Permits for a Borrowed Machine

Borrowing an ATV or UTV in Colorado raises a practical question: does the owner’s registration or permit cover your ride, or do you need to arrange another one? The answer depends mainly on the machine’s current Colorado credentials and where you plan to ride. Check the decal, paperwork, and route before you set out.

What a borrowed machine needs in Colorado

For riding on public land or designated trails, focus first on whether the machine has the required Colorado credential. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says an OHV must have either a current Colorado registration card and decals or a Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Permit. The requirement is tied to the machine being operated, so a borrower should confirm that the particular ATV or UTV they are taking has valid credentials—not assume that the owner’s word or the borrower’s own registration settles the question.

A current decal on the machine is an important check, but do not rely on a decal alone if there is uncertainty about its status. Ask the owner to show you the registration card, permit confirmation, or other relevant paperwork. Make sure the paperwork and decals appear to correspond to the machine you will use. If the owner recently renewed or purchased a credential and is waiting for the official materials, ask what confirmation is available before riding. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says riders who want to operate within the next 30 days after registering must carry the registration confirmation receipt in the field.

Colorado OHV registrations and permits run on the same annual cycle: Colorado Parks and Wildlife says they are valid from April 1 through March 31 and are required annually. A decal that looks intact may still be expired, so check the dates rather than judging only by its condition. For details about the credential types and how registration works, see Colorado Parks and Wildlife OHV Registration Explained.

Borrowed machine	What to check before riding public land or trails
Colorado-registered ATV or UTV	Confirm that its current registration card and decals are in order
Machine using a Colorado OHV permit	Confirm that the permit is current and displayed on the machine
Out-of-state OHV	Check that it has a current Colorado OHV use permit sticker, unless it is registered in Colorado
Plated, street-legal vehicle being taken onto a designated OHV trail	Check for the Colorado OHV permit required for that trail use
Machine with unclear or expired paperwork	Pause and have the owner resolve the registration or permit question before riding

The table is a practical screening tool, not a substitute for checking the route’s rules. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says nonresidents are not required to register their OHVs but may choose to do so; out-of-state machines must display a current Colorado OHV use permit sticker. A nonresident’s home-state registration should not be treated as a substitute for Colorado’s permit requirement. See Colorado OHV Permit Reciprocity With Other States for the broader reciprocity question.

Who needs to arrange the registration or permit?

If you are borrowing a Colorado machine that already has valid Colorado registration and the required decals, first confirm the credential applies to that exact machine and remains current. In that situation, the first step is usually to verify the owner’s paperwork and the machine’s decal, not to buy a second credential simply because you are the person holding the handlebars.

If the machine does not have a current Colorado registration or permit, do not assume that borrowing it makes the requirement disappear. Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires OHVs on public land or trails to be registered, and the Colorado General Assembly says all OHVs owned and operated in Colorado must display current registration stickers in staging areas or on designated trails. Work with the owner to resolve the missing, expired, or uncertain credential before the trip. If the owner cannot show that the machine is properly covered for the planned ride, choose another machine or postpone the ride.

The distinction between the borrower and the machine also matters when a visitor brings a machine from another state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says nonresidents may register an OHV but are not required to do so; they must instead ensure the out-of-state OHV has the current Colorado OHV use permit sticker when required. For a plated, street-legal vehicle, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says a Colorado OHV Permit is required when traveling on a designated OHV trail. A road plate does not remove that trail-permit requirement.

Before accepting the keys, ask the owner:

• Is this machine registered in Colorado, or does it use a Colorado OHV permit?
• Is the credential current for the riding season?
• Can I see the registration card or permit confirmation?
• Are the decals attached and visible?
• Is the machine allowed on the specific route we plan to ride?
• Are there local rules about a driver license, insurance, helmets, seatbelts, or passengers?

That last question is not just paperwork. The Colorado General Assembly says local governments may adopt OHV rules that require things such as a driver license, liability insurance, seatbelts, child restraints, eye protection, helmets for riders 18 and younger, or limits on the number of occupants. The requirements can vary by location. The General Assembly also specifies that OHV operators on the Alpine Loop Trail in southwest Colorado must have a valid driver license and carry liability insurance. Confirm the rules for your exact route rather than assuming that the owner’s usual riding area has the same requirements.

