ATV Safety

Riding an ATV can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors, whether it's in your own back yard, or exploring on the thousands of miles of trails available in Maine. ATV s (including UTV s and off road motorcycles) can also be useful around the woodlot or farm and let's face it, they're simply fun to ride! It's important to ride safely, responsibly, and to be prepared before you go. Many of Maine's ATV trails reside on private land. Respecting these generous private landowners by riding responsibly is critical to maintaining trail access in Maine. Educating yourself before you go is an important component of being a safe and responsible offroad operator.

In Maine, youth ages 10 to under 16, must successfully complete an approved ATV Safety Certification course to legally operate on land other than their own. Anyone 16 years of age or older is encouraged to take the course to be educated and prepared for safe riding.

The ATV Safety Course is available in two different formats: online and in-person.

Online

Students 12 and older can complete the Official Maine ATV/Snowmobile Safety course online at offroad-ed.com/maine. The cost to register for the online course is $34.95. Upon successful completion of the online course, students will receive their Maine ATV/Snowmobile Safety Certification card that may be printed or you may order one through the provider. This course combines both ATV and Snowmobile content, and while snowmobile education is not mandated by law, it's simply good to have as many that ride ATV s also ride snowmobiles.

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In-person

In-person courses are available to all students ages 10 and up, and are taught by certified volunteer instructors. The in-person course uses the "Today's Rider" student manual and provides the opportunity to ask questions of instructors and gain further guidance. There is typically no fee to complete a traditional in-person course, although some course hosts require a nominal fee to help cover facility rental or cleaning costs. Please note: Maine continues to offer in-person courses in ATV certification, or snowmobile certification, and some courses are combined courses where the student will earn both. (Check the course listing to find the course you prefer.)

Total Course = 6 hours

  • Proper Operation and Safety (Riding Skill-Equipment-Maintenance) = 2 Hours
  • Laws = 1/2 Hour
  • Emergencies & Survival = 40 Minutes
  • Map & Compass = 1 Hour
  • Self Help First Aid = 20 Minutes
  • Environmental/Landowner/Ethics = 1 1/2 Hours

New courses will be posted below as they become available.

Current Courses

County Location Contact Date/Time Info
Androscoggin Lewiston - Central Maine Powersports Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information March 23, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snow Course - $10.00 due day of class - Lunch is provided

Androscoggin Lewiston - Central Maine Powersports Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information April 27, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snow Course - $10.00 due day of the class - lunch provided

Kennebec Sidney - Kramer's Inc Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information April 13, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snowmobile Course - $10.00 due day of class - Lunch is provided

Penobscot Medway - East Branch Snow Rovers ATV Club Linda Heinzekman - (201)704-4040 or eastbranchsnoroversatv@gmail.com to register April 06, 9am-3:30pm
Kennebec Sidney - Kramer's Inc Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information May 25, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snow Course - $10.00 due day of class - Lunch is provided

Aroostook Caribou - Caribou Wellness & Rec Neal Sleeper - (207) 493-4224 for questions/information May 04, 8:30am-4pm


Register online

Kennebec Sidney - Kramer's Inc Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information June 08, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snow Course - $10.00 due day of class - Lunch is provided

York Wells - Wells High School Rm 215 Tammy Daly - 646-4565 or tdaly@wocsd.org to register April 06, 9am-4pm

Combo ATV/Snow Course

Penobscot Lincoln - Penobscot Off-Road Riders ATV Club Henry Carey - (207) 290-0508 to register May 04, 9am-4pm
Somerset Skowhegan - Skowhegan Sportsman's Club Russell Corson - (207) 858-3070 for questions/information June 08,8am-4pm


Register online

Aroostook Fort Fairfield - Fort Fairfield Recreation Center Chuck Ainsworth - chuckainsworth@hotmail.com for questions/information March 30, 8am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snowmobile course

Washington Forest City Twp - Woodie Wheaton Land Trust Haleigh White - (207) 446-8051 or Haleigh.white@maine.gov May 18, 9am-3:30pm


Register online

Washington Princeton - Princeton Rod & Gun Haleigh White - (207) 446-8051 or Haleigh.white@maine.gov June 01, 8am-4pm


Register online

Aroostook Garfield - Garfield Town Office Jessica Craig - jcraig@sad32.org for questions/information June 8, 8am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snowmobile Course

Hancock Hancock - Acadia Area ATV Club Brandy Marchetti - (207) 754-8554 or bmmarchetti@hotmail.com for questions/information April, 27, 8:30am-3pm


Register online

Kennebec West Gardiner - W. Gardiner Rod & Gun John Albert or Nanacy Weeks - (207) 624-1808(John) - (207) 557-3302(Nancy) April 07, 9am-3:30pm


Register online

York Limington - Old Limington Town Hall Lisa Gagnon - (207) 766-1744 or atv.safety411@gmail.com for questions/information only April 28, 8am-4pm


Register online

York Limington - Old Limington Town Hall Lisa Gagnon - (207) 766-1744 or atv.safety411@gmail.com for questions/information only May 26, 8am-4pm


Register online

York Limington - Old Limington Town Hall Lisa Gagnon - (207) 766-1744 or atv.safety411@gmail.com for questions/information only June 30, 8am-4pm


Register online

York Limington - Old Limington Town Hall Lisa Gagnon - (207) 766-1744 or atv.safety411@gmail.com for questions/information only August 25, 8am-4pm


Register online

Washington Dennysville - Dennysville Clubhouse Derek Brown - (207) 263-6306 for questions/information April 13, 9am-3pm


Register online

Penobscot Greenfield - Rocky Mountain Trail Riders Vinal Appleebee - (207) 356-5868 or president@rmtrmaine.org for questions/information May 11, 9am-4pm


Register online

Sagadahoc Topsham - MOMS Darcey Emery - (207) 699-9623 or darceyemery@gmail.com for questions/information June 24, 9am-4pm


Register online Combo ATV/Snowmobile Course - $10.00 due day of class - Lunch is provided

Can't find a course for your area? Contact the Recreational Safety Division Office at (207) 287-5220.

Students must be at least nine years old to attend the in-person course, students under 16 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

When registering either by telephone or email, please be sure to include your full name, telephone number, and which course, date and location you are signing up for.