Colorado Permits for a Second Machine
Adding an ATV or UTV to the garage raises a practical question: can the registration or permit on the first machine cover the second? In Colorado, plan on documenting each OHV separately. The right credential depends on whether you are a Colorado resident, whether the vehicle is plated, and where you intend to ride. Here is how to choose and display the right one.
Does a second machine need its own Colorado registration or permit?
Yes. A registration or permit is tied to a particular off-highway vehicle, not a household, rider, trailer, or group of machines. Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires OHVs operated on public land or trails in Colorado to be registered with the agency. It also says all OHVs need either a valid Colorado registration card and decals or a Colorado OHV permit to operate in the state.
That means the sticker on your first ATV does not cover a second ATV, and a UTV’s permit does not transfer to another UTV. If you take both vehicles, each needs its own valid credential for the kind of machine and owner involved. This applies even if one person owns both machines or only one will be ridden at a time.
For Colorado residents, the usual path for an off-highway ATV or UTV is an OHV registration. Colorado Parks and Wildlife describes the registration as an annual requirement, valid from April 1 through March 31. A separate vehicle therefore needs its own registration for the applicable registration year. For a useful overview of the registration process and credential types, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife OHV Registration Explained.
Out-of-state visitors generally use a Colorado OHV use permit for an off-highway vehicle. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says nonresidents are not required to register their OHVs, but they must display a current Colorado OHV use permit sticker to ride on public land or trails. The exemption from Colorado registration does not mean that one permit covers multiple vehicles: arrange the appropriate credential for each machine you bring.
A plated, street-legal vehicle has a different use case. Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires a Colorado OHV permit for plated street-legal vehicles when they travel on designated OHV trails. A plate does not replace that trail permit. More detail is available in Colorado Permits for Plated Street-Legal Vehicles and Why Colorado Will Not Plate Your UTV.
| Your situation | What to arrange for the second machine |
|---|---|
| Colorado resident with an off-highway ATV or UTV | A separate Colorado OHV registration for that machine |
| Nonresident with an off-highway ATV or UTV | A separate current Colorado OHV use permit for that machine |
| Plated, street-legal vehicle using a designated OHV trail | A Colorado OHV permit for that vehicle |
| Machine used only on private land | Check the rules that apply to the land and intended use; public-land registration requirements may differ |
The last row deserves care: this table does not mean every private-land use is automatically exempt. The rules depend on where you ride and how you use the vehicle. If you keep a machine on private property, Colorado OHV Registration for Machines Kept on Private Land addresses that situation more closely.
Choose the correct credential for each vehicle
Before applying, sort out the two questions that determine the credential: who owns or operates the vehicle, and what kind of vehicle it is. A resident’s unplated ATV or UTV is not handled exactly like a nonresident’s machine or a plated vehicle headed onto a designated OHV trail.
Colorado resident with an unplated OHV
For a Colorado resident’s off-highway machine, apply for a registration for the specific vehicle. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a valid registration consists of a registration card and two decals. Keep the card with you while riding and make sure the decals are affixed to the machine in the required positions.
If the second machine was bought from a dealer, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the dealer is required to complete the registration application and collect the registration fee before the vehicle leaves the premises. Confirm that the paperwork is being completed for the new machine itself, rather than assuming an existing registration will carry over.
For a private-party purchase, the sale paperwork matters. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a bill of sale may be used as temporary registration for 30 days. That temporary arrangement is not a substitute for completing the vehicle’s registration, so check the required next steps and keep the sale document available while the registration is being processed. Buying a Used ATV in Colorado: The Paperwork and Colorado OHV Registration After a Private Sale cover related purchase situations.
Nonresident with another off-highway machine
A visitor bringing a second off-highway ATV or UTV should arrange a Colorado permit for that machine, even if another vehicle in the group already has one. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says nonresidents may choose to register their OHVs, but they are not required to do so; they must still have the current Colorado OHV use permit for riding public land or trails.
After buying a permit, use the confirmation receipt and temporary authorization details as directed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife while waiting for the physical decal. The receipt is associated with the permit transaction, so do not treat the receipt or decal for one vehicle as permission for another. For more on which credential fits a visitor’s situation, see Which Colorado Permit an Out-of-State Rider Buys and Colorado Non-Resident OHV Permit Explained.
Plated vehicles and designated OHV trails
A vehicle’s street-legal registration does not automatically meet Colorado’s OHV permit requirement on designated trails. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says plated, street-legal vehicles traveling on a designated OHV trail need a Colorado OHV permit. If your second machine is plated, check the route and permit requirements before heading out.
