RENEWAL PERIOD FOR ATVs, ORVs and ORMs NOW UNDERWAY

By Deb Winke,
Allamakee County Recorder

The renewal period for all snowmobiles, ATVs, ORVs and ORMs began September 1. Off-Highway Vehicles, which includes all of the above, are renewed every year prior to December 31 to avoid penalty. The fee to renew a current OHV is $17.75. If the OHV is not current, a $5.00 penalty fee applies.

All Off-Highway Vehicles operating on trails, public land or ice must display a current registration decal and have the registration certificate on board. All renewals are processed by the County Recorder’s office. Renewals can be done through the mail by returning the renewal postcard recently sent out or your current registration certificate, along with payment to the Allamakee County Recorder’s office. An additional fee of $1.00 is charged for postage if done by mail. Renewals can also be completed over the counter, with the same information presented, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All recreational vehicle registrations, titles and liens (including boats) are processed on a statewide electronic system called Recreational Vehicle and Vessel Registration System, or RVVRS. Renewals through RVVRS are done in County Recorder’s offices or online with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This statewide system was implemented in 2012. All newly-owned machines must be registered through the County Recorder’s office in the owner’s county of residence.

May 16, 2016, the Allamakee County Supervisors passed an ordinance to allow current registered All-Terrain Vehicles or Off-Road Utility Vehicles to operate on all County secondary graveled roadways, with the exception of Level C roadways. Individuals residing on a County pavement wishing to operate an All-Terrain Vehicle and/or Off-Road Utility Vehicle may operate on the shoulder of the County pavement so far as to reach the nearest County gravel road.

Even with the County ordinance, individuals that only use their Off-Road Utility Vehicles for farm use are not required to register them or change their farm registration status to a regular yearly registration. This only applies if you are going to operate your machine on the County secondary gravel roads for other than farm use.

There is no longer a provision in Iowa law that provides for a farm registration for Off-Highway Vehicles.  Registration is not required for All-Terrain Vehicles or Off-Road Utility Vehicles used exclusively as farm implements. Vehicles previously registered as farm use prior to July 1, 2014 will be grandfathered and still in effect. In order to receive a current decal for that vehicle, you need to come in and change the registration status from farm to regular.

We recommend that all farm use vehicles are initially registered and titled to establish ownership. Sales tax will not be charged if you qualify for an exemption and sign a Sales Tax Exemption form at either the dealer you purchased the machine from or in our office.

Please remember if you plan on riding your OHV on any County secondary graveled roads for any reason other than farming, you will need to keep a current registration and decal on the vehicle.

For individuals purchasing new vehicles or wanting to register a vehicle that was not previously registered, you need to bring in the Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO) and bill of sale to register the vehicle in your name.  If you’ve owned the machine for a while and cannot locate the MSO and bill of sale, the dealer may have a copy.

If the vehicle was registered and titled in Iowa or another state, we need that documentation to complete the transfer. If the vehicle was not previously registered, there is an affidavit that needs to be completed and inspected by a Conservation Officer, Police, Sheriff or Iowa State Patrol.  We need to have some type of documentation that shows you purchased the vehicle. Sales tax will be charged unless you qualify for a sales tax exemption.

A non-resident wanting to operate their OHV in Iowa needs to have a current registration from their state and purchase a non-resident user permit. If their state doesn’t require registration, they need to register and title them in the Iowa county they will be riding in, with no user permit required.

All snowmobiles, resident or non-resident, operating on public land, ice or designated snowmobile trails are required to display a valid DNR user permit along with a current registration and decal. The user permit decal must be affixed to the machine to be legal. All user permits may be purchased beginning September 1 each year and are valid for the remainder of the year, plus the entire following calendar year. DNR user permits may be obtained at any licensed vendor that sells hunting and fishing privileges or the County Recorder’s office.  The cost is $17.75.

So once again, the renewal period for all snowmobiles, ATVs and OHVs began September 1 and runs through December 31, 2016. The cost is $17.75 to renew if the vehicle is current. If the vehicle is not current, an additional penalty of $5.00 is due. If done by mail, an additional fee of $1.00 is charged for postage.