Michigan ORV License Price This Season
Michigan ORV permit prices can be confusing because the annual license and trail permit are separate charges, and not every ride requires both. The key question is where you plan to ride: the base license costs $26.25, while state-designated ORV trails add a $10 trail permit. Here’s how to work out which total applies and when it expires.
Michigan ORV license price and the trail permit total
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the annual Michigan ORV license costs $26.25. Riding on state-designated ORV trails requires an additional $10.00 trail permit, bringing the combined cost to $36.25. These figures are as of October 2026.
That means there isn’t one total that automatically applies to every ORV trip. If you need the license and plan to use state-designated trails, budget for both permits. If your planned use does not require a trail permit, the combined trail-access total may not apply. Check the rules for the specific riding area before setting out.
| What you plan to do | License | Trail permit | Combined total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obtain the annual ORV license | $26.25 | Not included | $26.25 |
| Ride state-designated ORV trails | $26.25 | $10.00 | $36.25 |
| Ride on the frozen surface of public waters | Required | Not required for this use | $26.25 for the license |
According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, an ORV license is required to operate on the frozen surface of public waters, but a trail permit is not required for that specific use. This is one reason to match the permit purchase to the kind of riding you intend to do rather than assuming the combined price is necessary for every ride.
The table summarizes the costs in the supplied Michigan Department of Natural Resources rules. It does not mean every ORV location has the same access conditions. A trail, road, facility, or other riding area can have its own rules, and closures or local restrictions may affect whether you can ride there. Confirm the requirements for your destination before relying on a permit.
If you want a broader explanation of how the two credentials work together, see Michigan ORV License and Trail Permit Explained. For the narrower question of whether both apply to your planned ride, Do You Need Both a License and a Trail Permit in Michigan? is also relevant.
What the $26.25 license does and does not tell you
The base license price is not the same as the combined price for state-designated trail access. When you see a figure of $26.25, read it as the annual ORV license cost, not as the total for riding those trails. The additional trail permit is what brings the combined total to $36.25.
At the same time, don’t treat $36.25 as a universal charge for every kind of ORV use. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources specifically says a trail permit is not required for riding the frozen surface of public waters, although the ORV license is required. For other places, check whether the location and activity call for a trail permit.
This distinction matters when planning a ride that includes more than one type of access. If you expect to use state-designated trails during the same permit period, the combined cost is the relevant figure for that plan. If you will only use a setting where the trail permit is not required, the base license may be the only one of these two costs that applies. When the route or access rules are unclear, verify them before leaving; don’t rely on a general price summary to settle a site-specific question.
Which permit you need depends on where you ride
Start with your riding destination, not just the machine. An ATV and a UTV are both commonly discussed as ORVs, but the permit question here turns on the type of access you plan to use. For state-designated ORV trails, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources requires the additional trail permit along with the base ORV license. For riding on the frozen surface of public waters, the department says the license is required but the trail permit is not.
That gives you a practical way to decide what to budget:
- If your plans include state-designated ORV trails, use the $36.25 combined total.
- If your plans are limited to riding on the frozen surface of public waters, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources says the trail permit is not required for that use; the ORV license is still required.
- If you are considering a different type of riding area, check that location’s permit requirements rather than assuming either total applies.
The last point is important. A place being open to ORVs does not, by itself, tell you whether a trail permit is required. Likewise, having a trail permit does not guarantee that a particular trail or facility is open on the day you arrive. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources can close state trails and facilities because of weather-related events and wet conditions. Check access conditions as well as permit requirements before travelling.
If you plan to ride only on certain roads or other areas rather than designated trails, don’t guess based on how the route looks on a map. Use the route’s official designation and the current rules for that location. Michigan ORV License Without a Trail Permit: Where You Can Ride covers the related question of where a license may be enough without the trail permit.
Private property is another case where it’s wise to verify the specific rules instead of assuming that all permit requirements disappear. Ownership, permission, the type of use, and whether the ride leaves the property can all affect which rules matter. For more on that situation, see Michigan ORV Permit Exemptions on Private Land.
A quick check before paying
Before purchasing, make a short plan for the trip. Identify the area where you expect to ride, determine whether it includes state-designated ORV trails, and check for any posted closures or special requirements. If your route includes more than one kind of area, check each part rather than basing the whole plan on the first trailhead or map listing you find.
Also keep the distinction between the license and trail permit clear in your paperwork. One charge does not automatically mean you have paid the other. If your intended ride requires both, confirm that both are covered before you go. If only the license applies to your planned use, you may not need the additional trail permit for that specific activity.
