Permits & Reciprocity

A 13-year-old may ride an ATV on Texas public land only with direct adult supervision, the right engine size, training and required safety equipment.

Texas ATV riders under 14 need direct adult supervision on public land; at 14, a safety certificate or direct supervision by a certificate holder still applies.

Texas ATV and UTV riders on public land must carry a valid safety certificate and show it on request; keep it separate from the vehicle’s OHV decal.

Carrying your Texas ATV safety certificate on public land means keeping it accessible and showing it on request; it does not replace the required OHV decal.

Taking a Course Under an Instructor covers Texas’s hands-on ATV RiderCourse, preparation, certification, and why young riders may still need supervision.

Texas ATV riders aged 14 or older may ride under a certified adult’s direct supervision; younger riders need an adult and careful planning.

A New Mexico ATV safety certificate may meet Texas training rules if it qualifies, but it does not replace the Texas OHV decal required at covered riding areas.

An Oklahoma ATV safety certificate may meet Texas training rules, but it does not replace the Texas OHV decal required for public-land riding.

A Louisiana ATV safety certificate may qualify in Texas if it documents equivalent state-authorized training, but it does not replace a Texas OHV decal.

Texas OHV decal rules can stop a ride at the gate. Know when Texas requires one, what receipt to carry, and which other rules apply.