📏 Standards, certification and typing ↓
Find state resources for off-road search and rescue. Directory coverage does not confirm fleet size, staffing or deployment availability.
UTV & ATV search and rescue state map
Hover over a state for details, use the preview selector, or click or tap once to open its page.
Map colors do not represent asset counts.
Request off-road rescue support
In an emergency, call 911. Incident managers should request resources through the responsible agency’s established process and confirm the appropriate mutual aid and land-manager contacts.
Provide the location, access route, terrain, patient or transport needs and known hazards. Confirm crew qualifications, vehicle capacity, communications and availability before tasking a team.
Match vehicles to the mission
- UTVs and 4×4 vehicles: confirm route width, terrain, load limits and approved passenger or patient-transport arrangements.
- ATVs: follow the vehicle’s rider and passenger limits; a single-rider ATV is not a passenger-transport platform.
- Tracked vehicles and recovery systems: require equipment and operator competencies appropriate to the conditions. Confirm manufacturer limits and agency procedures.
- E-bikes: assess trail permission, rider competence, battery range and equipment loads. Their suitability for access or reconnaissance does not establish patient-transport capability.
Confirm route restrictions, closures and any applicable emergency access authority with incident leadership and the land manager. A volunteer or SAR affiliation alone does not authorize bypassing a closure.
Training and official references
- ROHVA — ROV and side-by-side safety and driver training.
- ATV Safety Institute — ATV rider education and training. These operator courses do not by themselves establish a SAR qualification.
- BLM off-highway vehicles on public lands — recreation and access information; confirm local restrictions with the responsible field office.
- California OHMVR grant programs — a California funding reference. Eligibility and allowable costs depend on current program rules and awards.
- SAR training calendar — confirm dates and prerequisites with the organizer.
For a concrete agency example, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Off-Road Safety Team describes its enforcement, SAR and medical-assistance roles.
Sheriff & Law Enforcement SAR resources · Submit a team or correction
📏 Standards, certification and typing
Vehicles are built to ANSI standards and operators train through ROHVA and ATV Safety Institute courses. FEMA has no ATV or UTV team type, and ASTM withdrew its ATV/ROHV SAR guide in 2025.
National standards
ANSI/ROHVA 1 - Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (side-by-sides)Current edition
The American National Standard for the equipment, configuration and performance of recreational side-by-sides (ROVs).
Official source ↗ANSI/OPEI B71.9 - Multipurpose Off-Highway Utility VehiclesMost recent
Standard for work-type utility vehicles: over 25 mph, 80 inches wide or less, GVWR up to 5,500 lb, cargo capacity of at least 350 lb.
Official source ↗ANSI/SVIA 1 (ATVs) and CPSC rule 16 CFR 1420In force
CPSC's mandatory four-wheel ATV standard incorporates ANSI/SVIA 1-2023.
Official source ↗ASTM F3194 - ATV-ROHV Ops EndorsementWithdrawn 2025, no replacement
Was the ASTM training guide for SAR personnel operating ATVs and ROHVs. It is withdrawn, so there is currently no active ASTM ATV/UTV SAR operator guide.
Official source ↗ASTM F3024 - Land SAR Strike Team/Task Force LeaderActive
Training guide for leaders who supervise multiple SAR teams. ATV-ROHV teams are among the team kinds it covers.
Official source ↗ASTM F3175 - Mountain Bike SAR EndorsementActive
Minimum training and equipment for SAR personnel working on mountain bikes. It applies without regard to the type of mountain bike.
Official source ↗FEMA resource typing (NIMS)
FEMA RTLT - no ATV/UTV SAR definitionNot typed
The RTLT Search and Rescue category has no ATV, UTV or off-road vehicle SAR team or operator position.
Official source ↗Certification and training
ROHVA ROV Basic DriverCourseActive
A hands-on side-by-side driving course led by a certified DriverCoach, about 3 hours on a closed range. It is for licensed drivers aged 16 and older.
Official source ↗ATV Safety Institute ATV RiderCourseActive
A hands-on ATV rider course taught by ATV Safety Institute-licensed instructors.
Official source ↗Federal law and rules
USFS travel management - emergency exemptionIn force
Forest Service motor vehicle route designations do not apply to fire, military, emergency or law enforcement vehicles used for emergency purposes.
Official source ↗BLM off-road vehicle and e-bike definitionsIn force
BLM's off-road vehicle rules exclude emergency and law enforcement vehicles used for emergencies, and vehicles in official use. The section also defines Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes (750 W or less).
Official source ↗EO 11644/11989 on off-road vehicles rescindedIn force
Rescinds the 1972 and 1977 off-road vehicle executive orders and directs agencies to start rulemaking to revise the regulations that implemented them.
The OHV rules (36 CFR 212, 43 CFR 8340, 36 CFR 4.10) may change through that rulemaking.
Official source ↗Key official references
CRS: E-Bikes on Federal LandsCurrent
Explains the e-bike classes and agency rules. Interior agencies (NPS, BLM, FWS, BOR) do not treat qualifying e-bikes as motorized vehicles. The Forest Service treats e-bikes as motor vehicles.
Official source ↗