Quad bikes on road - DVLA advice

[Leadwasp]

There seems to be lots of conflicting information out there about how far you can and can not ride the various classes of ATV on the road.
In short for a full agricultural registered quad, that is taxed (zero rate), insured and has a number plate, as long as the V5 line X Taxation Class = "Agricultural Machine" then the DVLA accepts that there is unlimited use on the highway by day. By night you will need a lighting kit.

I would argue protection of crops/timber for stalking

After years of getting different answers from dealers, fellow farmers, insurers etc I finally called the DOT then got bumped on to the DVLA and got the above answer.

If your bike is 'limited use' then that's a different matter and restrictions apply.

Hope this helps

 

[VSS]

Any info from the horse's mouth: what age the driver has to be for the different categories of ATV, and whether or not they require a full driving license? This is another area where there is a lot of misunderstanding.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Oh! That’s a revelation! I was under the impression it was 1.5km from the registered address which I have to say I thought was a tad limiting as I’m sure quite a lot of landowners would have outlying land further away than that.
Dont suppose you have this in writing from them?
Also, just playing devils advocate, but do you have to be using said vehicle for the “agricultural” purpose?? In other words can I pop to the post office on it or am I solely meant to use it in pursuit of agriculture/forestry/etc?

 

[Leadwasp]

You need a full driving license, and a motorbike license is NOT accepted

https://www.gov.uk/quad-bikes-the-rules

 

[Greenmist]

Oh! That’s a revelation! I was under the impression it was 1.5km from the registered address which I have to say I thought was a tad limiting as I’m sure quite a lot of landowners would have outlying land further away than that.
Dont suppose you have this in writing from them?
Also, just playing devils advocate, but do you have to be using said vehicle for the “agricultural” purpose?? In other words can I pop to the post office on it or am I solely meant to use it in pursuit of agriculture/forestry/etc?

The 1.5km is for a limited use vehicle, usually a battered 4x4 that is MOT/Tax free and can be run on red diesel, you are also limited to 6km a week in total of road use

 

[Leadwasp]

Oh! That’s a revelation! I was under the impression it was 1.5km from the registered address which I have to say I thought was a tad limiting as I’m sure quite a lot of landowners would have outlying land further away than that.
Dont suppose you have this in writing from them?
Also, just playing devils advocate, but do you have to be using said vehicle for the “agricultural” purpose?? In other words can I pop to the post office on it or am I solely meant to use it in pursuit of agriculture/forestry/etc?

The 1.5KM limit would be 'limited use' classifications on your V5 AND you'd have to have a MOT. Interestingly the DVLA said nothing about indictators or 'road kits' for your typical ag registered farm bike.

Unfortunately nothing in writing but there was no umming or erring from the DVLA guy. He came straight out with it so I'm pretty confident which will make things easier for the odd farm job for neighbours.

As for popping down to the post office or shopping, if it's on the way or just a small detour off route then you're bombproof. Bit like the good reason test for public places. You could also quite reasonably argue that a break/food/refreshment was essential for safe operation of an agricultural machine.
Mind you I was in Castle Douglas recently and whilst I've seen many a farm vehicle in supermarket car parks I had never seen a sh*tflinger on a shopping run to Tesco's. He got parking too!

 

[bowji john]

Perhaps (for us farmer giles types) the best bit of info for some time

Thanks a bunch leadwasp

j

 

[Leadwasp]

Perhaps (for us farmer giles types) the best bit of info for some time

Thanks a bunch leadwasp

j

Most welcome! Although I admit I'd feel happier holding an HMRC 'Ruling' type letter.

Now we can hijack the thread by suggesting exactly how to go about giving a hand signal for a right turn...................

 

[bowji john]

Most welcome! Although I admit I'd feel happier holding an HMRC 'Ruling' type letter.

Now we can hijack the thread by suggesting exactly how to go about giving a hand signal for a right turn...................

that's easy - middle finger extended, slight upward movement to the wrist

 

[Leadwasp]

that's easy - middle finger extended, slight upward movement to the wrist

I'll practice that next time I drive past my nearest serial trespasser (JOKE moderators JOKE!)

 

[Alantoo]

The 1.5KM limit would be 'limited use' classifications on your V5 AND you'd have to have a MOT. Interestingly the DVLA said nothing about indictators or 'road kits' for your typical ag registered farm bike.

Unfortunately nothing in writing but there was no umming or erring from the DVLA guy. He came straight out with it so I'm pretty confident which will make things easier for the odd farm job for neighbours.

As for popping down to the post office or shopping, if it's on the way or just a small detour off route then you're bombproof. Bit like the good reason test for public places. You could also quite reasonably argue that a break/food/refreshment was essential for safe operation of an agricultural machine.
Mind you I was in Castle Douglas recently and whilst I've seen many a farm vehicle in supermarket car parks I had never seen a sh*tflinger on a shopping run to Tesco's. He got parking too!

