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Purchase permit, learn requirements

When an ORV license and/or trail permit is required

Both the ORV license and trail permit are valid for one year, which begins April 1 and ends March 31 of the following year.

An ORV license is required to ride eligible county roads, frozen surface of public waters, state forest roads (open to ORV use) and eligible national forest roads.

  • The cost is $26.25.
  • A license is not required to operate on private lands.
  • Both the ORV license and trail permit are valid for one year, which begins April 1 and ends March 31 of the following year.

An ORV trail permit is required when operating on state-designated ORV trails and scramble areas.

  • The cost is $10 (plus $26.25 for the ORV license) for a total of $36.25.
  • ORV trail permits are not valid as a stand-alone license; an ORV license must also be purchased.
  • A trail permit is not required to operate on private lands.

Where to purchase

Your dollars at work

Fees generated through ORV licenses and trail permits are reinvested back into the ORV system. These important dollars help fund trail expansion, grant funding to sponsors and clubs for annual trail grooming, infrastructure improvements and law enforcement.

Vehicle type / what's needed

Type of vehicle Designated ORV trails (for vehicles 50" in width or less) Designated ORV routes passable by conventional 2-wheel drive passenger vehicle Designated ORV routes not passable by conventional 2-wheel drive passenger vehicle and scramble areas Frozen surface of public waters
Street-licensed ORV both neither both neither
Regular ORV (not street-licensed) both both both ORV license
Street-licensed motorcycle both neither both neither
Off-road motorcycle (not street licensed) both both both ORV license
Off-road, street-licensed motorcycle both neither both neither
Street-licensed truck or passenger vehicle not permissible neither both neither