Nonroad Engines, Equipment, and Vehicles
Snowmobiles, Dirt Bikes, and ATVs
August 1, 2014: EPA withdrew its approval of the import and sale of over 28,000 gas-powered highway and off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles because the agency believes that it received either incomplete or falsified certification information. All vehicles imported into or manufactured in the United States are required to have certificates of conformity. EPA issued the vehicle certificates from 2007 to 2011 to CFMoto. As a result of a lengthy investigation, the agency believes that the applications for the certificates contained fallacious information and must be voided. This notice follows actions in April 2013 and October 2013 in which EPA voided certificates from Snyder Computer Systems dba Wildfire Motors, American Lifan and Jonway which impacted up to 70,000; 61,000; and 39,000 vehicles, respectively. The applications were submitted by Michael Johnson of System Launch Associates who has pled guilty to wire fraud and submitting false statements under the Clean Air Act and is currently awaiting sentencing.
Consumer Information
- Emission Standards and Owner Responsibilities (PDF) (4 pp, 158K, EPA-420-F-12-053, August 2012)
- Used Oil Management
- Requirements for Rebuilding Certified Engines and Vehicles (PDF) (4 pp, 142K, EPA-420-F-12-052, August 2012)
Related Links
NOTE: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free download, to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Acrobat Reader.
This page provides information about land-based recreational vehicles, such as snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles (dirt bikes), and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Information on recreational marine engines is available on the marine spark-ignition engines page and the marine diesel engines page.
Regulations
See the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR) for the full text of current regulations that apply to recreational vehicles:
| 40 CFR part 1051 | Emission Standards and Certification Requirements |
| 40 CFR Part 86, Subpart F | Chassis Exhaust Emission Testing Procedures |
| 40 CFR part 1065 | Engine Exhaust Emission Test Procedures |
| 40 CFR part 1060 | Evaporative Emission Standards and Test Procedures |
| 40 CFR part 1068 | General Compliance Provisions |
- Summary of exhaust emission standards and evaporative emission standards
- 2015 Amendments (published February 19, 2015)
- Direct Final Rulemaking (PDF) (48 pp, 1.04MB)
- See “2015 Amendments” for more information.
- Revised Phase 3 Snowmobile Emission Standards (published June 25, 2008)
The purpose of this action is to remove the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) component from the Phase 3 emission standards for snowmobiles in response to a court decision.- Final Rule (PDF) (7 pp, 218K)
- 2008 Technical Amendments (published October 8, 2008)
- Final Rule (PDF) (343 pp, 3.7MB)
- See Bond final rule for more information
- Extension of Temporary Exhaust Emission Test Procedure Option for All Terrain Vehicles (published April 26, 2007)
- Fact Sheet: Extension of Temporary Exhaust Emission Test Procedure Option for All Terrain Vehicles (PDF) (2 pp, 90K, EPA420-F-07-022, April 2007)
- Final Rule (PDF) (6 pp, 194K)
- Procedures for Testing Highway and Nonroad Engines and Omnibus Technical Amendments (published July 13, 2005)
- Fact Sheet: Regulatory Announcement: Changed Test Procedures for Nonroad Engines and Heavy-Duty Highway Engines (PDF) (4 pp, 134K, EPA420-F-05-036, July 2005)
- Final Rule (PDF) (193 pp, 7.48MB)
- Technical Support Document and Summary & Analysis of Comments
- See Proposed Technical Amendments for the proposed rule and supporting documents (published September 10, 2004)
- Exhaust and Evaporative Emission Standards (published November 8, 2002)
- Fact Sheet: Emission Standards for New Nonroad Engines - Large Industrial Spark-ignition Engines, Recreational Marine Diesel Engines, and Recreational Vehicles (PDF) (7 pp, 409K, EPA420-F-02-037)
- Final Rule (PDF) (206 pp, 1.15MB)
- Regulatory Support Document (PDF) (687 pp, 2.5MB, EPA420-R-02-022, September 2002)
- Summary and Analysis of Comments (PDF) (319 pp, 462K, EPA420-R-02-023, September 2002)
- Environmental Impacts of Newly Regulated Nonroad Engines (PDF) (5 pp, 24K, EPA420-F-02-033, September 2002)
- Frequently Asked Questions: Emission Exemption for Racing Motorcycles and Other Competition Vehicles (PDF) (5 pp, 400K, EPA420-F-02-045, September 2002)
- Docket index (PDF) (141 pp, 689K, September. 2002)
- See Proposed Emission Standards for the proposed rule, supporting documents, advance notice and findings (published October 5, 2001).
Certification and Compliance
- Compliance case: On June 30, 2010, EPA took action to void certificates of conformity from four manufacturers of gasoline-powered off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, after an investigation revealed that the manufacturers had submitted false emission reports in violation of the Clean Air Act. The voided certificates affected the sale and import of as many as 200,000 small off-road vehicles.
- Road Load Force Target Coefficients for Recreational Vehicles Over 870kg, Certified Under 40 CFR Part 1051 (XLS) (1 pp, 25K, July 2014)
- This spreadsheet is related Guidance Letter CD-14-14 which sets forth the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy regarding manufacturer use of 40 CFR § 86.529-98 to determine the road load force target coefficients and coastdown calibration times for vehicles over 870kg that certify under 40 CFR Part 1051.
- Guidance Documents:
- Major Steps of Certification and Compliance for 2006 and Later Model Years All-terrain Vehicles and Off-Highway Motorcycles (PDF) (18 pp, 222K, July 2004)
- Recommend Application Format for Certification of Off-highway Motorcycles and All-terrain Vehicles (PDF) (14 pp, 219K, July 2004)
- List of Questions for New Manufacturers (PDF) (2 pp, 18K, July 2004)
- Request For EPA Exemption of Competition Recreation Vehicles (PDF) (1 pg, 40K, October 2004)
- Manufacturer Self Checklist for Application of Certification (PDF) (1 pg, 182K, March 2005)
- Instructions for Certifying Imported Mini Trucks (EPA420-B-09-028, June 2009)
- Applicable Regulations for Off-highway Motorcycles and ATVs (PDF) (76 pp, 550K, July 2004)