Snowmobile registration
Snowmobile registration in Montana: the agency, the required documents, and the exact steps, sourced from Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Department of Justice (registration); Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for public-land snowmobile use.
Who to contact
Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Department of Justice (registration); Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for public-land snowmobile use
Visit the official Montana pageStep by step
Title and register the snowmobile through the County Treasurer's office (MVD).
Pay the one-time permanent registration fees; receive the white 'PERM' decal.
Place the permanent decal in a conspicuous place on the left side of the cowl.
For riding on public land/groomed trails, obtain any additional FWP snowmobile permit/decal as required.
What to bring
Fees & renewal
Fees
Not published on the official page as of September 2, 2026 — confirm the exact fee with Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Department of Justice (registration); Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for public-land snowmobile use.
Renewal
Renews permanent.
Good to know
Per the MVD snowmobile page: 'Under Sec. 61-3-321(11)(a), MCA snowmobiles are permanently registered except for those owned by companies that rent snowmobiles.' Rental snowmobiles may be registered annually for the first two years, then must be permanently registered. FWP separately administers snowmobile use on public land (additional decal/permit may apply). Fees include a 3% administrative fee (amounts not captured; volatile).
More for Montana
General guidance
Snowmobile registration is common in states with real snowmobile trail systems and often nonexistent as a category in states without them. Pick your state below to see whether it applies and, if so, the sourced process.
In states with an active snowmobile trail system, registration is frequently handled by the department of natural resources, parks division, or a dedicated snowmobile/OHV program rather than the DMV, because the fee often funds trail grooming.
Some states separate basic ownership registration from a trail-use permit or sticker needed to ride groomed public trails. The state guide below notes this distinction where the agency documents it.
States with active trail systems commonly sell a separate nonresident or reciprocal permit for visiting riders rather than requiring full in-state registration. Check the state guide below.
Common questions
Yes — Montana requires registration for this vehicle type. Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Department of Justice (registration); Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) for public-land snowmobile use handles it; see the steps above.
Montana lists a permanent renewal cadence for this vehicle type.
No — states with little or no snowmobile trail activity often have no dedicated registration program. The state guide below states plainly whether a program exists rather than assuming one does.
Not always. Some states separate basic registration from a trail-use permit or sticker needed to ride groomed public trails. The state guide below notes the distinction where it applies.