What Is an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV)?
Michigan law defines an ORV as any motor vehicle that can be operated cross-country (without benefit of a road or trail) over land, snow, and other natural terrain. This includes multi-track or multi-wheel vehicles; all-terrain vehicles (ATVs); motorcycles or related multi-wheel vehicles; amphibious machines (water-to-land and back); hovercrafts; and other vehicles that use mechanical power, including 2- or 4-wheel-drive vehicles that are highway registered but operated off highways or off roads. The following are not considered ORVs by Michigan law: registered snowmobiles; farm, construction, or logging vehicles when being used in usual work practices; and military, fire, emergency, and law enforcement vehicles.