Snowmobile Registration

Any snowmobile operated in New York State must be registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), even if it is registered in another state or province, except under certain special circumstances. Registration is done at the time of sale by the dealer. A snowmobile obtained in a private sale or from an out-of-state source may be registered by the new owner at any Motor Vehicle office or by a dealer participating in the state's prepaid registration program.

$35 of each resident and non-resident registration goes to the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. This fund supports over 10,000 miles of public snowmobile trails in New York State, snowmobile safety education programs and enforcement of NYS snowmobile laws!

Exemptions from Registration Requirements:

Snowmobiles operated exclusively on the owner's property;
Snowmobiles operated in approved competitive events;
Snowmobiles owned and operated by the United States government;
Snowmobiles covered by a valid registration of a neighboring state or province and operated on a border trail that occasionally and sporadically crosses into New York State, and is specifically designated as a cross-border trail by the Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Documents Required
Snowmobilers must carry registration and proof of insurance documents on their person at all times while snowmobiling. These documents must be produced at the request of any law enforcement officer or magistrate. Insurance documentation must be produced at the request of anyone who is injured or suffers property damage as a result of operation of a snowmobile.

Holders of snowmobile safety certificates must carry the certificate when they are snowmobiling.

These documents should always be carried on your person and never left in the snowmobile.