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What Is an Import ATV?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

An import ATV is an all-terrain vehicle that is brought to a specific region or country from another region or country. This is commonly done to bring high-quality goods to an area that would not otherwise have them, or to bring less expensive goods to an area. The brands that are considered an import ATV will vary according to which country or region is doing the shipping and the receiving, and the quality of the ATV may or may not be affected according to whether it is an import or not.

The specific design of an import ATV may be the same as an ATV made domestically. Most ATVs feature aggressively-treaded tires, a significant amount of suspension, a low center of gravity, and a combustion engine for power. Some import and domestic ATV models do feature electric engines, though these are lighter-duty vehicles that cannot reach the same speeds or hauling capacities of gas-powered ATVs. Companies that are based in other countries will often ship their models to various parts of the world for sale, and the cost of the vehicle may change according to where it is purchased.

A UTV, or utility task vehicle, looks like a golf cart, but is more rugged and can carry heavier loads.
A UTV, or utility task vehicle, looks like a golf cart, but is more rugged and can carry heavier loads.

Some companies gain a reputation as particularly high-quality, and those companies may be based in another country. In order to buy the vehicle in some parts of the world, it must therefore be imported, which means it is subject to various taxes and fees. This can actually make the cost of the vehicle go up considerably, but many customers are willing to pay more for the import ATV because of its higher quality and/or reliability. Other buyers may avoid buying an import ATV in favor of a domestically produced vehicle, again to ensure quality, lower cost, or other considerations important to the buyer.

Various styles of import ATV models exist. Some are designed specifically for racing, while others are more utilitarian. Still others, known as UTVs or utility task vehicles, feature two seats for more than one passenger and a side by side seating configuration. These vehicles tend to be larger and are often designed for work purposes or travel over longer distances with more gear or passengers. One-seat ATVs can be designed specifically for hunting, featuring storage racks, winches for hauling animal carcasses, and even gun racks or bow and arrow racks. These units tend to be larger than racing ATVs and have a low center of gravity for added stability.

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    • A UTV, or utility task vehicle, looks like a golf cart, but is more rugged and can carry heavier loads.
      By: Kenneth Hill
      A UTV, or utility task vehicle, looks like a golf cart, but is more rugged and can carry heavier loads.