For more background on whether a title and registration are separate matters, see Do You Need Both a Title and a Registration in Colorado?. A title concerns ownership documentation; a current registration or permit is the credential relevant to operating the machine on public OHV routes.

Check the decal, paperwork, and route

A pre-ride check should be simple and deliberate. Start with the machine’s decal, then compare it with the paperwork the owner provides. If the credential was recently renewed, ask whether the confirmation receipt is available. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says registration cards and official decals arrive by mail in approximately 10–20 business days, and says a confirmation receipt must be carried in the field for riding within the next 30 days. If the owner is relying on a recent transaction, establish what documentation is in hand before leaving.

Decal placement can help you check that you are looking in the right place, though the machine’s design may affect visibility. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says decals for a four-wheel ATV should be in an observable location on each side of the front fenders. For a UTV or side-by-side, the agency says one decal should be positioned on each outside face of the roll bars. A permit has different placement instructions: for a UTV or side-by-side, Colorado Parks and Wildlife says to place it on the outside face of the driver’s-side roll bar. See Where to Stick an OHV Decal on a Four-Wheel ATV or OHV Decal Placement on a Side-by-Side if you need a visual refresher on placement.

A decal can be damaged, hard to read, or missing even when the owner believes the machine is registered. Do not try to settle a questionable situation by relying on an old photograph or an explanation that the permit is “probably still good.” Ask the owner to verify the machine’s status through the appropriate Colorado Parks and Wildlife process. If the sticker is damaged or absent, Replacing a Damaged Colorado OHV Decal may help identify the next step.

Next, check where you intend to ride. A valid credential does not authorize every trail, road, or public-land route. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources and Colorado Parks and Wildlife created COTREX, the Colorado Trail Explorer, as a trail-mapping resource built with data from trail managers. Use a current map and confirm local restrictions or closures before setting out; a mapped route should not be treated as proof that every vehicle may use it.

Also separate trail use from road use. The Colorado State Patrol says a state law prohibiting OHVs on public streets, roads, or highways took effect on May 7, 2021, with few minor exceptions. An OHV permit is not permission to ride an ATV or UTV on any public road you encounter on the way to a trail. Confirm whether a particular road or town route is open to OHVs and whether any additional local conditions apply. See Riding an OHV on the Road in Colorado for more on that separate issue.

A practical handoff checklist

A clear handoff with the owner avoids confusion at a trailhead. Before loading or riding the machine, go through these steps:

1. Identify the machine’s credential. Ask whether it uses Colorado registration or a Colorado OHV permit, and have the owner show the associated paperwork.
2. Check that it is current. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says registrations and permits are valid from April 1 through March 31 each year. Verify the relevant period rather than assuming last season’s decal still works.
3. Inspect the decals. Confirm that the required decal or decals are present, visible, and on the machine you will operate.
4. Resolve recent renewals. If the owner has just completed a transaction, ask for the confirmation receipt. Colorado Parks and Wildlife requires that receipt to be carried in the field when riding within the next 30 days.
5. Confirm the route is open to that machine. Check current route information and any local restrictions. Do not confuse an OHV trail permit with authorization to ride public streets or roads.
6. Ask about local operating rules. Verify whether the area has requirements for licensing, insurance, protective equipment, passengers, or other matters.
7. Agree who will handle any missing credential. If the paperwork or sticker is expired, unclear, or absent, let the owner address it before the ride rather than hoping it will not be checked.

If the machine is not properly documented, the safest answer is to wait until the owner can confirm its status. A borrowed machine does not become compliant merely because the borrower has permission to use it. And having the right credential does not make an otherwise closed or prohibited route legal. For what an officer may check at a stop, see Colorado Ranger Checks at a Trailhead; if you are unsure whether riding is allowed while a replacement sticker is in transit, see Riding While You Wait for Your Colorado Sticker.

The key takeaway is straightforward: before borrowing an ATV or UTV for Colorado public land or trails, confirm that the machine itself has current Colorado registration or a valid Colorado permit, then check that the planned route allows it. Ask the owner for the documentation, inspect the decals, and settle any uncertainty before the ride begins.

Sources

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Off-Highway Vehicle and Snowmobile Riding | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (checked November 3, 2026)
• Colorado General Assembly — Off‑Highway Vehicles | Colorado General Assembly (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.