It's the Law—Before You Ride

Licensing and Titling Your Vehicle

Owners of ORVs are required to:

• Obtain a certificate of title for the ORV through the Secretary of State (SOS). Note: A Michigan title is not required on ORVs owned by nonresidents and used in Michigan.
• License the ORV with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Every ORV sold through a dealer will be accompanied by a certificate of origin. This certificate of origin contains all of the information needed for applying for a certificate of title. The application for a title is made to the SOS, and the fee for processing the title is $11.00.

Application for a title must be made within 15 days of purchase. The title application is made by:

• The dealer on behalf of the buyer if the ORV is purchased from a dealer or ...
• The buyer if the ORV is purchased from other than a dealer.
  

Whenever an ORV is sold to another person, the certificate of title also must be transferred to the buyer. It is unlawful for a seller to sell or transfer an ORV without transferring the title or for a buyer to purchase or acquire an ORV without obtaining a title.

The DNR issues licenses for all ORVs on an annual basis. The annual fee for an ORV license is $16.25.

Licenses are valid from April 1 through March 31 of the following year, regardless of the date of purchase.

Vehicles that are licensed under the Motor Vehicle Code as street vehicles require an ORV license only when they are being used as an ORV. A “street-licensed” ORV does not need an ORV license to use forest roads, but it will need an ORV license if it is used on designated trails or in areas designated for cross-country use.

Note: An ORV license is not required for street-licensed vehicles used on the frozen surface of public waters or designated ORV routes.

Private land owners and their invited guests are not required to license ORVs that are operated exclusively on their private property.

Licensing is required of ORVs used in areas open to public operation regardless of whether the ORV is owned by a resident or nonresident of Michigan.

Where to License ORVs

ORV licenses are available from the DNR at DNR Operations Service Centers, over the Internet at www.mdnr-elicense.com, by mail, through participating ORV dealers, and through participating hunting and fishing license agents.

To purchase an ORV license by mail, write to:

Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Grants, Contracts and Customer Systems
P.O. Box 30181
Lansing, MI 48909

For licensing information, call the DNR at 517-373-1204.

Display of License

It is unlawful to operate an ORV without having a valid license permanently attached and visibly displayed on the vehicle in the following manner.

• 2-Wheeled Vehicle: Center the ORV license centered on the exposed rear fender.
• 3- or 4- Wheeled Vehicle (ATVs): Center the ORV license on a flat metal surface, a bumper, or a plate permanently attached to the rear of the ORV.
• Other ORVs including dune buggies and 4-wheel-drive trucks: Place the ORV license centered and visible on the rear of the vehicle.