The July 1987 Birthdate Rule

Minnesota’s July 1987 birthdate rule can leave riders unsure whether they need an ATV safety certificate, especially when visiting from another state. The key is to check your birth date, age and where you plan to ride. Here’s how the rule works, what certification does and doesn’t cover, and what to confirm before heading out.

What the July 1987 birthdate rule means

In Minnesota, a rider born after July 1, 1987, who is 12 or older generally needs an ATV safety certificate to operate on public lands, public waters or a state or county road right-of-way. The rule is about both when you were born and where you ride.

“Born after July 1, 1987” means born on July 2, 1987, or later. Someone born on July 1, 1987, does not fall on the “after” side of that date test. But the birthdate test alone does not settle every question: age restrictions and other riding requirements can still apply.

Your situation	What to check
Born on or before July 1, 1987	The birthdate rule generally does not require an ATV safety certificate, but other rules still apply.
Born after July 1, 1987, and age 12 or older	A certificate is generally required for riding on the covered public areas and rights-of-way.
Younger than 12	Do not assume the birthdate rule gives permission to ride. Separate age and supervision rules apply.
Riding only on private property	The public-area certificate requirement may not apply, but permission, property rules and any other applicable requirements still matter.
Visiting from another state	Check whether your existing certificate is accepted and whether you need a Minnesota trail pass.

The requirement concerns ATV safety certification. It is not the same as registering a machine, buying a trail pass, meeting age and supervision rules, or having permission to use a trail. Each is a separate question. For the wider set of training rules, see Minnesota’s ATV Safety Training Requirement and Who Must Certify to Ride Minnesota Public Land.

The rule is also not limited to riding a groomed ATV trail. Public lands and public waters can cover more than a marked trail, while a road right-of-way can include areas alongside a road. If you’re uncertain whether the ground you plan to use is public or private, check with the land manager rather than guessing.

Where the rule applies and where it may not

The certification requirement is tied to specified riding settings, not simply to owning or operating an ATV anywhere in Minnesota. That distinction matters for riders who use a machine at home, at a cabin, on a farm or while visiting a trail system.

Public land, public water and road rights-of-way

The rule generally applies when a covered rider operates an ATV on public land, public water or a state or county road right-of-way. A designated trail is one obvious example of public riding, but the right-of-way language matters too. A short ride along a roadside ditch can still involve public land or a road right-of-way, even if you are not following a formal trail.

Road riding has additional restrictions. A safety certificate does not authorize riding on the road surface, using a ditch where riding is prohibited, or ignoring local route rules. Read Riding an ATV on the Road in Minnesota before planning a road connection, and check the specific route for local restrictions.

Private land

A private-land ride may be treated differently from riding on public land. But “private land” does not automatically mean “no rules.” You need the owner’s permission if the property is not yours, and property boundaries, local rules and other safety requirements still matter. Land that looks open or unused is not necessarily available for riding.

Mixed routes are easy to misread. A ride may begin on private property and continue onto a public trail, cross public water, or enter a road right-of-way. A certificate exemption that may apply to a private-property portion should not be treated as a blanket exemption for the entire ride.

If your plan includes a trail system, verify both the safety-certificate requirement and the trail-pass requirement. These are separate rules. Minnesota’s non-resident pass requirements are covered in Minnesota’s Non-Resident ATV Trail Pass.

Age still matters

The birthdate rule does not override minimum-age rules or rules for supervising young riders. A child who has completed training may still be too young to operate a particular machine in a particular place, or may need an adult to accompany or supervise them. A certificate is not a substitute for meeting those conditions.

Because youth rules depend on age and riding circumstances, check [Minnesota Rules for Riders Under 12] and Minnesota Age Rules at Twelve and Sixteen if a young person will be operating. Do not assume an adult’s certificate covers a child, or that a child’s certificate changes the age at which they may legally ride.

Getting certified and checking an existing certificate

If the birthdate rule applies to you, arrange certification before riding in a covered area. Training options, eligibility and the process for receiving proof can change, so confirm the current steps with the Minnesota DNR before enrolling or making a trip.

Choose a course that meets Minnesota’s requirement

Look for an ATV safety course or certificate that Minnesota recognizes for the riding you plan to do. Do not assume that any general off-road course, private safety class or online video counts. The course should result in the kind of certificate accepted under Minnesota’s ATV rules.

Minnesota may offer more than one way to complete training, and the options can depend on the rider’s age. Check the current Minnesota DNR instructions for course format, enrollment, assessment and certificate delivery. If a course includes an exam or a practical component, complete the required parts; watching lessons alone may not be enough to earn certification.

The detailed age and certificate requirements are explained in Safety Certification for Riders Twelve and Over. If you are helping a young rider, check whether they can start training before they are old enough to ride in the location you have in mind. Training eligibility and permission to operate are not necessarily the same thing.

Find and carry proof

After completing a recognized course, keep the certificate or other accepted proof somewhere you can retrieve it. A digital copy may be convenient, but do not rely on a phone as your only backup if you expect poor reception, a dead battery or a device problem. Save an offline copy or carry the accepted physical documentation if available.

