Off-road vehicle registration and safety provisions are mandatory on Crown land in British Columbia effective November 1, 2015, following passage of regulations in support of the Off-Road Vehicle Act. The new regulations will promote safe and responsible use of B.C.’s backcountry, and include provisions on number plate placement, rules for child operators and safety equipment requirements.
Operating standards include:
- Helmets: Helmets must be worn when operating an off-road vehicle (ORV). For standards of acceptable helmets see section 22 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation at http://www.bclaws.ca (Off-Road Vehicle Act).
- Seatbelts: If a manufacturer has installed seat belts, then the seat belt must be worn during the operation of that vehicle.
- Lights: ORVs must use lights during low visibility conditions when riding on Crown land 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. If lights are not installed by the manufacturer, temporary lights can be attached to the ORV. For details on light standards see section 24 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation.
- Children: Children must be supervised when riding on Crown land and be riding an appropriate-sized ORV as recommended by the manufacturer. For details, see sections 16 to 18 of the Off-Road Vehicle Regulation.
The off-road vehicle registration is integrated within the pre-existing structure of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia’s (ICBC) motor vehicle registry. This will reduce implementation costs and allows ORV owners to register at any of the 900-plus ICBC insurance brokers in the province.
Sticker option now available
The regulations also fulfil the Province’s commitment to create a sticker option for those ORVs which are unable to house metal plates. Owners who already secured an ORV number plate during voluntary registration can, between November 1 and December 31, 2015, bring their registration and metal plate to any ICBC broker and exchange their metal plate for a sticker for no charge. After December 31, 2015, an $18 fee will apply to exchange a metal plate for a sticker or vice versa.
As well, snowmobile owners who have already registered their vehicles under the Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will be eligible for refund, up until November 16, 2015, when they register under the ORV Act. The refund will be for the amount they had already paid—this will be $5 for transfers and $10 for registration.
Voluntary registration has been in place since November 17, 2014, and since then over 35,000 users have registered. As of November 1, 2015, registration will be mandatory. The combined cost of the number plate and registration fee remains $48.
These changes, made possible by the passage of the Off-Road Vehicle Act on March 24, 2014, support the Province’s Off Road Vehicle Management Framework. The framework helps British Columbians get out and enjoy the beauty of the province's backcountry and ensure off-road vehicles, including snowmobiles, are driven in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
The regulations govern the rules of operation, safety standards, penalties and conditions of use for a wide range of ORVs, including snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles or quads, dirt bikes and side-by-sides (e.g. Rhinos and Argos).
“Off-road vehicle registration will help combat vehicle theft and promote responsible use of ORVs,” said Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “The new safety standards will help keep ORV users safe in B.C.’s backcountry.”
For more detailed information on the new ORV regulations, visit the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations webpage.
How to register
Information on what is needed to register an ORV can vary depending on whether your ORV is new, used or being imported from the United States. For a detailed list of information for each of these scenarios, visit the ICBC website.
If you’re still uncertain on what documents you need to register your ORV, contact your local ICBC Autoplan broker who can help figure out which document fit your situation best.
Quick facts
- An estimated 200,000 off-road vehicles are used in the province.
- Snowmobiles have been registered in British Columbia since the 1970s.
- ORVs are used in a variety of sectors in British Columbia, including farming, ranching, forestry, oil and gas, mining, sport, tourism, transportation and search and rescue.
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