The Law on Quad Bike Use & Hunting

Hunts frequently use quad bikes to assist their activities—blocking roads, intimidating hunt saboteurs and locals, scouting for foxes, parking on top of badger setts, and transporting terriers and digging tools. However, many of these practices violate road traffic laws and safety regulations.

This page outlines the legal requirements for quad bike use and explains why hunting does not qualify for agricultural exemptions.

Are Quad Bikes Used by Hunts Legal?

Quad bikes can be legally used on private land with the landowner’s permission. However, strict legal requirements apply when they are used on public roads.

Quad bikes on public roads must be:

  • Registered with the DVLA and display front and rear number plates.
  • Type approved for road use (many quad models used by hunts are not).
  • Taxed and insured for road use.
  • Fitted with working lights, indicators, and mirrors if used at night.
  • Ridden with a valid driving licence (Category B for most road-legal quads).

Common Hunt-Related Offences:

  • Using quads without tax, insurance, registration, or type approval for road use. (It’s worth identifying which makes/models lack type approval.)
  • Displaying no number plate or deliberately obscuring plates to evade detection.
  • Carrying passengers illegally on quads designed for a single rider. (Many hunts use long-seat quads, but these are not built for passengers—the extended seat is for stability on rough terrain, not extra riders. Carrying a passenger invalidates insurance.)
  • Driving recklessly, obstructing traffic, and trespassing (including illegally riding on footpaths and bridleways, which damages the land).

Are Hunt Quad Bikes Exempt Under Agricultural Use?

Hunts often assume their quad bikes are covered by agricultural exemptions, but this is incorrect. Agricultural exemptions are strictly limited and do not apply to hunting.

Agricultural quad bikes are exempt from MOTs and may use red diesel, but only if used exclusively for farming, horticulture, or forestry.

Hunting does not qualify as agriculture, meaning:

  • Hunt quad bikes must comply with full road regulations like any other vehicle.
  • They cannot legally use agricultural fuel (red diesel).
  • The 1.6 km rule applies: Agricultural quads may only travel a maximum of 1.6 km (1 mile) per day on public roads, between fields of the same farm, and only by the most direct route. Hunt quads far exceed this limit.
  • Police can and should enforce these laws, but many officers are unaware of the specifics.

Can Quad Bikes Carry Passengers?

Most quad bikes are not designed to carry passengers. It is illegal to carry more than one person unless the quad is specifically built and approved for two riders.

Legal:

  • Purpose-built two-seater quads with appropriate seating, footrests, and backrests. (Most are side-by-side models.)

Illegal:

  • Carrying passengers on single-rider long-seat quads—the extended seat is not for passengers but for weight distribution on rough terrain.
  • Carrying passengers on any quad that is not specifically designed for two riders.

Many police officers are unaware of these laws. A discussion with a quad bike retailer could clarify the legal distinctions.

What Can Police Do?

  • Stop and seize illegally used quad bikes under the Road Traffic Act
  • Issue fixed penalty notices or prosecutions for missing plates, dangerous driving, and insurance violations
  • Use Community Protection Notices (CPNs) against repeat offenders
  • Crack down on illegal road use, trespassing, and obstruction
  • Fine offenders up to £2,500 and issue 3 penalty points for illegally carrying passengers

Hunt quad bikes routinely break the law -
it’s time to hold them accountable.

Use this template to send to your local police constabulary.

Dear Chief Constable [Surname],

I am writing to raise serious concerns about the widespread and ongoing violations of road traffic laws, reckless quad bike use, and the danger posed by out-of-control hunting hounds across [Police Force Region]. These persistent issues present significant public safety risks, disrupt communities, and undermine confidence in law enforcement when clear offences are ignored or unenforced.

The Problem: Recklessness and Lawbreaking by Hunts

For too long, organised hunts have operated with blatant disregard for road safety laws, putting motorists, pedestrians, animals, and property at risk. The most pressing issues include:

1. Quad Bike Law Violations

  • Unregistered and untaxed quad bikes being used illegally on public highways.
  • Quad bikes carrying multiple passengers in unsafe conditions, often without helmets or protective gear.
  • Reckless and dangerous use of quad bikes on roads and footpaths, frequently leading to near-misses or accidents.

2. Road and Traffic Hazards

  • Hunts obstructing roads and disrupting traffic, forcing vehicles into dangerous situations.
  • Hunt participants ignoring highway regulations, failing to control their vehicles properly, or acting aggressively towards other road users.

3. Hounds Loose on Roads – A Growing Danger

  • Hounds being abandoned or left behind, creating hazards for motorists and pedestrians.
  • Dogs running uncontrolled onto roads, leading to accidents, injuries, and unnecessary distress for local communities.
  • Hunts failing to take responsibility for their animals, leaving them to roam unsupervised and at risk.

The Evidence: HuntHavoc.info – Logging the Chaos

A growing body of evidence at HuntHavoc.info documents these repeated offences across the UK, categorised by police force. The database provides clear proof of non-enforcement in cases where hunts have broken the law without consequence.

The Request: Immediate Action and Accountability

I urge [Police Force Name] to take urgent and proactive enforcement action to tackle these recurring issues. Specifically, I request that:

  1. Quad bike regulations be properly enforced, ensuring that all vehicles are legally registered, taxed, and road-safe.
  2. Traffic laws be applied equally to hunt-related offences, with proper investigation and action taken against dangerous driving and road obstruction.
  3. Hound control be treated as a serious safety issue, with hunts held accountable for loose or abandoned dogs on roads.
  4. A clear reporting mechanism be established so the public can report hunt-related road safety violations easily and expect a timely response.
  5. Transparency and accountability measures be introduced to ensure police forces do not grant leniency or preferential treatment to hunting groups.

Hunts are not above the law, and continued failure to act only fuels public frustration and diminishes trust in policing. The dangers posed by reckless quad bike use and out-of-control hounds must be addressed before more accidents occur.

I request a formal response outlining the steps that [Police Force Name] intends to take regarding these matters. Please confirm receipt of this letter and provide a timeline for planned enforcement actions or policy reviews concerning hunt-related road offences.

I look forward to your response and a firm commitment to ensuring accountability, enforcing the law, and protecting public safety.

Yours sincerely,