Can an ATV, UTV or quad bike be registered for road use in Australia?
If you’re like many looking at all-terrain vehicles, there may be times you need to drive it on a public road, but when can you do it without landing in strife? In this article we discuss the scheme as currently set out in NSW for conditional registration to use all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or utility task vehicle (UTVs) on public roads.
Generally speaking, quad bikes, UTVs and ATV vehicles qualify to be conditionally registered for limited use on public roads in most states if they meet the right criteria. However, states have different schemes and eligibility conditions or may not have a scheme at all. Over time the rules can change, so a vehicle eligible for conditional registration at the time of this article may not be able to be registered in the future. (Information links for NSW and other states below.)
It is also important to note that conditional registration is a limited scheme. What this means is there are specific limits to where you can operate the machine and it is not the same as vehicle registration allowing full use of public roads. The spirit of the scheme is to allow access to certain public roads and road related areas for specialised vehicles if you can’t carry out the task using an Australian Design Rules (ADR) compliant vehicle, e.g. a registered car.
In NSW, some of vehicles that qualify for conditional registration include:
- agricultural vehicles
- construction vehicles
- recreational vehicles (on Stockton Beach only)
- street rods
- purpose-built vehicles
- oversnow vehicles
- rally vehicles (see the Australian Motor Sport Action Grouplaunch (AMSAG) and Confederation of Australian Motor Sport page for more details)
- historic vehicles, and
- classic vehicles.
What are the ATV rules in NSW?
For ATVs, the most common acceptable use that the scheme covers is the “primary producers for farming purposes” category. There are important conditions to consider including a maximum speed of 50km/h ( limited to 40km/h for weed spraying) as well as suitable lighting, indicators, working horn, amber beacon, mirrors, reflectors and turn signals.
Crossfire ATVs and UTVs are a popular option among primary producers due to their rugged construction, reliability and value for money. Our new E1 full electric ATV is an exceptional choice and qualifies for conditional registration. It’s also an excellent option for a wide range of other industry uses.
To find out more about the rules applying to you visit the Service NSW all-terrain vehicle registration in NSW page.
Which ATV or UTV is the best one for your needs?
When it comes time to choosing an ATV or UTV, you want advice from a dealer that understands the needs of Australian workers and recreational users and can point you to a vehicle that’s up for the job. At Crossfire, you have access to a dealer network that can provide expert information on our acclaimed range of UTVs and ATVs and help you find the ideal fit. Contact your closest dealer here, and ask about our latest deals.
Important links
Conditional registration:
NSW – Service NSW Quad Bike and ATV information page
Other States – VIC, WA, QLD, NT, TAS and SA
Crossfire product information, support and advice
