Porch Notes
What stickers does my ORV need? The two-sticker system, decoded
Rules and licenses
2026–27 season (stickers valid April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027). Confirm current prices at checkout.
The confusion, named
Michigan sells two different ORV stickers, and the single most-asked question at every dealer counter is which ones you need. The answer: the ORV license ($26.25) is the base sticker, good for state forest roads, eligible county and national forest roads, and frozen lakes. The trail permit (+$10, $36.25 total) is the add-on that opens the designated trail-and-route system and the scramble areas. The permit is never sold alone.
The decision table
| Your situation | ORV license? | Trail permit? |
|---|---|---|
| Unplated ATV/UTV/dirt bike on designated trails, routes, or scramble areas | Yes | Yes |
| Unplated machine on open state forest roads or eligible county roads | Yes | No |
| Unplated machine on a frozen lake | Yes | No |
| Street-legal (plated) truck or Jeep on a designated ORV route | No | No |
| The same plated truck on a trail or in a scramble area | Yes | Yes |
| Anything on private land with permission | No | No |
Both stickers expire March 31 regardless of purchase date. Physical stickers go on the machine — license on the rear; trail permit positioned per vehicle type (centered and visible on the rear for trucks and buggies).
Titles, visitors, and the fine print
- ORVs must be titled with the Michigan Secretary of State (one-time, separate from the annual stickers; nonresident machines excepted). Buying used with no title? Walk away.
- The SOS will not street-register an ATV — there’s no plating your quad for the road in Michigan.
- Nonresidents pay the same prices — Michigan doesn’t surcharge visiting riders, which is part of why U.P. trail tourism works.
- Insurance: the state doesn’t require it off-road, but some county road ordinances do for road segments, and your homeowner’s policy probably doesn’t cover the machine. Worth a call to your agent; we don’t play one here.
Where the money goes
Sticker revenue funds trail maintenance and grants to the volunteer clubs that sign, groom, and repair the system. Your $36.25 quite literally builds the trails — one of the better deals in Michigan recreation.
Quick FAQ
Do I need a sticker on my own land? No. On a buddy’s land? No, with permission. On lake ice? Unplated machine: license. Plated vehicle: nothing. Does last year’s permit still work? Until March 31 — then everyone re-ups for the new season.
The signpost
Current requirements and prices live at the DNR’s ORV permits page and Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses. Start with ORV riding in Michigan, explained.
Sources
Last reviewed against the listed sources: June 11, 2026.