It is all in the definition I gather. When I researched for my telehandler, road use was fine provided you were using it for agricultural purposes, bringing in the harvest etc. The example given was that if you used it to deliver a load of hay you had sold to another farm then that was considered a transport purpose and not agricultural. So I don't think popping in to Tesco would be wise unless it was en route between your farm and fields.

Break, food, refreshment does necessitate a lunch bag and flask, not a trip into town on the vehicle you happen to be working with around the fields. Try justifying your 360 digger travelling at 3 miles an hour...

Alan

 

[deerstalker.308]

Just to clarify, (as someone who likes to hear things from the horses mouth) I have just also been on the phone to DVLA. They did confirm the above, no limit on public roads whatsoever, HOWEVER apparently it must always be directly related to forestry/farming/etc and it will be up to you as the driver to convince plod/VOSA etc that that is the case, so my example of popping to the post office unless I was on my way to or from “work relating to the above limitations” would not be acceptable.
It does brining to question my primary reason for owning a road reg vehicle as I only wanted it so I could take it for a run out on a road now and again to keep it running nicely as otherwise all it does is sit still in the garage for months on end and then only ever run at low revs collecting deer, so I don’t know where I would stand but if stopped I guess I’ll be “making my way to my stalking ground officer, got to check on my deer”......

 

[VSS]

Popping to the post office is fine, provided that you're doing so for the purpose of business banking etc, assuming that business to be agriculture or forestry related, or farm diversification.

 

[Orion]

Simply email DVLA and pose the question to them. Then when you receive your answer in the affirmative, which you will, print it off and laminate it and keep it under the seat of your quad to show any uninformed uniform if or when you get a tug.

Here's the response I received a couple of years ago and the information posted on SD at the time:

"Dear Mr Orion

Thank you for your email received on 6/9/16. Your email reference number is 383XXXX.

If the vehicle is registered as an agricultural vehicle, you are able to use it on the road as long as it used for purposes relating to agriculture; horticulture; forestry or activities falling within cutting grass verges; trees or hedges that border public roads. There is no restriction on distance.

If the vehicle is registered as limited use it can only be used on public roads to pass between different areas of land occupied by the same person. The distance travelled on roads must not exceed 1.5km (0.93 miles).

I hope this information is of assistance."

https://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php/136354-New-Honda-Quad-420-or-500?


I use my Agri registered quad on the road most days of the week now and haven't had any interest shown from any quarter. In fact the only grief I've heard of anyone getting is the boys that use theirs to follow the hunt getting a tug when the antis are in complaining mode and the police have to be shown doing 'something'.

 

[Leadwasp]

As I said for both cases above - en route or a small detour is not unreasonable and so could be argued.
I don't know a single contractor round here who takes either sandwiches or a flask - most head for Costas for a coffee and get calories from fags. However this tends to be done in the morning - en route.

Like all these things, it's down to a reasoned and reasonable argument that you're not abusing the purpose.

As for Castle Douglas, 6-7pm is tractor time at Tesco's, but most are on their way home judging by the same machines you see later parked up outside houses. So en route or a small, not unreasonable, detour.

 

[Alantoo]

As I said for both cases above - en route or a small detour is not unreasonable and so could be argued.
I don't know a single contractor round here who takes either sandwiches or a flask - most head for Costas for a coffee and get calories from fags. However this tends to be done in the morning - en route.

Like all these things, it's down to a reasoned and reasonable argument that you're not abusing the purpose.

As for Castle Douglas, 6-7pm is tractor time at Tesco's, but most are on their way home judging by the same machines you see later parked up outside houses. So en route or a small, not unreasonable, detour.

On the way home to the farmhouse do you mean? I would have thought a farm worker using the boss's tractor for commuting between farmyard and home would be pushing the agricultural purpose a bit. No problem if it was a tied cottage on the same farm of course.

Still who is to know that they are not all road tax paid up rather than registered exempt?

Alan

 

[Leadwasp]

On the way home to the farmhouse do you mean? I would have thought a farm worker using the boss's tractor for commuting between farmyard and home would be pushing the agricultural purpose a bit. No problem if it was a tied cottage on the same farm of course.

Still who is to know that they are not all road tax paid up rather than registered exempt?

Alan

Maybe it's 'his' tractor, or he is the registered keeper (not owner). Not all farmers live on the farm. Also not all vehicles live on the farm. Half my stuff lives in an industrial unit in a nearby town.
Perhaps some were being 'entertained' on their way home elsewhere, now that would be a test of the unreasonable "nowhere M'Ludd does it say that the operator of the aforementioned agricultural vehicle is prohibited from pulling over for a crafty shag....."