ATV / UTV registration
ATV / UTV registration in Wisconsin: the agency, the required documents, and the exact steps, sourced from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Who to contact
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Visit the official Wisconsin pageStep by step
Complete ATV/UTV Registration Application (Form 9400-376)
Register online at GoWild.wi.gov, at a DNR service center, by mail, or through a dealer
Pay sales tax and registration fee
Receive a 21-day temporary operating receipt; decals arrive by mail
What to bring
Fees & renewal
Fees
Public use $30 (2-year); Private (ag or non-ag) $15; Municipal $5
Renewal
Renews biennial for public registration (valid 2 years, April 1 - March 31).
Good to know
ATVs/UTVs register with the DNR (not WisDOT). Public registration (for public trails/roads/frozen waterways) is 2-year; private-agricultural and private-non-agricultural registrations are valid until ownership transfer. Exemptions: weekend/nonresident-with-trail-pass, government, tribal.
More for Wisconsin
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 — Wisconsin requires registration for this vehicle type. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) handles it; see the steps above.
Wisconsin lists a biennial for public registration (valid 2 years, April 1 - March 31) 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.