Registration of All-terrain Vehicles, Off-road Motorcycles, and Off-road Utility Vehicles
Residents who operate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road motorcycles (ORMs) on public ice, designated public riding trails and areas, and IDNR-designated OHV parks must register their machines with the Department. Residents who operate their off-road utility vehicles (ORVs) on these same areas must display a user permit.1 Nonresident operators for ATVs, ORMs, and ORVs are required to display a user permit. Registrations and user permits must be renewed annually. Registrations for ATVs and ORMs can be renewed starting September 1. User permits can be renewed beginning December 15.
All registrations and user permits expire December 31 each calendar year. A $5.00 penalty is added to the renewal cost for an expired ATV or ORM registration for residents. There is no grace period.
The registration certificate or user permit is required to be carried either in the ATV, ORM, or ORV or on the person operating the machine.
If you are an Iowa resident and your ATV or ORM registration or ORV user permit has been entered into the Electronic Licensing System of Iowa (ELSI II) by a county recorder, you may be able to renew the registration or user permit for your machine where you obtain your hunting or fishing licenses. Please note that not all license vendors have the ability to sell registrations and user permits and provide the required decals for the machines.
If you are registering your machine for the first time, are transferring a registration, or are obtaining a user permit for an ORV for the first time, and are a resident, you must go to the county recorder in the county of your residence.
Iowa nonresident user permits may be purchased at an ELSI II vendor who is a decal agent or a County Recorder's Office.
1 Please see ATV Park Rules and Locations page for areas where ORV use is allowed.
Registration of a New or Transfered ATV or ORM
Purchase from a Dealer: Dealers are required to collect the registration and title fees for a machine that is required to be registered.2 The dealer will issue to the purchaser a placard bearing the words "registration applied for" and space for the purchase date. The placard entitles the purchaser to operate the machine for 45 days immediately following the purchase while the registration is being processed.
Purchase by private sale: The purchaser of a machine with a valid registration may operate it for 30 days immediately following the purchase without having completed a transfer of registration. If the registration is expired, the machine must be registered prior to operating the machine in areas where a registration is required.
ALL ATVs AND ORMs THAT ARE REGISTERED ARE REQUIRED TO BE TITLED
Services Available at a County Recorder's Office
- All new registrations - $17.75
- Renewals - $17.75
- Iowa nonresident user permits - $17.75
- Duplicate registrations - $7.75
- Titles - $11.50
- Liens - $ 11.50
Services Available at a General Agent who Sells Off-road Vehicle Decals
- Renewals, if the machine is entered into ELSI II - $17.50
- Iowa nonresident user permits - $17.50
- Duplicate registrations - $7.50
2 Exemptions to Registration for an ATV
Registration is not required for the following ATVs:
- ATVs owned and used by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision of another state.
- ATVs used for agricultural purposes are issued a farm-use registration.
ORV User Permit Guidelines
- Off-road utility vehicles are not required to have a user permit unless they are being operated on public ice, a designated riding trail or area, an IDNR-designated OHV park signed open to ORV use, used in conjunction with a disabled hunting permit, or are being issued a user permit in order to obtain an out-of-state user permit.
- ORVs that are issued a user permit are not required to be titled.
- If a lien is placed on an ORV, a title must be issued.
- ORV user permits are not transferrable.
- A motorized vehicle that was previously titled or is currently titled under Chapter 321 shall not be issued a user permit for an off-road utility vehicle.
- User permits are not required for the following ORVs:
- ORVs owned and used by the United States, another state, or political subdivision of another state.
- ORVs being used for agricultural purposes.
Registration Decals, User Permit Decals, and Iowa Nonresident User Permit Decals - Display
- ATVs - The decal shall be affixed to the rear of the ATV so that the decal is clearly visible.
- ORMs - The decal shall be affixed to the yoke of the steering column so that it is clearly visible without obstructing the vehicle identification number.
- ORVs - The decal shall be affixed to the rear of the vehicle so that the decal is clearly visible.
Application for Boats, Snowmobiles, ATVs and ORVs (Form #542-8067)
(Registration, Title, Lien, Subsequent Security, and Bonding)
Instructions for Bonding Boats, Snowmobile, ATVs and ORVs
Affidavit for Unregistered or Untitled (Form #542-8074)
(All-Terrain Vehicles, Off Road Utility Vehicles, Snowmobiles or Vessels)
List of Iowa ATV Dealers