Colorado Permit Rules for a Licensed Side-by-Side

A license plate can make a side-by-side legal on certain roads, but it does not automatically settle the permit question for every Colorado trail. The key is where you ride and how the route is designated. This article explains when a plated side-by-side may need a Colorado OHV permit, what to check before heading out, and how to avoid treating road registration and trail permission as the same thing.

What “licensed” means for a Colorado side-by-side

In this context, “licensed” usually means the side-by-side has valid motor-vehicle registration and a plate for road use. It does not mean the driver has a license, and it does not mean the machine can travel on every public road or trail. A plate addresses one set of requirements; land access and OHV permit rules can involve another.

Colorado’s OHV system is administered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. A CPW registration or permit is relevant to using an OHV on places where that requirement applies. Road registration, meanwhile, concerns whether the vehicle and its operator can use roads under applicable motor-vehicle rules. Neither document grants unrestricted access to land.

That distinction matters because a route can change character. A plated side-by-side might travel on a road open to appropriately registered vehicles, then reach a designated OHV trail or riding area with separate permit requirements. The fact that the machine was legal on the road it just used does not necessarily answer what it needs for the next section.

A plate also does not make an off-highway vehicle street legal by itself. The vehicle must meet the applicable requirements for road use, and the route must be open to that kind of vehicle. Colorado’s rules for road riding depend on the road, the local jurisdiction and the machine’s equipment and registration status. See Why Colorado Will Not Plate Your UTV and Riding an OHV on the Road in Colorado for the separate questions of road legality and route access.

If “licensed” means the operator has a driver’s license, that is a different issue. A driver’s license does not replace an OHV permit, vehicle registration or any route-specific authorization. And a vehicle’s plate does not remove the operator’s responsibility to follow age, supervision, equipment and road-use rules.

The practical takeaway: identify the vehicle’s actual registration type and the route you intend to ride. Do not rely on a seller’s description, a plate alone or a general statement that a trail is “public.”

When a plated side-by-side may need an OHV permit

A plated side-by-side may still need a Colorado OHV permit when it is being used on a designated OHV trail or in an OHV riding area where a permit is required. The plate and permit serve different purposes. A plate may authorize road use under motor-vehicle rules; an OHV permit may be required for the vehicle’s use on designated OHV routes or areas.

The exact requirement depends on the route and the land manager’s rules. Colorado includes public land managed by different agencies, and a route shown on a map may have restrictions that are not obvious from its appearance. A wide dirt road, for example, is not automatically an OHV trail, and a route open to some vehicles is not necessarily open to every side-by-side.

Use this table as a starting point, not as a substitute for checking the current route information:

Where you plan to ride	What the plate tells you	What to verify about the OHV permit
A public road open to properly registered vehicles	The vehicle may be authorized for road use if it meets applicable requirements	Whether the route has a separate OHV permit requirement or local restriction
A designated OHV trail	It does not, by itself, confirm trail access or satisfy every OHV requirement	Whether a CPW permit or registration is required for that trail
A public OHV riding area	It does not guarantee that the vehicle is admitted to the area	The area’s permit, vehicle-type, equipment and access rules
Private land with the owner’s permission	It does not establish permission to enter private property	Whether any separate permit rule applies to the specific land or activity
A mixed route using roads and trails	It may address road use on the road portions	Whether the trail portions require an OHV permit and whether every segment is open

An out-of-state plate should not be treated as a Colorado OHV permit. Likewise, a Colorado road plate should not be assumed to cover OHV use on every designated trail. Check the specific route rather than assuming that the state where the vehicle is registered determines access. The related article Why an Out-of-State Plate Does Not Help in Colorado explains why registration in another state is not a substitute for checking Colorado requirements.

There may be places or circumstances where a separate OHV permit is not required. That does not mean every plated vehicle is exempt everywhere, or that a permit requirement applies to every road. The relevant facts include the vehicle’s registration status, the route’s designation, the land manager and any local rules. When those details are unclear, ask the agency responsible for the land or route before riding.

Also check whether the machine’s road registration is current and whether the route allows its size and configuration. Some routes have width limits or restrictions that can affect a full-size side-by-side even when it is registered for road use. A valid plate does not override a closure, a vehicle-width limit, a seasonal gate or a prohibition on motorized travel.

