attention! With this license you can also drive a snowmobile.

In isolated cases, ATVs have a PTS (vehicle passport). Then the license issued by the traffic police is valid for them.

Do you even need a license to drive an ATV?

According to GOST R 52008 - 2003, an ATV is classified as a motorized vehicle. It is designed for driving off paved roads. But this does not relieve the owner of an ATV from the need to obtain a license to drive it. Violation of this requirement is subject to a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles.

What do ATV and snowmobile licenses look like?

The appearance of the document for driving these types of self-propelled transport differs from those rights issued by the traffic police.

It also has two sides - left and back, which contain the following information:

1. On the front side there is:

• name of the document and its unique code;
• Full name of the owner of the rights, his date and place of birth in accordance with the passport;
• location;
• owner's personal signature;
• name of the Gostekhnadzor body that issued the document, inspector’s signature and seal;
• date of issue and validity period;
• photograph of the copyright owner.

1. The reverse side reflects all the names and categories of vehicles, the right to drive which is confirmed by this document. A corresponding mark is placed next to the permitted category. Special notes may be indicated below the table. The document code is repeated below.

Education

84 hours are allotted for studying the theoretical part. During this time, cadets study according to the curriculum, which is drawn up in accordance with the requirements of current legislative acts.

During the training process, the cadet masters new professional competencies by studying:

• device of off-road vehicles;
• Traffic Laws;
• maintenance and repair of motor vehicles.

13 hours are allocated for acquiring first aid skills, and 11 for mastering traffic safety rules. Practical classes are held outside of school hours. Attention is also paid to the rules for transporting goods and passengers.

Do I need a license for a children's ATV up to 50cc?

In recent years, battery-powered ATVs have become especially popular. Supervisory authorities have no questions about such things and rights to manage them are not required. But you must comply with the conditions of their operation - do not drive onto the roadway.

If the equipment is equipped with an internal combustion engine, then the engine cubic capacity plays a decisive role in the availability of driving rights. For an ATV with a volume of up to 50 cubic meters and a maximum speed not exceeding 50 km/h, it is permissible to drive with an “M” license.

What is the category of ATV driving license in 2021?

The category of rights depends on engine size:

• A1 - for ATVs - over 50 cm3 - for gasoline engines (equivalent to 4 kW electric motor);
• M – less than 50 cm3.

Since ATVs and snowmobiles are considered the same as mini tractors, driving licenses for them are issued not by the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, but by Gostekhnadzor.

With open category A

A license in this category, obtained after 2000, allows you to drive an ATV with an engine capacity of up to 50cc. For larger motor vehicles, you will have to undergo additional training at A1 followed by passing exams.

If category A licenses were issued before 2000, you must come with them to Gostekhnadzor and receive a tractor driver’s license there.

Category B opened

The driver of the car has the right to use an ATV up to 50 cubic meters. In other cases, he must receive the appropriate category. Such a candidate is exempt from taking the theoretical exam: he only needs to demonstrate his skills in practice.

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ATV license up to 50cc

Low-power motorized vehicles are driven under category M. Small battery-powered all-terrain vehicles can be used in holiday villages and courtyards without a license. If the ATV is equipped with a gasoline engine, the absence of a license is punishable by law.

At what age can you ride an ATV?

In order to freely operate an ATV, you need to know the conditions for obtaining a driver's license.

It is possible to obtain a tractor driver's license upon reaching the age of 16 years, and from the same age you can already drive an ATV (clause a, clause 11 of the Rules approved by Resolution No. 796). The following are not allowed to take the exam:

• persons under the established age;
• citizens who have previously passed the exam and received a tractor driver's license with the specified category, unless the law requires passing the exam again;
• the presence of deprivation of a driver's license to drive transport until the expiration of the deprivation period;
• the presence of medical contraindications that prevent the operation of self-propelled vehicles;
• lack of documents that must be submitted to the State Technical Supervision Authority;
• failure to pay the state fee for issuing a certificate.

Theoretical exam

At the appointed time, the cadet appears at the specified place and fills out an individual driver card. Testing theory knowledge is carried out in two stages. First of all, the owner of the ATV is tested according to the safety rules for operating an SUV. After its successful completion, the cadet is allowed to take the second stage of the theoretical exam - testing knowledge of traffic rules.

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If both levels of the exam are passed successfully, the student is allowed to take the practical part of the qualifying exam.

