A youth ORV operator is any person under age 16 who will be in physical control of the vehicle at any time. While operating on private or public lands, there is no minimum age for operators of vehicles classified as an ORV. However, there are age restrictions for operators of vehicles classified as an ATV.

We recommend obtaining a copy of our Guide to Michigan’s ORV Rules and Regulations for more information on how Michigan defines the difference between the various vehicle types.

In all cases, operators under age 12 are not allowed to cross a street or highway while driving an ORV of any type and, regardless which type of ORV is being operated, whether on private or public lands, all youth ORV operators must have visual supervision by an adult and are required to have successfully completed an ORV safety training class.

Michigan’s DNR Law Enforcement Division administers a 3 – 5 hour classroom training program that covers basic safety considerations along with Michigan’s laws for operating an ORV State owned lands. A complete list of these Youth Certification class offerings can be found on their website.

Off Road Venture also offers this certification through its online ORV Safety Class where we provide information on all of the laws affecting ORV operation in Michigan to include National Forest Regulations, Michigan State Forest Regulations, County Road use ordinances and the most important piece of safety gear you can take with you…your brain!

Think of this…when it comes to overall safety on any vehicle the most important thing to remember when operating that vehicle, is that you are a driver and not a rider. For example:

We ride roller coasters – where we have no control over their path of travel, their acceleration, their overall speed, when they turn and when they stop. However:

We drive vehicles – where we decide how fast to accelerate, how fast we will go, where we will go, when to turn and when to stop. Each decision is up to the driver.

This core thinking alone will change the decisions a driver makes when operating an ORV, as well as any other vehicle, and can provide a life time of incident free off road recreation and fun!
Youth ORV operators must have their certificate of completion in their possession at all times while operating on private or public lands.

As a final note, not all safety education programs meet Michigan’s requirements for youth safety training. If you or your youth have been trained through an agency, outside of Michigan, or you are simply unsure about the certification you received, we recommend calling the appropriate local authority to confirm acceptance of your certification. A complete list of all law enforcement agencies, throughout Michigan, is available in our Guide to Michigan’s ORV Rules and Regulations