Permit placement differs from registration decal placement. Colorado Parks and Wildlife directs riders to display the permit on a plated, street-legal vehicle to the right of the front license plate. For a side-by-side, the permit decal goes on the outside face of the driver’s-side roll bar; for an ATV, it goes in an observable location on the front fender. Confirm the placement instructions for the exact type of vehicle before applying the decal.
Apply, renew, and prepare the second machine to ride
Treat the second machine as a separate transaction from the start. Have its vehicle details and ownership information ready, choose the correct registration or permit, and check that the completed record matches the machine you plan to ride. Do not assume the first vehicle’s card, decal, confirmation, or renewal covers another machine.
Colorado OHV registrations and permits follow the same annual period. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says both are valid from April 1 through March 31 and are required annually. If you already own the second machine and are renewing its registration, Colorado Parks and Wildlife allows renewals 45 days before expiration. The agency says owners can renew online or by phone at (800) 244-5613. For renewal steps, see Colorado OHV Registration Renewal Online.
If you need to ride before the official materials arrive, follow the agency’s receipt instructions rather than relying on an old registration. Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires riders who want to operate within the next 30 days to carry the registration confirmation receipt in the field. The agency says the registration card and official decals arrive by mail in approximately 10-20 business days. For a permit purchase, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the confirmation receipt includes a Temporary Authorization Number that is valid for 45 days.
When the decal arrives, apply it to the second vehicle, not to a shared trailer or the first machine. Colorado Parks and Wildlife specifies these registration decal locations:
- On a UTV or side-by-side, place one decal on the outside face of each roll bar.
- On a four-wheel ATV, place decals in an observable location on each side of the front fenders.
- On a dirt bike or three-wheel ATV, place one decal on the outside face of each upper fork.
Permit decal instructions are not identical to registration decal instructions. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says an ATV permit decal belongs in an observable spot on the front fender, while a UTV or side-by-side permit decal belongs on the outside face of the driver’s-side roll bar. Use the instructions for the credential you bought, and avoid peeling, trimming, or moving a decal in a way that makes it hard to see. For more placement help, see Where to Stick an OHV Decal on a Four-Wheel ATV or OHV Decal Placement on a Side-by-Side.
Before setting out, check that the second machine is equipped and permitted for the route. The credential requirement is about the vehicle being operated; having a valid sticker alone does not establish that a trail is open to that machine or that every route rule has been met. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s COTREX trail explorer is built using data from trail managers and can help you investigate route options. Check route restrictions and local requirements before departure, particularly if a trip includes roads or town streets.
Colorado law restricts OHVs on public streets, roads, and highways, with few minor exceptions, according to the Colorado State Patrol. A permit for a trail does not make an otherwise prohibited road trip legal. Where local rules add requirements, confirm them before riding: the Colorado General Assembly says local governments may enact rules addressing matters such as licensing, insurance, seat belts, child restraints, eye protection, helmets for younger riders, and occupant limits. For road access questions, see Riding an OHV on the Road in Colorado.
Common mistakes when adding another ATV or UTV
The easiest mistake is assuming that one owner needs only one registration. The registration or permit needs to match the vehicle being operated. If a household has several machines, check the credential on each one before loading them; a valid sticker on the first vehicle does not resolve the second vehicle’s paperwork.
Another common mix-up is confusing registration with a permit. A Colorado resident’s off-highway machine generally follows the registration process, while a nonresident’s off-highway machine uses a Colorado permit. A plated vehicle may also need a permit when it travels on a designated OHV trail. If ownership, residency, or vehicle status is unusual, confirm the correct category with Colorado Parks and Wildlife instead of guessing.
Do not overlook decal placement. A decal that is still in an envelope, attached to the wrong vehicle, or placed where it cannot be seen may fail to serve its purpose during a trail check. Keep the registration card or receipt with the correct machine’s paperwork and make sure each vehicle’s credential can be matched to it.
Finally, a second machine can change the logistics of a trip even when its paperwork is in order. Check that the route is suitable for that machine’s type and size, and verify any local access rules. If you are planning a group outing, Registering a Whole Family’s Machines at Once may help you think through the paperwork across multiple vehicles, while Colorado OHV Rules for First-Time Visitors can help visiting riders check the broader permit picture.
Sources
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Off-Highway Vehicle and Snowmobile Riding | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (checked November 3, 2026)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Register an Off-Highway Vehicle | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (checked November 3, 2026)
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Register a Snowmobile | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (checked November 3, 2026)
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.
