ATVs are vehicles that contain some extreme fun and adventure. The sad part is they come with a bit of danger, enough to make society deem the vehicles too dangerous for kids. The reality is, yes, a small child should not be riding a 1000 cc monster ATV but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fun. The ATV industry has designed youth ATVs so a youngster can enjoy the thrill as much as any rider without gambling their life. The big question is though, how young is too young for these vehicles?
Generally, the youngest age a youth ATV will be designed for is 6. Some are designed for 6 and up others designed for 12 and up and some even designed for 14 and up. The age recommendations do vary depending on the quad but generally the youngest age limit you will find is 6.
Different models obviously have different age limits and these age limits are extremely important. When the driver is at an age like 6 or 7 riding an ATV that is designed for a 12 year old could be potentially dangerous. There is much more information to cover which is why I encourage you to keep reading.
Age Restrictions In-Depth
ATVs are extremely powerful and because of this under aged driving can be a real dangerous affair. Youth ATVs solve this problem quite elegantly with their simple design, light weight and small engine. Children can enjoy the ATV experience without being in much danger and without their parents fearing for their safety. Obviously though, there are still age restrictions for these vehicles. Generally, if a child isn’t at least 6 years old they probably should not be operating an ATV.
6+ Models
Youth ATV models that are 6 and up will generally be designed very small and simple. These vehicles will generally have engines with only around 70 cc and have a width of ___. Compared to the adult counterparts, this is very small. For the vast majority of 6 year old kids, this is just perfect because their only goal is to rip around a bit.
The cost for these models can of course vary significantly but overall if you buy new, they will be around $2,000.00 to $3,000.00. This price is quite reasonable, especially considering the fact that this is for brand new, straight off the drawing board models. For used or older models this price could drop down to a few hundred.
10+ Models
Youth ATV models that are aged 10 and up have a pretty big difference between them and the 6+ models. At this age, most kids can be trusted with a bit more power and the kids themselves are generally searching for a faster, stronger quad. These ATVs will usually have about 100-150 cc and a width of ___. Around this age kids can usually be trusted with that extra power and weight to their vehicles which will make a difference in their experience.
The cost for these models will be higher because of the bigger engine, the bigger frame and an overall increase in parts. If you are buying brand new, they will usually go for $4,000.00 – $5,000.00. That price may seem high for such a small vehicle but again if you buy used or an older model, you can find it for just several hundred.
14+ Models
Models that are designed for 14 and up are not very popular because even though it is not recommended for safety reasons, most 14 and up will just ride regular, adult ATVs. When you do find these though, they follow the same trend of a bigger engine, bigger frame and higher price. These will generally have an engine around 200 cc and a width of 40″ or so.
The cost for these again will rise due to the even bigger engine and frame. If you buy new they will be around $5,000.00 to $6,000.00. Yet again, buying new is pricey when you can find the used and older model versions for a few hundred or maybe a thousand. Once again, buying used or an older model will save you thousands and overall, it is the best thing to do.
What is Too Old For a Youth ATV?
In most states and provinces, to operate an ATV on a road requires a driver’s licence so legally, you should be around whatever age that is in your area. Realistically, depending on the ATV, once they turn 12 or so they will have enough brain development and strength to operate an adult ATV. I definitely recommend playing it safe and getting a youth ATV but if you already have an adult one or found a great deal then it will do fine. Another thing to remember is that, yes, they age and they will grow out of the youth ATV so don’t stress too much about finding a youth ATV when you can wait it out and get an adult one.
Where Can You Find Used or Aftermarket Youth ATVs?
As I said earlier in the article, you can save hundreds or even thousands on used or aftermarket ATVs. The question is, where do you find those, much cheaper youth ATVs? One of the options are online sites like Kijiji or Ebay. These sites are pretty good and the sellers are real people instead of big businesses so the prices are usually negotiable. Another great option is just buying off someone you know. This works well because they likely live near you and they are much less likely to scam you or sugarcoat some issues it may have. The biggest problem with this option is finding the person.
