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​Off-Highway Vehicle Registrations & Permits
​Off-Highway Vehicle Registrations & Permits
​
Dirt Bike, ATV, Side by Side, 4 by 4 vehicle icons  

​Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) include: 

  • Dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility-terrain vehicles (UTV)/side by sides (SxS), three wheelers and buggies, and;
  • Plated, street-legal vehicles, full-size 4 x 4s or plated motorcycles when operating on public lands and/or OHV designated trails in Colorado.

What is Required to Operate an OHV in Colorado?

All OHVs must have either a current/valid Colorado Registration Card and two Decals or one Colorado OHV Permit to operate in Colorado. This includes while in route, in staging areas and on public land roads and OHV designated trails. 

How Long is an OHV Registration or Permit Valid?

Regardless of when they are purchased, both OHV Registrations and Permits are valid from April 1 through March 31 each year and are required annually. Both registrations and permits are nonrefundable and nontransferable. 

Existing registrations can renew 45 days in advance of the March 31 expiration date. You’ll need your customer identification number (CID) and vehicle registration number to complete your renewal. 

Colorado OHV Registration Card & Decals (Only Resident Vehicles)

Resident OHVs must have both a valid OHV Registration card available with the vehicle, and two current OHV Registration decals properly displayed on and affixed to the vehicle. Fees include the search and rescue fee.

             Example of an OHV registration card  Example of a decal
Purchase NEW or Transfer an Existing OHV Registration

Fee: $25.25 

Fill out the registration form and provide Acceptable Proof of Ownership in person at any CPW location, Registration and Permit Vendors, or mail the documents to: 

CPW Registration Unit
13787 US Hwy 85 N
Littleton, CO 80125

Your registration card and official decals will arrive by mail in approximately 10-20 business days.

Effective July 1, 2014, Title is required for all power sports​ vehicle dealers and auctioneer sales. OHV titling is optional for private party to private party sales. For titling information, view Titling Off Road Vehicles SB13-280 on the Department of Revenue website​.










Renew an Existing OHV Registration

Fee: $25.25 

Existing registrations can be renewed 45 days in advance of expiring. Vehicle owners can renew online, by phone (800) 244-5613, or in person at most CPW Locations. Call ahead when visiting a location to make sure they offer the service(s) you need. You’ll need your customer identification number (CID) and your vehicle registration number. Your registration card and official decals will arrive by mail in approximately 10-20 business days.

If you want to ride within the next 30 days, you’ll want to print your registration confirmation receipt. Your registration confirmation receipt will be emailed to your email address on file shortly after your purchase. You are required to carry your registration confirmation receipt on you while in the field, until you receive your registration card and decals. 

If you do not receive your registration card and decals within 30 business days after a new registration submission or registration renewal, you should contact the CPW call center Mon. - Fri. between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. MT (303) 297-1192 or visit a CPW location for help researching your issue.


Duplicate/Replacement Registration

Fee: $5.00
If your registration card or decals have been lost, stolen or destroyed, you will have to purchase a duplicate registration. Duplicate registrations can be purchased online, over the phone at (800) 244-5613 or in person at a CPW location. If purchased in person at a CPW location, you will not receive your registration card and decals immediately. CPW staff will provide you with a new temporary registration and your registration card and decals will be mailed to your address on file.

Where To Place the Decals on the Vehicle

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
For displaying decals on four wheel ATVs, place decals in an observable location on each side of the front fenders.


Utility-Terrain Vehicle (UTV)/Side by Sides (SxS) & Off Road Buggy 
For displaying decals on utility-terrain vehicles (UTV)/side by sides (SxS) and off road buggies/rock crawlers, position one decal on each of the outside faces of the roll bars in an observable location.


Three Wheeler & Dirt Bike
For displaying decals on dirt bikes (off road motorcycles) and on three wheel ATVs, position one decal on each of the outside faces of the upper end of the forks. 


Colorado OHV Permits (sticker or non-stick bright green paper) (Nonresidents or Plated, Street-Legal Vehicles):

  • All Non-Resident OHVs must have one valid OHV Permit properly displayed on and affixed to the vehicle or carry the valid bright green OHV Permit. 
  • A Colorado OHV Permit is required for all plated, street legal vehicles (resident and nonresident) when traveling on any designated OHV trail and/or open area for recreational use on public lands. The OHV Permit sticker must be properly displayed on the vehicle or the owner must carry the non-stick bright green OHV Permit. This includes vehicles with Colorado license plates and/or other states.
  • Permits are valid April 1 - March 31.
  • Fees include the search and rescue fee.
Colorado OHV Permit (non-stick bright green paper) (Nonresidents or Plated, Street-Legal vehicles)
Fee: $25.25

Example of OHV Permit - nonresidents or plated, street-legal vehicles

Purchase online or by phone (800) 244-5613 and the bright green non-stick permit will arrive by mail in approximately 10-20 business days.  Make sure you print or download your confirmation receipt. Your permit confirmation receipt will be sent to your email address on file shortly after your purchase. It includes the Temporary Authorization Number (TAN), valid for 45 days, and is the authorization to ride while you wait for your OHV permit to arrive in the mail. Carry it with you.

