Maine Updates for the 2022 ATV season
ATV season is just around the corner! Maine’s ATV trails do not open until May 15 at the earliest, with many clubs not opening trails until early June. Always check with the local ATV club to learn when trails will be open.
Two major changes for the 2022 season include an increase in registration fees to help improve and better maintain ATV trails, and an ATV size restriction to prevent future trail damage. As Maine’s ATV trails continue to get busier, continuing to improve and maintain trails is critical for the future of the sport. We are looking forward to another great season of cruising Maine’s 6,000 miles of trails.
ATV Registration Fees
Over two-thirds of all registration funds, including all of the new fee increase, goes towards trail creation and maintenance
ATV Registration fees increased effective May 1, 2022 to help increase funding for trail maintenance and building new trails. Fees also support volunteer ATV clubs who provide critical work maintaining the trail systems, and private landowners who allow trail access.
New Law: ATV Size Restriction
Effective October 18, 2021
Oversized ATV: is a new category of an ATV that is wider than 65 inches or that weighs more than 2,000 pounds according to the original manufacturer’s specifications and cannot be registered with the State of Maine (except in certain situations described below).
Exception: Registration of an oversized ATV is allowed for Maine residents only who previously registered that oversized ATV before January 1, 2022. An oversized ATV that is allowed under this law to be registered by its current Maine-resident owner may
be transferred to a new (Maine resident) owner who may also register that ATV.
Where Registered Oversized ATVs May Operate: A legally registered oversized ATV may operate on land where they have permission from the landowner or lessee, on frozen waters of the state, and portions of state approved ATV trails which do not limit the use of oversized ATVs. Additionally, written permission of the landowner or lessee is required for use of an ATV on cropland or pastureland or in an orchard.
Where Unregistered ATVs (Including Oversized ATVs) May Operate: Unregistered ATVs, whether oversized or not, are allowed to be operated only on land the operator owns or leases. Exception: If written permission is obtained from the landowner or lessee and that person is engaged solely in a business activity (other than a business activity involving recreational use of the oversized ATV) oversized unregistered ATVs may be operated on that land.
ATV dealers are required to notify purchasers of oversized ATVs (new and used) of this law. ATV registration agents are required to notify ATV owners and provide education on oversized ATVs at the time of registration.
Register your ATV
ATV registrations are valid from July 1st through June 30th.
Maine residents may renew an ATV registration online. New registrations must be done through a registration agent such as a town office or the MDIFW main office in Augusta.
Nonresidents may register or renew an ATV registration online.
New registrations only – Beginning May 1st of each year, registrations will be valid from the date of issue through June 30 of the following year.
