What exactly is an OHV?
OHV, off highway vehicle is a way to explain the wide array of motor driven vehicles used for any off highway use. We often think it is limited to a quad or side by side, but in fact according to the state it actually applies to any vehicle used off highway. That means vehicles like trucks, Jeeps, even these new to the scene Sprinter 4×4 vans are considered to be an OHV while on the trails.
When the question is asked on the official CA Parks website their answer is:
Q- What is an Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV)?
A – Any motor vehicle operated off-highway is an OHV. A highway licensed vehicle is an OHV when operated off of the highway. Vehicles having Green and Red Stickers are OHVs. Some of the more common OHVs include all terrain vehicles (ATVs), dirt bikes, sand rails, recreation utility vehicles (RUVs), golf carts, snowmobiles, go carts, jeeps, recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) and 4x4s.
What does that mean for the off-roader? Simply put it means that when operating off highway we must follow the OHV rules and regulations of the trails. Our vehicle must be registered and in compliance with all the equipment regulations for off-highway vehicles in the California Vehicle Code.
A few items on that requirement list include things like:
- Headlights(s) during hours of darkness
- Taillights(s) during hours of darkness
- Brakes that actually work
- A working, maintained muffler or spark arrester
- Pollution control device
For a full list of requirements research CA OHV compliance.
When it comes to registration, your vehicle must have a valid highway license plate, or a green or red sticker. We understand what it means to have a registered on highway vehicle, but what is a green and red sticker?
A Green Sticker is similar to highway registration except it allows California residents to operate their OHV off-highway on lands that are open and accessible to the public for OHV recreation. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) certifies the motors of off-highway motor vehicles that meet air emission standards to receive green stickers. The sticker is affixed to the OHV. It is required for California vehicles that do not have highway registration. Currently, a Green Sticker costs $54 for each OHV and is valid for two years.
A Red Sticker is similar to the Green Sticker except that vehicles with Red Stickers are restricted to riding seasons regulated the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The Red Sticker is required only for motorcycles and ATVs model year 2003 – 2021. These vehicles are certified by the manufacturer as not meeting the exhaust emission standards established by CARB. If the vehicle has a 3 or a C in the eighth digit of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), it is non-compliant with CARB exhaust emission standards and is issued a Red Sticker by the DMV. Non-compliant OHVs cannot be modified to meet the exhaust emissions standard because the regulation is enforced at the manufacturer level, not the consumer level. The riding seasons for CARB non-compliant motorcycles and ATVs are enforced regardless of residency. Anyone visiting California from another state or country is subject to the riding season restrictions.
So, if you drive a Jeep, atv, side by side, moto, or any OffRoad vehicle, please take the time to learn the rules and regulations of the trails so we can ensure that public trails remain accessible to all.