How to check the rule for your planned route

The most reliable approach is to identify each part of the trip, then check the rules for those specific segments. A ride that starts on an ordinary road and continues onto a trail can involve more than one set of requirements.

1. Write down the route, not just the destination. Note the trailhead, road names or route numbers, connecting trails and the riding area you expect to enter. A town or trail system may include routes managed under different rules.

2. Find out who manages each segment. The route may fall under a federal, state, county or local land manager. Look for current information from the agency responsible for that segment, including notices about closures, permits, vehicle types and seasonal access.

3. Check the route’s designation. Confirm whether each segment is a public road open to your vehicle, a designated OHV trail, a restricted route or private land. Do not assume a road shown on a general map is open to motorized use.

4. Match your vehicle to the rule. Be ready to describe whether the side-by-side is registered for road use, what state issued the registration, and whether it will be used on roads, OHV trails or both. “It has a plate” may not give the agency enough detail to answer.

5. Ask specifically about the permit. Instead of asking only whether the machine is street legal, ask whether a Colorado OHV permit or registration is required for that vehicle on the exact trail or area. If the route crosses multiple jurisdictions, check with each relevant manager.

6. Follow the permit instructions if one is required. Confirm the correct permit type, how to obtain it and how it must be displayed or carried. Permit types and requirements can differ for residents and nonresidents, and current details should be verified with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

For a side-by-side registered outside Colorado, do not assume its home-state registration automatically satisfies Colorado OHV requirements. Use the state’s guidance for nonresident machines and confirm whether the planned route requires a permit. Colorado OHV Permit Reciprocity With Other States and Out-of-State Machines on Colorado Trails cover related questions, but the land manager’s route-specific information still matters.

Similarly, a Colorado-registered side-by-side should not be treated as exempt from every trail rule simply because its registration was issued in Colorado. The permit question and the road-registration question are separate. For a broader explanation of Colorado OHV registration, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife OHV Registration Explained.

If you cannot get a clear answer before the trip, the safer choice is not to ride the uncertain segment until you confirm the rule. A permit requirement is only one part of access; a route can also be closed, restricted to certain vehicle types or subject to seasonal limits.

Before you ride: documents and common mistakes

Once you have checked the route, keep the paperwork and details organized. Carrying the right documents does not turn a closed route into an open one, but it can make it easier to show that your vehicle and permit are in order if you are asked.

Keep the side-by-side’s current road-registration information available, along with any OHV permit or registration required for the planned riding area. Follow the instructions for displaying the permit; do not guess where a decal belongs or assume that a phone image is accepted in place of the required permit. If you are unsure what needs to be displayed or carried, confirm the instructions with the issuing agency.

Before departure, check:

• The side-by-side’s road registration is current if the trip includes roads requiring it.
• The planned roads are open to the vehicle and its configuration.
• The designated OHV trails and riding areas are open and allow side-by-sides.
• Any Colorado OHV permit or registration required for those trails has been obtained.
• You have followed the permit’s display or carry instructions.
• The route has no current closure, seasonal restriction or local vehicle limitation.
• Your passengers and equipment comply with the rules that apply to the vehicle and route.

Common assumptions can lead to avoidable problems:

• “It has a plate, so it needs no OHV permit.” A plate may not satisfy a separate permit requirement on a designated trail or in an OHV area. Check the route.
• “It has an OHV permit, so it can use the road.” An OHV permit does not automatically authorize road use or make the machine street legal.
• “The map shows a line, so it must be open.” Maps may not show current closures or every vehicle restriction. Check current agency information.
• “The seller rode here, so the route is legal.” Past use is not proof that the route is currently open or that your vehicle qualifies.
• “The trailhead is public, so every trail from it is open.” Access can change from one segment to the next, including at gates or jurisdiction boundaries.
• “The plate is from another state, so its rules apply.” Colorado requirements may still apply when an out-of-state vehicle is used on Colorado trails.

If your trip includes only road travel, the OHV permit question may not be the same as for riding a designated OHV trail. Still, confirm that each road is open to your vehicle and that the side-by-side satisfies the applicable road-use requirements. If your trip includes both roads and trails, check both systems rather than choosing one document and assuming it covers the whole ride.

For a straightforward rule of thumb, think of the plate as addressing road registration and the OHV permit as addressing access where Colorado requires one for OHV use. A licensed side-by-side may need both for a mixed trip. The route, not the plate alone, determines what to verify.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.