Drivers Permit

Colorado and Montana have new laws requiring permits on snowmobiles not registered in their state. In both cases, the permit money will go to the grooming funds. In Colorado, the permit will cost $20.25; in Montana it is $15.
“Non-resident permits are becoming the norm throughout the Snowbelt,” said Bob Walker, state trails
programs coordinator for Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) in Montana. He noted that 70 percent of Snowbelt states and nearly all Canadian provinces now charge non-resident fees.
“If you use winter snowmobile trails in Colorado, you have a responsibility to help fund the maintenance of those trails,” said David Hause, snowmobile program administrator for Colorado State Parks.
Colorado State Park officials estimate that 3,000 to 5,000 non-resident permits will be sold during the first season.
Such fees are especially important in a state like Montana with a comparatively small snowmobile population paying for maintenance of groomed trails used by an increasing number of non-resident visitors, Walker said.
With the Montana permit, 83 percent of the fees collected will go to the grooming/trail maintenance fund. The remainder will go to enforcement, search and rescue and administrative costs.
In Montana, snowmobilers can buy permits from some FWP license agents, some snowmobile equipment retail businesses, hotels and motels, other businesses serving snowmobilers or online at www.fwp.state.mt.us/parks/recreation.asp.
In Colorado, the permit will be available at Colorado State Parks offices and locations, as well as select snow-mobile dealerships.