Michigan out of State Trail Pass and Home State registration.

snowdance

snowdance

Member
A buddy of mine is buying a new snowmobile from Houghton Power Sports and we are picking it up Friday. We snowmobile up there Friday and Saturday. Here lies the question, it wont be registered yet in Wisconsin (home state). Is that required for the out of state pass? Any info is appreciated.
 
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caged_beagle

Member
There is no out of state pass. Everyone including residents are required to buy a trail permit (I assume that is what you are calling a out of state pass) and it is also required to have registration for the snowmobile whether it be Mich reg or out of state reg. If your sled is not registered with any state you are taking the chance of a no-registration ticket I would say. You may be lucky showing proof of purchase as recent as the day before and if it was a Houghton County business that you bought the sled from if you get the right LEO but I wouldn't count on it. My .02¢

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sjshaner

New member
You can register on line with the Wisconsin DNR and print a temporary registration from any computer. I bet if you tell them at Houghton Powersports that you need it registered in Wisconsin that they could probably do it though.
 
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Skylar

Super Moderator
Staff member
I bought my new sled from Houghton Power Sports Thursday the 16th, I live in Wi also, and rode it till Saturday the 18th. Kept my bill of sale on me, bought a trail pass for it, and rode. I guess you could get a non registration ticket, but I wouldn't think so, ya just bought it, and you are up there riding it, with no time to go back to Wi to register it. I wouldn't worry about it. :)
 
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russholio

Well-known member
Not sure exactly what you're asking, but if you're asking if you need a registration to get a trail permit -- no.
 
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snoeatr

Member
A few years back a buddy bought a sled in Ironwood and rode back to Hurley a mile or so. It didnt have current MI sticker but did have WI. We planned to stay in WI rest off weekend but got stopped on state line and he got a big ticket. Showed paperwork from just 30 minutes before but officer said show the judge. It was b.s.!
 
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snoluver1

Active member
A friend of mine bought an M7 in '05. Never been registered yet! Also never paid tax on it. He never rides it at home and just buys the trail pass for what ever state we're ridding. Never had a problem so far.

I should add, we have never ridden in WI. Sled was bought in MI.
 
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indy_500

indy_500

Well-known member
caged_beagle said:
There is no out of state pass. Everyone including residents are required to buy a trail permit (I assume that is what you are calling a out of state pass) and it is also required to have registration for the snowmobile whether it be Mich reg or out of state reg. If your sled is not registered with any state you are taking the chance of a no-registration ticket I would say. You may be lucky showing proof of purchase as recent as the day before and if it was a Houghton County business that you bought the sled from if you get the right LEO but I wouldn't count on it. My .02¢

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So your saying if you register in MI you still need to buy a MI trail permit? (for 2012, the green sticker?)
 
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Hoosier

Well-known member
indy_500 said:
So your saying if you register in MI you still need to buy a MI trail permit? (for 2012, the green sticker?)
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Yes, that is true - in michigan, registration and trail permits are separate (unlike Wisconsin).

If I was in the original poster's shoes, I'd get the VIN ahead of time and register it online in Wisconsin and print the temporary registration. My sled is registered in Wisconsin and their online process is very simple. I had to do the same thing since I bought my sled a day before I went on a trip.
 
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Deleted member 10829

Guest
snoluver1 said:
A friend of mine bought an M7 in '05. Never been registered yet! Also never paid tax on it. He never rides it at home and just buys the trail pass for what ever state we're ridding. Never had a problem so far.

I should add, we have never ridden in WI. Sled was bought in MI.
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That's not something I'd be too proud of! Just another person cheating the system.
 
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Polarice

New member
I would imagine that there is some kind of a grace period like 30 days. Call the MDNR and they will tell you.

As far as the guy riding without being registered in his state; he's just taking a chance and it's not the smartest thing to do. He could play ignorant if he get's stopped by MDNR but ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law.

I live in Ohio but my sleds live in MI. Because OH is my primary residence I still have to have them registered in OH. I guess the state doesn't care about losing money that way.
 
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penaltyvectors

New member
This happened just this year with a friend of mine who lives in Canada and bought a sled in the states on his way to Munising. We were riding just outside of Marquette on our way back to Munising and rolled up on an officer who was just getting done with a couple other sledders. He looked at my friends sled and had everyone turn off the engines. He asked why there was no registration and my friend explained that he had just bought it on the way over from Canada and hadn't gotten it registered but was going to when he got back home. Officer said he could give him a ticket but was only going to write his name down in the event he saw him again and he still didn't have it registered.
 
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Polarice

New member
penaltyvectors said:
This happened just this year with a friend of mine who lives in Canada and bought a sled in the states on his way to Munising. We were riding just outside of Marquette on our way back to Munising and rolled up on an officer who was just getting done with a couple other sledders. He looked at my friends sled and had everyone turn off the engines. He asked why there was no registration and my friend explained that he had just bought it on the way over from Canada and hadn't gotten it registered but was going to when he got back home. Officer said he could give him a ticket but was only going to write his name down in the event he saw him again and he still didn't have it registered.
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Well there you have it!
 
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renegade

Active member
I'm sure you could have the invoice emailed to you, print it, take to a dnr office, (if you can find one open) and have them register. You would have card and stickers in hand and no worries!
 
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polarisrider1

New member
indy_500 said:
So your saying if you register in MI you still need to buy a MI trail permit? (for 2012, the green sticker?)
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Indy, you know how it works. Registration and trail permit are two entirely different things. A trail permit is about the easiest thing to purchase for your sled.
 
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camphappyplace

Member
Polarice said:
I would imagine that there is some kind of a grace period like 30 days. Call the MDNR and they will tell you.

As far as the guy riding without being registered in his state; he's just taking a chance and it's not the smartest thing to do. He could play ignorant if he get's stopped by MDNR but ignorance is not an excuse for breaking the law.

I live in Ohio but my sleds live in MI. Because OH is my primary residence I still have to have them registered in OH. I guess the state doesn't care about losing money that way.
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I purchased a new sled this season from a dealer near my cabin in the UP. My primary residence is in Wisconsin. The sled has a MI registration as well as the MI trail permit. I don't register it in WI. I don't profess to be an expert on this subject but I'm assuming I'm ok. It's actually the second time I've done this. The first time (2008-2009 riding season) the dealer told me this is what he had to do. I didn't care because the sled is ridden and stays in MI. In fact, my MI registration renewal on the sled I bought in 2008 came to my WI mailing address. I suppose MI doesn't mind because they are getting the money. WI probably is not happy but it's not ridden or stored there. It will be interesting if I'm ever stopped by a MI DNR officer as to what he does when he sees my WI driver license and MI registration.
 
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radsrh

New member
Camphappyplace

there should be no problem with that at all as long as it is reg in "a" state, plenty of people on the board live in IL and reg the sleds in WI.

One thought if your not going to be coming in WI after you purchase the sled before you ride in MI, how about just jump on a computer at the Library or Hotel and do an on-line WI reg and print off the paperwork and keep it with you? Just put the stickers on when they come in the mail.
 
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