First things first. Before you even think about driving your ATV, make sure you’re ready with all the right safety gear. You need a helmet approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT), eye goggles, and gloves. If you’re not sure if your helmet is approved, check the maker’s website. It’s also a good rule of thumb to wear long sleeves and pants while riding to help protect your skin.

Most ATVs are designed to hold only one person. Unless you have a two-person ATV, don't let a passenger ride with you. It's a risk to your safety and theirs. The excess weight of an extra rider makes your vehicle more likely to tip, potentially injuring you and your passenger.

When you're ready to hit the road on your ATV, call a friend or family member who has one, too. It adds to the fun, and if you run out of gas or have an accident while you're off the beaten path, you'll have someone there to help you out.

Most states prohibit driving an ATV on public roads. These laws exist to keep ATV, car, and motorcycle drivers safe. Since ATVs can be harder to spot than a typical car or motorcycle, stick to designated off-road trails for your safety.

We get it—tricks look fun and pretty easy to pull off. But, they're not. The athletes you see doing tricks on the X Games go through an extensive amount of training to complete them. Without that training—and sometimes with it, too—you're likely to hurt yourself. For your safety, keep your ATV on all four wheels at all times.

Each state has different regulations regarding where you can ride an ATV, plus requirements for age of operators, insurance, licensing, and more. Check your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles site to learn more about what your state requires of you as an ATV owner.

The best way to learn how to ride safer is to take a safety course. No brainer, right? The ATV Safety Institute offers a variety of safety courses for riders of all skill levels that can be taken in-person or online. This will help you learn about tools and ways to help keep yourself and others safe while you’re operating your ATV.

Carrying the right insurance for you, whether your state requires it or not, can save you a lot of money in the long run. Insurance can help you if your ATV is damaged or stolen, or if you or someone else is injured in an ATV accident. Contact an agent today to learn more about what ATV insurance coverages may be right for you.

Dairyland^® offers lots of options to help adventurers like you stay safe. Explore our ATV/UTV insurance and dirt bike coverages.

Want more details? Check out our complete listing of off-road insurance coverages and discounts!