Michigan Snowmobile Registration and Trail Permit

Short answer: To ride a snowmobile on public land in Michigan, you need two things. The first is a snowmobile trail permit from the Michigan DNR. The second is a registration, which residents get from the Michigan Secretary of State (SOS). The DNR lists the trail permit at $65. The permit is valid for one year, from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The SOS lists registration at $30, good for three years.

We checked the official DNR page on Oct. 30, 2026. The $65 fee is the current fee for the 2026-27 permit year, per the DNR. It rose from $52 this year. State-designated trails are open Dec. 1 through March 31, and grooming happens when there is enough snow.

Nonresidents do not need a Michigan registration if they carry a valid one from home. They still need the Michigan trail permit. Details are below.

Rules and fees can change. The DNR page is the official source: Purchase permit, learn requirements.

Quick facts

The trail permit

The DNR says residents and nonresidents who operate a snowmobile on public land in Michigan must buy a trail permit. It covers state-designated trails, public roads and public lands where authorized.

The fee changed this year. The DNR says it rose from $52 to $65 under a state law that adjusts the fee every five years using the Consumer Price Index. The DNR says the new fee stays in place for the next five-year period.

One caution: the SOS recreational vehicles page still lists the trail permit at $52 when we checked. The DNR sets and sells the permit, and its page and its May 2026 release both say $65. Use the DNR figure.

Where to buy the permit

The DNR lists three ways to buy:

• Online through eLicense. The DNR says your sticker is mailed within 10 to 15 business days.
• Online through the Michigan Snowmobile ORV Association (MISORVA). The DNR says MISORVA processes permit orders daily, Monday through Friday.
• In person at a number of DNR license agents and dealers.

Because of the mail time, buy online early if you want the sticker before your first ride. Permits go on sale Sept. 1, so this season's permit is on sale now.

Registration

Residents must register snowmobiles with the Michigan SOS, unless the sled is used solely on private property. The DNR says registration is good for three years. Registration money supports trail easements, trail law enforcement and safety education.

The SOS says:

• Registration costs $30 and expires Sept. 30 of the third year.
• You pay 6% sales tax at registration unless you show proof it was already paid or the sale was to a qualifying family member.
• At an SOS office, bring your ID and proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale or the previous registration signed by the seller.
• Snowmobiles do not need a title.
• If you buy from a dealer, the dealer usually handles registration and collects the tax.
• If you sell a sled, the registration must be transferred through the SOS.

The SOS also lists a historic snowmobile registration for sleds at least 26 years old or owned as a collector's item. It is a one-time $50 fee, by mail application. It is restricted to occasional use, such as club activities, exhibitions, tours and parades.

Nonresident rules

The DNR says nonresidents must display a valid registration from the operator's home state or province, or be registered in Michigan. The SOS says you do not need a Michigan registration to use your sled here temporarily. You do need the trail permit to ride on public lands.

In short: carry your home registration, buy the $65 Michigan trail permit, and put the permit sticker on the sled.

Where the stickers go

The two sources do not read the same, so check both before you apply decals.

• Trail permit sticker. The DNR says it must be permanently affixed to the forward half of the snowmobile, directly above or below the headlight.
• Registration decals. The DNR says to put the two registration decals on each side of the forward half of the cowl above the footwell.
• The SOS page also says both the registration decal and the trail permit sticker go on the front of the sled, centered on the hood above the headlight. That differs from the DNR on the registration decals. We follow the DNR's placement and suggest you check the DNR page when you apply them.

Exemptions

The DNR says a sled is exempt from both the trail permit and registration if it is:

• Operated exclusively on land owned or controlled by the owner.
• Used entirely in a safety education program run by a certified snowmobile safety instructor.
• Operated exclusively in a special event under a permit from the governing unit.

A sled used solely to travel over the frozen surface of public waters for ice fishing is exempt from the trail permit but must still be registered, per the DNR.

The SOS page words the ice fishing exemption differently. It says sleds used exclusively on private lands or on the ice when ice fishing on public lands are exempt from registration and the trail permit. Read the DNR page for the current rule before you rely on any exemption.

Youth rules and the safety certificate

The DNR age page sets these rules:

No certificate is required for operating on land owned or leased by the operator's parent or guardian. Direct supervision means an adult age 18 or older in constant visual contact with the unaided eye, able to give immediate help.

Youth ages 12 to 16 must pass an approved snowmobile safety course and carry the certificate to ride without supervision or cross streets and highways. The DNR recommends safety training for all operators. You can take a classroom course or an online course. The DNR says to pay the online course fee only after you pass.

Other rules to know

The DNR keeps a Snowmobile Regulations handbook, a signage guide and a page of group ride rules. It also lists a muffler sound limit for newer sleds. Read the DNR rules page before your first ride.

Where the money goes: the DNR says the snowmobile program is 100% funded by trail permit and registration dollars. That pays for grooming by snowmobile clubs, signage, bridges and culverts, and trailhead upkeep.

Safety first

A permit does not make a trail safe. Check a current trail report and the forecast before you go. Stay on marked trails. Stay off ice you have not checked. No ice is ever 100% safe. Tell someone your route and return time.

FAQ

How much is a Michigan snowmobile trail permit?

The DNR lists it at $65 for the current year. It is valid from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. We checked the DNR page on Oct. 30, 2026.

How much is Michigan snowmobile registration, and how long does it last?

The SOS lists registration at $30. It is issued for three years and expires Sept. 30 of the third year. Sales tax of 6% applies unless exempt or already paid.

Do out-of-state riders need a Michigan trail permit?

Yes, to ride on public land. The DNR says nonresidents must also display a valid registration from their home state or province, or be registered in Michigan.

Can my child ride a snowmobile in Michigan?

Under age 12, only with direct adult supervision. Ages 12 to 16 can ride alone with a safety certificate, and need one to cross a street or highway. Check the DNR age page for the full chart.

When can I ride Michigan's state trails?

The DNR says state-designated trails are open Dec. 1 through March 31. Grooming happens when there is enough snow on the ground.