Before riding, check what proof an officer may ask you to show and how the certificate is recorded. Make sure the document belongs to the operator who is riding. A parent’s or companion’s certificate does not satisfy another rider’s individual requirement.

It is also sensible to keep the machine’s registration information and any applicable trail pass information organized separately. One document does not replace the others. For more on what riders should have available, see Do You Carry Papers on a Minnesota Trail?.

Check a certificate from another state

An out-of-state rider should not assume that a certificate is accepted just because it was issued by another state. Recognition can depend on the issuing program and Minnesota’s current rules. Before travel, compare the certificate’s name, issuing authority and course type with the state’s current requirements.

If you no longer have the document, contact the organization that issued it and ask how to retrieve replacement proof. If you completed training in another state but cannot confirm whether Minnesota accepts it, ask the Minnesota DNR before riding. The practical details are addressed in Out-of-State Certificates Minnesota Accepts.

A visitor may have to meet several requirements at once. For example, an accepted safety certificate may address training, while the visitor’s machine and planned trail use raise separate registration or pass questions. Check those independently rather than treating certification as an all-purpose permit.

A pre-ride check for residents and visitors

A few checks before unloading can prevent a frustrating stop or a trip that has to be cut short. Use this sequence whenever the operator, machine or riding area changes.

1. Confirm the operator’s birth date and age. If the rider was born after July 1, 1987, and is at least 12, treat the certificate requirement as relevant unless the official rules confirm otherwise for the planned ride.
2. Identify the riding location. Determine whether the route uses public land, public water, a state or county road right-of-way, private land, or a mix.
3. Check the young-rider rules. Confirm the rider’s permitted age, machine class and supervision requirements. Do not use a training certificate as proof that a rider meets those other rules.
4. Verify the certificate. Make sure the operator has completed a qualifying course and can produce accepted proof. For an out-of-state certificate, confirm recognition before the trip.
5. Check trail and machine requirements. Registration, trail passes and other permits are separate from safety certification. Confirm each requirement that applies to your machine and route.
6. Review the route itself. Check current trail status, local restrictions and any road connections. A rider may be certified and still be on a closed trail or an unauthorized route.
7. Keep documents accessible. Carry proof in a practical form, and keep a backup if relying on a phone or electronic record.

For visiting riders, it helps to do this before driving to Minnesota. A pass purchased at the trailhead will not resolve a missing safety certificate, and a valid certificate does not automatically satisfy Minnesota’s pass rules. If traveling with several operators, check each person individually: one rider’s age or certificate status does not establish another rider’s eligibility.

Residents can use the same checklist when lending a machine to a friend or taking a youth rider along. Ask who will operate the ATV, where they will ride and what proof they have. Do not assume that the machine’s registration or the owner’s own certification covers a borrowed rider.

Common misunderstandings about the rule

“I was born in 1987, so I’m exempt”

The year alone is not enough to decide. The boundary is July 1: someone born on or before that date is treated differently under the birthdate test from someone born later in the year. Check the actual birth date, not just the year.

“I have a certificate, so I can ride anywhere”

Certification addresses the training requirement. It does not grant permission to use private land, open a closed trail, authorize road-surface riding or waive age restrictions. Registration, passes and local access rules may also apply.

“I’m just crossing a short stretch of public land”

A brief crossing can still put a rider on public land or a road right-of-way. Do not assume a short distance or a low-speed connection makes the certificate requirement disappear. If the route’s legal status is unclear, confirm it before riding.

“My child took the course, so the age rules no longer matter”

Training and age eligibility are separate. A young rider may need to meet minimum-age, supervision, machine and location conditions in addition to completing training. Review the rules for the rider’s age rather than relying on course completion alone.

“My other state’s card must be accepted”

It may be, but verify that the specific certificate qualifies under Minnesota’s rules. Check with the state before you travel, especially if the document is old, incomplete or from a course whose status you cannot confirm.

“A trail pass covers the certificate requirement”

A trail pass and a safety certificate serve different purposes. A pass may be required for a particular machine or trail use, while the certificate requirement applies to the operator. Check both, along with registration and any age rules.

The safest approach is to treat the July 1987 date as a screening test, then check the rider’s age and planned location. If any part of the trip involves public land, public water or a state or county road right-of-way, verify the certificate requirement before setting off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the July 1987 rule apply to someone born on July 1, 1987?

The rule is commonly stated for people born after July 1, 1987, so July 1 itself is not after the cutoff. Confirm the current wording with the Minnesota DNR if the distinction affects your ride.

Does a safety certificate replace a Minnesota trail pass?

No. A safety certificate concerns the operator’s training requirement. Trail-pass and registration rules are separate and depend on the machine and where it is used.

Is a rider born after July 1, 1987 always required to have a certificate?

Not necessarily in every setting. The requirement generally concerns riders age 12 or older operating on covered public areas and road rights-of-way. Private-land use and age-specific rules require separate consideration.

Can a certificate from another state count?

It may, but acceptance depends on Minnesota’s rules and the course or certificate involved. Verify recognition with the Minnesota DNR before relying on it.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.