Residents who operate snowmobiles on public ice and designated public riding trails and areas must register their machines with the Department. Nonresident riders are required to display an Iowa nonresident user permit. The registration and user permit must be renewed annually. Registrations can be renewed starting September 1. Iowa nonresident user permits can be renewed starting 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 resident registration. There is no grace period.
The registration certificate or user permit is required to be carried either in the snowmobile or on the person operating the machine.
If you are an Iowa resident and your registration has been entered into the Electronic Licensing System of Iowa (ELSI II) by a county recorder, you may be able to renew the registration of your machine where you obtain your hunting or fishing licenses. Please note that not all license vendors have the ability to sell registrations and provide the required decals.
If you are registering your machine for the first time or transferring a registration 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.
Registration of a New or Transfered Snowmobile
Purchase from a Dealer: Dealers are required to collect the registration and title fees for a machine that is required to be registered.1 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 SNOWMOBILES 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
Exemptions to Registration1
Registration is not required for the following vehicles:
- Snowmobiles owned and used by the United States, another state, or a political subdivision of another state.
- Snowmobiles used for agricultural purposes.
Registration Decals - Display
The registration decal or nonresident user permit decal is to be displayed on the windshield of the snowmobile so that the decal is clearly visible. If the snowmobile does not have a windshield, the the decal is to be affixed to an area on the hood near the headlamp 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 Snowmobile Dealers