Do electric dirt bikes need an Arizona OHV decal?

Yes. If your electric dirt bike is designed for off-road use and weighs under 2,500 lbs, it needs a valid Arizona OHV decal to operate on public and State Trust lands. This applies to both Arizona residents and non-residents.

How much does an Arizona OHV decal cost?

The Arizona OHV decal costs around $25 per year plus applicable fees. It is valid for one year from the purchase date and must be renewed annually.

Do I need anything else besides the OHV decal to ride near Phoenix?

Some popular Phoenix-area OHV zones including Bulldog Canyon and Desert Vista require a separate Tonto National Forest OHV Permit obtained through Recreation.gov in addition to the state OHV decal. Always check land-specific requirements before riding.

Where can NATKIE bikes be ridden legally near Phoenix?

NATKIE bikes can be ridden on private property, at closed-course dirt tracks, and on designated OHV trails like Boulders OHV Area, Sycamore Creek, Wildcat OHV Area, and Bulldog Canyon with the proper decal and permits. They are not street legal.

How to Get Your Arizona OHV Decal: A Guide for Electric Dirt Bike Riders

Q: What is the Safe and Ethical Riding in Arizona course

It is a free online course required as part of the Arizona OHV decal process starting in 2025. It takes around 10 to 15 minutes and covers responsible off-road riding, staying on designated routes, and respecting land-use rules.

If you plan to ride your electric dirt bike on Arizona OHV trails near Phoenix, getting the right Arizona OHV decal is one of the first things you need to sort out. This guide walks you through everything, who needs it, how to get it, and what extra permits some Phoenix-area riding zones require.

What Is an Arizona OHV Decal?

The Arizona OHV decal is a sticker that proves you have paid the state's OHV user fee and are legally allowed to operate your qualifying off-highway vehicle on Arizona's public and State Trust lands. It is not the same as registration. You may still need separate registration if you want your OHV to be street legal on maintained roads, which is a different process entirely.

By law, the decal is required for any OHV that is designed by the manufacturer primarily for travel over unimproved terrain and has an unladen weight of 2,500 pounds or less. This covers most dirt bikes, ATVs, and similar OHVs, including electric dirt bikes built specifically for off-road use.

The decal costs around $25 per year, is valid for one year from the purchase date, and must be renewed annually if you continue riding in Arizona.

Do Electric Dirt Bikes Need an OHV Decal?

If your electric dirt bike is built for off-road use and meets the terrain and weight criteria above, then yes. Arizona expects it to display a valid OHV decal when operated on public lands or State Trust lands, including OHV trail systems, staging areas, and desert routes near Phoenix.

The decal applies to both Arizona residents and non-residents who bring their bikes into the state. Arizona now requires non-residents to purchase a non-resident OHV decal before riding eligible machines in the state. Each qualifying machine must have its own decal as they are not transferable between vehicles.

NATKIE's electric dirt bikes are designed for off-road terrain and fall within typical weight ranges for dirt bikes, so Phoenix-area NATKIE riders who use public OHV lands should expect to obtain the appropriate OHV decal before they ride.

What Is the Safe and Ethical Riding in Arizona Course?

Starting in 2025, Arizona added a mandatory OHV education step to the decal process: a free online course called "OHV Decal: Safe and Ethical Riding in Arizona." The course is short, around 10 to 15 minutes, and includes a basic quiz focused on safe and responsible off-highway vehicle use.

Key points about the course: it is required between January 1, 2025, and June 1, 2027, for at least one registered owner before an OHV decal can be issued or renewed. Arizona residents complete the course through AZ MVD Now as part of their decal purchase or renewal. Non-residents must also complete the same course, typically via the Arizona Game and Fish portal when purchasing a non-resident OHV decal.

The goal is to improve rider awareness around staying on designated routes, respecting private property, minimizing environmental impact, and improving safety for all OHV users.

Basic Steps Before Riding on Arizona OHV Land

For Phoenix electric dirt bike riders, the process typically looks like this:

Step 1: Confirm your bike qualifies as an OHV

Check that your bike is primarily designed for unimproved terrain and weighs under 2,500 lbs. Most electric dirt bikes do.

Step 2: Decide how you will use the vehicle

On the MVD OHV Decal application you must declare whether your OHV will be used exclusively off-highway, primarily off-highway with occasional maintained road use, or primarily on-highway. For NATKIE riders focused on off-road trails, most will choose an exclusively or primarily off-highway use declaration.

Step 3: Complete the Safe and Ethical Riding course

Residents take the course via AZ MVD Now. Non-residents complete it through the Arizona Game and Fish portal when purchasing a non-resident OHV decal.

Step 4: Purchase your OHV decal

Residents can buy decals online through MVD, at MVD offices, or via authorized third-party providers. Non-residents buy the non-resident OHV decal online through the AZGFD portal. Both cost around $25 plus fees and are valid for one year.

Step 5: Apply and carry proof

Residents place the decal in the upper left-hand corner of the license plate on the rear of the OHV. Non-residents place it on the left rear quarter panel or left fork leg on two-wheeled vehicles. Always carry a copy of your purchase receipt while waiting for the decal to arrive as enforcement officers may request proof.

Step 6: Check land-specific permits

Some Phoenix-area riding zones like Bulldog Canyon and Desert Vista require a separate Tonto National Forest OHV permit in addition to your Arizona OHV decal. Always check the specific rules for the land you plan to ride on before heading out.

Where Phoenix Riders Commonly Ride Off-Road

Once you have your OHV decal and any required permits, popular OHV areas around Phoenix include:

Boulders OHV Area, with extensive desert loops and single-track north of the city. Sycamore Creek and The Rolls, a large network of desert trails and washes in the Tonto National Forest. Wildcat and Desert Vista OHV Permit Zone, roughly 33,500 acres with over 100 miles of designated routes in the Cave Creek Ranger District. And Bulldog Canyon OHV Permit Zone, scenic desert and mountain routes east of Phoenix that require both a Tonto OHV permit and gate access compliance.

All of these areas reinforce why an OHV decal and proper permits matter. They help fund trail maintenance, enforcement, and safety programs that keep these riding opportunities open.

NATKIE Off-Road Use Reminder

NATKIE's electric dirt bikes, Rise Mini, Rise Core, and Vortex N1, are designed strictly as off-road machines built for dirt tracks, private property, and legal OHV trail networks. They are not sold or positioned as street-legal motorcycles for Phoenix commuting, and all brand messaging reinforces that they should not be ridden on sidewalks, in bike lanes, or on urban streets.

For Phoenix riders, responsible ownership means getting the correct OHV decal, completing the Safe and Ethical Riding course, respecting land-use rules and permit requirements, and keeping riding activity on private land and designated OHV networks.

Ready to Ride?

If you are ready to experience true off-road performance on private land and designated OHV trails around Phoenix, explore our lineup of NATKIE electric off-road motorcycles for sale in Phoenix built strictly for off-road use only.

Stay tuned on our YouTube channel for upcoming ride content, trail videos, and real-world performance breakdowns.

All NATKIE bikes are designed for off-road use only on dirt trails, private tracks, and approved riding areas. They are not street legal.