Purchase in person at CPW Locations or sales agents and the permit will be given to you. Call ahead for hours of operation, especially if planning to ride on a weekend or holiday.

Colorado OHV Permit (sticker)
Fee: $25.25 


Example of OHV Permit Sticker 


Purchase at CPW Locations that carry the sticker or various Registration and Permit Vendors around the state and receive the OHV Permit sticker immediately. Call ahead for sticker Permit availability and hours of operation, especially if planning to ride on a weekend or holiday. OHV permit (sticker) must be affixed to your vehicle.









Replacement OHV Permit

Fee: $25.25
If your permit has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you will have to purchase a new permit. A new OHV permit (non-stick) can be purchased online or by phone at (800) 244-5613 or in person at any CPW Location or sales agents. A new OHV permit (sticker) can be purchased at CPW locations or at various OHV permit vendors. Call ahead when visiting a location to make sure they offer the service(s) you need.

Where To Place the Permit on the Vehicle

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV)

To display a permit on a four wheel ATV, place the decal in an observable location on the front fender.

Example of a four wheel ATV

Utility-Terrain Vehicle (UTV)/Side by Sides (SxS) & Off Road Buggy 
To display a permit on a utility-terrain-vehicles (UTV)/side by side (SxS) and off road buggy/rock crawler, position the decal on the outside face of the driver's side roll bar, in an observable location.

Example of Utility-Terrain Vehicle (UTV)/Side by Side (SxS) and Off Road Buggy

Three Wheeler & Dirt Bike
To display a permit on a dirt bike (off road motorcycles) and on a three wheel ATV, position the permit on the outside face of the upper end of the forks.

Example of a three wheeler and dirt bike

Plated, Street-Legal Vehicle

Display the permit to the right of the front license plate. 

Example of a plated, street-legal vehicle

Purchasing an OHV

Dealers are required by law to complete the registration application for you and collect the registration fee before the vehicle leaves their premises. The dealer will forward the application to our office where we will process the request. 

If purchasing an OHV from a private party, have the seller provide you with a Bill of Sale to serve as your proof of ownership. An acceptable Bill of Sale includes: 
  • both the seller and buyer’s printed names and signatures,
  • the vehicle identification number, 
  • the vehicle make, model and year (if known) and 
  • the date of the sale. 
An acceptable private party to private party Bill of Sale template can be downloaded here for your use. When you purchase an OHV from a private party, you may use your Bill of Sale as a temporary registration for 30 days. The Bill of Sale must be carried on the OHV while riding until the registration decals and card get to you in the mail. Sorry, at this time, on-line registration for a newly purchased OHV is not available.

Help Us Keep Your Record(s) Accurate

Be sure to double check your online account and update your contact information, mailing address, email address and phone number whenever you purchase products from CPW so you will receive our renewal reminders. CPW cannot be responsible for customer data entry errors made during online purchases, and record corrections are charged the applicable replacement fee.

Know Before You Go

Contact each public land management agency for their current motor vehicle-use rules, regulations, closures and agency maps. The Stay The Trail website and the free Colorado Trail Explorer (COTREX) trails app are additional resources for finding places to ride in Colorado.

Where the Money Goes

The Colorado OHV Registration Program fees fund trail maintenance, construction, trailheads, parking areas, trail signs, maps, and land acquisition. It also enables law enforcement personnel to identify and return stolen vehicles, encourages safe and responsible OHV use, and promotes respect for public lands.

Since the program started in 1991, $73 million from OHV registration fees has been allocated for “on the ground” improvements for motorized recreation. 

Many groups benefit from OHV registration, including:
  • OHV owners and operators; 
  • Local, state and federal land managers who can use the funds to better manage natural resources; 
  • Towns and counties that want to attract OHV riders to enhance their local economies; and ​
  • The general public; educated OHV enthusiasts are more conscientious and better stewards of the land. 
Read more about the OHV grants program​​. ​