Minnesota Snowmobile Registration and Trail Pass

Short answer: To ride Minnesota's state and grant-in-aid trails, your snowmobile needs a trail use registration. The Minnesota DNR lists it at $113.50 for three years. That price is the $105.00 registration fee plus an $8.50 issuing fee. The state trail pass is built into it, so a registered Minnesota sled does not need a separate pass. The DNR says this registration includes unlimited use of the state's 22,000 miles of state and grant-in-aid trails.

A cheaper non-trail use registration exists. The DNR lists it at $53.50 for three years. It does not allow riding on state or grant-in-aid trails. If you want groomed trails, buy the trail use registration.

Riders from out of state who are not registering in Minnesota need a state trail pass. The DNR lists it at $51.00, valid November 1 through June 30. The pass price is the $50 pass plus a $1 issuing fee.

Official source: the Minnesota DNR page "Snowmobile registration procedures and fees": https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/licenses/snowmobile/index.html. We checked it on October 30, 2026. The page does not print a fee year. Its fee table matches the $105 three-year fee and $50 trail pass in the 2026 Minnesota Statutes (sections 84.82 and 84.8205). Fees can change, so confirm on the DNR page before you buy.

Quick facts

What you need to register

The DNR says Minnesota requires only a current registration on a snowmobile. You do not need a certificate of title at this time.

A trail use registration and a non-trail use registration are the two options. Know which one you are buying.

• Trail use: $113.50 for 3 years. Unlimited use of state and grant-in-aid trails.
• Non-trail use: $53.50 for 3 years. Not transferable. The decal is yellow. A state trail pass is not valid on it.

If you registered for non-trail use and later want to ride state trails, the DNR says you must re-register for trail use. You get a new registration number.

The DNR says the snowmobile trail pass and the registration decal are now one combined decal. The three-year trail pass is included in the registration price.

Where to buy

The DNR lists these options.

• New registration: in person at a deputy registrar of motor vehicles, or at the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul (500 Lafayette Road).
• Renewal: in person at a deputy registrar or the DNR License Bureau, or online through the DNR online licensing system.
• Renewing for someone else: the DNR says you need the DNR renewal notice, a Consent to Renew Registration form, or proof of power of attorney.
• Trail pass only: at an Electronic License System agent, by DNR phone line, or through the DNR online licensing system. The DNR says online and phone sales add a convenience fee.

Decal and expiration

State law says the registration decal must be on each side of the snowmobile and be legible. For sleds made after June 30, 1972, it goes in the areas the manufacturer provides. For older sleds it goes on each side of the cowling, upper half. Registrations expire June 30 of the year of expiration.

Nonresident rules

Statute 84.82 exempts a snowmobile covered by a valid license of another state if it has not been in Minnesota for more than 30 consecutive days. Registration is not required in that case.

The trail pass rule is separate. The DNR says a snowmobile not registered in Minnesota may not run on a state or grant-in-aid trail unless a state trail pass is on the sled. The pass costs $51.00 with the issuing fee and runs November 1 through June 30.

The DNR does not say on these pages whether another state's rules change this. Check the DNR page and your home registration before you cross the border.

Trail pass penalty

Ride without a pass and you buy an annual penalty pass on top of any ticket or fine. The DNR lists that at $71.00. The statute sets the base penalty pass at $70.

The DNR says these do not need a trail pass:

• A sled grooming a state or grant-in-aid trail.
• A sled owned by the federal government, a tribal government, the state or a political subdivision.
• A collector sled operating under the collector permit.
• A sled on parts of a trail owned by the rider or the rider's spouse, child or parent.

What grants-in-aid means

The grants-in-aid program is how many Minnesota trails get groomed. The DNR says the system has grown to over 21,000 miles. The program funds mostly maintenance and grooming, plus some trail improvement. Grants go to local governments, often county units, that sponsor the trails. The DNR says it effectively purchases well-groomed and maintained trails through these grants.

In plain terms, your trail use registration or trail pass is what lets you use those trails. The DNR also lists an annual May 15 application deadline for sponsors. That date matters to clubs and counties, not riders.

Safety certificate and youth rules

The DNR says anyone born after December 31, 1976 needs a snowmobile safety certification to operate a snowmobile on public lands.

Training options from the DNR:

• Ages 11 to 15: the online course followed by a hybrid class, or a classroom class. The classroom option is 8 hours over at least 2 sessions. Certification is valid at age 12.
• Age 16 and older: the DNR approved online course, which includes a virtual riding course, or a classroom class.

State law (section 84.872) sets these youth limits:

• Under 14: no operating a snowmobile on a street or highway within a municipality. No direct crossing of a trunk, county state-aid or county highway as operator.
• Under 14: must be supervised by or accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or a designated person 18 or older. Ages 12 and 13 may ride alone if they carry a valid safety certificate.
• Ages 14 to 17: may cross those highways only with a safety certificate or a license or ID with a snowmobile qualification indicator in hand.
• Under 18: protective headgear is required.

The DNR also says duplicate safety cards are available at DNR license agents, the DNR Central Office in St. Paul, by phone or online.

ATV note

ATVs are a separate system. The DNR off-highway vehicle page says OHVs in Minnesota must be registered with the DNR, or the operator must have a trail pass on state and grant-in-aid trails. For a newly registered Class 1 or Class 2 ATV bought out of state, the DNR lists $68.50. The page was last modified September 23, 2026 per its own page data. Do not use snowmobile fees for an ATV.

Before you ride

Registration gets you on the trail. It does not tell you the trail is safe today.

• Check current trail conditions before you load up.
• Stay off lakes and rivers unless you have checked the ice yourself. The Minnesota DNR says it does not measure ice thickness on lakes and your safety is your responsibility. Its guidelines for new, clear ice say 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. Ice strength changes with wind, snow, currents and sun.
• Tell someone your route and return time.
• Carry a charged phone, a map and a spare layer.

FAQ

How much is Minnesota snowmobile registration?

The Minnesota DNR lists trail use registration at $113.50 for three years, which is $105.00 plus an $8.50 issuing fee. Non-trail use is $53.50. We checked the DNR page on October 30, 2026. The page does not state a fee year.

Do I need a separate trail pass in Minnesota?

Not if your sled has a Minnesota trail use registration. The DNR says the trail pass is included in the price. An unregistered or out-of-state sled needs the $51.00 state trail pass (valid Nov. 1 to June 30) to ride state or grant-in-aid trails.

How long does a Minnesota snowmobile registration last?

The DNR lists three years for trail use and non-trail use registrations. State law says registrations expire June 30 of the year of expiration.

Where do I buy a Minnesota snowmobile registration?

New registrations are done in person at a deputy registrar of motor vehicles or the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul. Renewals can also be done online through the DNR online licensing system.

Do kids need a safety certificate to ride?

The DNR requires a safety certification for anyone born after December 31, 1976. State law lets ages 12 and 13 ride without an adult only with a valid certificate. Under 14 riders without one must be supervised or accompanied.