ATV / UTV registration
ATV / UTV registration in Colorado: the agency, the required documents, and the exact steps, sourced from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
Who to contact
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)
Visit the official Colorado pageStep by step
Complete an OHV registration application
Provide acceptable proof of ownership
Submit by mail to CPW Registration Unit, or in person at a CPW office or authorized vendor
Pay the registration fee
Affix two decals and carry the registration card
What to bring
Fees & renewal
Fees
$26.25 (includes $1.25 search and rescue fee) per CPW page
Renewal
Renews annual.
Good to know
ATVs/UTVs/side-by-sides/dirt bikes are OHVs registered through Colorado Parks and Wildlife, NOT the DMV. Registration is valid April 1 through March 31. Non-residents buy an OHV permit instead. Street-legal/plated operation is a separate DMV matter. Fee is stated on the official page but treat dollar amounts as volatile.
More for Colorado
General guidance
ATV and UTV registration is the most inconsistent category on this site: some states make it mandatory, some make it voluntary, and some route it through wildlife or natural-resources agencies rather than the DMV. Pick your state below for the real rule.
Some states require every ATV/UTV to be registered before it is operated anywhere, including private land. Others only require registration for use on public or state-managed trails, and a few make registration optional. The state guide below states which applies, sourced from the agency’s own page.
Because off-road vehicles are frequently regulated for trail and land use, many states register ATVs/UTVs through a department of natural resources, wildlife agency, or state parks division rather than the motor vehicle department. Check the agency named in your state guide.
Some states require a separate trail-use permit or sticker on top of registration to ride designated public trails. The state guide below notes this where the agency documents it.
Common questions
Yes — Colorado requires registration for this vehicle type. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) handles it; see the steps above.
Colorado lists a annual renewal cadence for this vehicle type.
It depends on the state. Some states require registration for any ATV regardless of where it is ridden; others only require it for public or state-trail use, and a few leave it entirely voluntary. Check the state guide below for the sourced rule.
It varies — some states use the DMV, others use a department of natural resources, wildlife agency, or parks division. The exact agency and its link are on your state’s guide page.