This check is especially useful when plans change. A ride that starts on a road or open area might later include a state-designated trail. If the additional permit is required for that trail, a license by itself does not represent the combined trail-access purchase. Rechecking the route before departing can prevent a permit mismatch.
Expiration, mid-season purchases, and planning ahead
Michigan ORV licenses and trail permits are annual, but the expiration date does not move based on when you buy them. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, annual licenses and trail permits expire on March 31 of the following year, regardless of the purchase date.
In practical terms, buying later in the permit period does not give you a full year from the date of purchase. The expiration remains tied to March 31 of the following year. If you are deciding whether to buy for a late-season ride, check how much of the permit period remains and consider whether your plans require one or both permits.
A purchase made for a single planned trip is still governed by the same expiration rule. Don’t assume that a permit bought close to the end of the period will carry forward through the next one. Check the dates printed or shown with the permit and confirm the current permit period with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources if anything is unclear.
The date also matters when you ride regularly. A permit that was valid for an earlier trip may not remain valid after its March 31 expiration. Before the first ride of a new permit period, check whether you need to renew the license, the trail permit, or both for your planned use.
For the yearly timing question, see Michigan’s April 1 ORV Permit Year. For the expiration rule itself, When Michigan ORV Permits Expire Each Year provides a related explanation. If you’re buying after the riding season has already started, Michigan ORV License for a Machine Bought Mid-Season may help you think through the timing.
Build the price into the trip budget
The permit total is only one part of planning a ride. It helps to separate the permit decision from other trip choices: where you’ll ride, whether the location is open, what rules apply to your machine and riders, and whether you need any other equipment or paperwork. The license-and-trail-permit prices above cover those two permits only; they are not a full estimate of every possible trip expense.
If you are comparing the base cost with the combined amount, avoid treating the difference as an optional add-on when your destination requires the trail permit. The additional $10.00 is necessary for state-designated trail use under the Michigan Department of Natural Resources rule. Conversely, don’t add that amount automatically when you have confirmed that the specific type of riding you plan to do does not require a trail permit.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources also has authority to close state trails and facilities because of weather-related events and wet conditions. That means a valid permit and a planned route do not guarantee the route will be open when you arrive. Check current access conditions before leaving, and have a backup plan if your destination is closed.
If your trip is specifically about riding frozen public waters, remember the distinction: the Michigan Department of Natural Resources requires the ORV license for this use but does not require the trail permit. [Michigan ORV Permit for Frozen Lakes] covers that permit question in more detail.
Common price mistakes and a final checklist
The most common mistake is reading the base license price as though it includes trail access. It does not: the Michigan Department of Natural Resources lists the $10.00 trail permit as an additional purchase for riding state-designated ORV trails. Another common mistake is assuming the combined $36.25 total applies to every ORV activity, even though the department specifies an exception for riding on the frozen surface of public waters.
A third mistake is thinking that buying a permit partway through the period changes its expiration date. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, annual ORV licenses and trail permits expire on March 31 of the following year regardless of when purchased.
Use this checklist before your next ride:
- Identify where you plan to ride and whether the route uses state-designated ORV trails.
- Budget $26.25 for the annual license, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
- Add the $10.00 trail permit when your planned use requires it; the combined total is $36.25, according to the department.
- Remember that the department does not require a trail permit for riding on the frozen surface of public waters, but the ORV license is still required.
- Check the March 31 expiration rule before relying on a permit from an earlier purchase.
- Confirm that the destination is open and check any area-specific rules before setting out.
If you ride without a trail permit where one is required, the consequences can be more than a paperwork inconvenience. According to the Michigan Legislature, operating an ORV without a required trail permit is a state civil infraction carrying a civil fine of not more than $500. The penalty makes it worth checking the route and permit requirement rather than assuming the base license covers every kind of access. For more on the enforcement question, see Fines for Riding Without a Michigan ORV License.
The simplest rule of thumb is to choose the price based on the riding you actually plan to do: $26.25 for the annual ORV license, or $36.25 when you also need the trail permit for state-designated trails. Then confirm the location’s rules and the permit’s expiration date. That small check helps avoid both paying for the wrong combination and arriving without the permit your route requires.
Sources
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources — ORV FAQs – State of Michigan (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources — Purchase permit, learn requirements – State of Michigan (checked October 28, 2026)
- Michigan Legislature — Michigan Compiled Laws, Section 324.81147 (checked October 28, 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.
