Quad bike and all-terrain vehicles: Registration, uses and equipment

Conditional registration gives you limited road access to perform specific functions.

You cannot get conditional registration if a vehicle that complies with the construction and equipment requirements of the Australian Design Rules can be used instead.

See information about vehicle standards to see what standards apply.

Local councils and their weed control contractors may conditionally register quad bikes or ATVs for weed spraying operations by providing a letter stating:

• the vehicle is approved for such operations by the manufacturer
• the spray tank is compatible with the vehicle and will not destabilise it regardless of the percentage the spray tank is filled
• when full, the combined weight of the spray tank and ancillary equipment will not be operated on slopes that exceed the manufacturer’s specifications for such operations
• the operator has undertaken accredited training in operating the vehicle.

Residents of Scotland Island are not eligible to apply for conditional registration of a quad bike or ATV due to the road conditions.

Find out how to apply for conditional registration for a quad bike or ATV.

Oversize or overmass dimensions

Vehicles that go beyond the dimension and weight limits must comply with the conditions of the relevant access notice or permit. To find out the conditions for:

• NSW permits, contact Special Permits Unit on 1300 656 371
• interstate permits, contact National Heavy Vehicle Regulator on 1300 696 487.

Vehicle requirements

ATVs must meet all the following vehicle conditions to apply for conditional registration:

• used mostly off-road or in off-road related areas, only needing limited access to the road network
• limited mixing with general traffic on sealed roads
• floated from site to site, unless a designated route or area of operation has been approved by a service centre manager.

Acceptable uses of quad bikes and ATVs

These are some of acceptable ways to use your quad bike or ATV. The following list is not exhaustive:

• primary producers for farming purposes
• Surf life saving clubs on their specified beach
• Rural Lands Protection Boards for Board work
• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, their approved lessees or contractors. If operating in national parks, use is restricted to specific areas approved by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife service
• Forests NSW, their approved lessees or contractors for forest management operations
• Meet the NSW Department of Primary Industries restrictions for use with an operational purpose under the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 or the Forestry Act 2012
• Essential Energy for the delivery of electricity services within their network area when a complying vehicle cannot be used.

For use of ATVs on Stockton Beach Recreation Vehicle Area, see recreation vehicles.

Conditions of use

The following minimum conditions apply to conditional registration.

Additional mandatory conditions for weed spraying

Equipment requirements

To receive conditional registration you must ensure that the following equipment requirements are met.

Lighting

All lighting must be fitted as near as possible to the position specified in Schedule 2 of:

• Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017 for light vehicles, or
• Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (NSW).

Transport for NSW office use