Where and how to get a license for an ATV?

The issuance of a driver's license with the right to drive four-wheeled motor vehicles is carried out by the State Technical Supervision Authority.

To do this you will need:

1. Take a training course.
2. Prepare the necessary documents.
3. Pass a medical examination and receive a certificate.
4. Confirm your right to drive an ATV by successfully passing the test.

Documentation

A package of documents that should be submitted to Gostekhnadzor to obtain the right to drive an ATV:

• application for issuance of a certificate;
• passport;
• certificate of passing a medical examination:
• driver's license (if available);
• tractor driver's license or other permission to drive self-propelled vehicles (if previously obtained);
• receipt for payment of state duty;
• photographs measuring 3 x 4 cm, made on matte paper, in the amount of 2 pieces (with the exception of automated production in the Gostekhnadzor authorities).

Driver requirements

A license to drive an ATV is issued if the driver:

• has reached the age of 16;
• has a medical certificate confirming his fitness to drive an all-terrain vehicle;
• completed the training and successfully passed the exams.

A license will not be issued if the applicant suffers from:

• alcoholism;
• epilepsy;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• hearing impairment;
• mental disorders.

Licenses are not issued to candidates who have been diagnosed with glaucoma during a medical examination.

Pitfalls when passing exams

When going for an exam, a person may encounter a number of pitfalls that prevent him from successfully passing it. The first of these is the moral state of a person. On the eve of the exam to obtain the right to drive an ATV, even people who are confident in their abilities begin to get nervous. The situation is aggravated by anxiety. It is recommended to relax and try to behave as smoothly as in regular classes.

The exam will take place in an unusual environment. The citizen will have to answer questions on the tickets. Stress associated with anxiety can lead to a person forgetting material that he previously knew perfectly. Therefore, it is recommended to study the tickets many times by asking the instructor for them. It is important to analyze the mistakes made in order to promptly fill gaps in knowledge. Typically, during the ATV driving test, the same tickets that the person has learned previously will be provided. Therefore, it will not be difficult to figure it out and find the correct answer.

The practical part is considered the most difficult stage. A person may be confused by the examiner’s unexpected requests and may not be able to calculate the dimensions of the vehicle or the angle of rotation of the ATV. This part of the test is subjective. A number of points can be dictated in two ways. In this case, the examiner always has the final say. The student must know his rights and be able to defend them reasonably in dialogue with a representative of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. It is important to be attentive. There is no need to rush on the site. If possible, it is better to take the test in the vehicle on which the training was carried out.

Practical exam

The rules of the practical exam for obtaining the right to drive an ATV are also regulated by Ch. 3 Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 796 of July 12, 1999. The practice is divided into 2 parts. The first is held in a closed area. During the second, the person will have to complete a task on a special route under conditions of real use of the vehicle. An applicant for a license to drive an ATV must complete at least 5 tests, which include:

• performing an emergency stop or braking;
• entry onto the overpass;
• snake movement;
• maneuvering within a limited space.

Access to the practical part is provided only after successful completion of the theory. You can fail practical tests three times. If you fail to pass the test more times, taking the exam again is possible only after re-training.

The difference between an ATV and a quadricycle

Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Safety” does not include an ATV. Having familiarized yourself with GOST R 52008 2003 and Government Decree No. 796 of July 12, 1999, you can understand that to drive a vehicle you need a tractor driver’s license.

However, Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Safety” contains information about the so-called quadricycle. The similarity of vehicle names often misleads car owners. Therefore, it is recommended to understand the difference between a quadricycle and an ATV:

1. Appearance. An ATV is a four-wheeled motorized vehicle that was created specifically for off-road driving. In other words, the category includes motorcycles that have not 2, but four wheels. Quadricycles are small cars designed for driving on public roads. Usually their weight does not exceed 400 kg.
2. Category of rights. To drive an ATV, you will need to acquire a category A1 tractor driver's license. In accordance with Article 25 of Federal Law No. 196 “On Road Safety”, category B1 license is required to drive quadricycles.
3. Exams passage. If a citizen must obtain a Category A tractor driver's license, the practical part is limited to driving on a race track. When a Classic B license is required, the tests include a demonstration of urban mobility skills.
4. Place of issue of the certificate. The license for a quadricycle is provided by the State Traffic Inspectorate. To obtain a license for an ATV, you will have to visit Gostekhnadzor.