Do snowmobiles have titles?

It depends on the state. Some states title snowmobiles the same way they title cars, but many only require registration, often through the state natural resources or fish and wildlife agency rather than the motor vehicle office. In states with no title, a signed bill of sale and the transferred registration are the ownership record.

Do ATVs and UTVs need a title?

In some states yes, in others no. A number of states title ATVs and side-by-sides, while others require only registration or a trail permit. ATVs that are registered for road use in states that allow it are more likely to be titled. Check your state motor vehicle agency first, then its natural resources agency.

Does a dirt bike have a title?

A street-legal dual-sport bike is usually titled and registered like any motorcycle. An off-road-only dirt bike may be titled, registered as an off-highway vehicle, or carry no state paperwork, depending on the state. The original manufacturer certificate of origin is often what establishes ownership on an untitled bike.

What paperwork do I need to sell an untitled ATV or snowmobile?

A bill of sale that lists both parties, the date, the price, and the vehicle by make, model, year, and VIN or serial number, plus any registration the state requires you to transfer. Hand over the manufacturer certificate of origin if you have it. Sell as-is and keep a signed copy.

How do I check whether a used ATV or snowmobile is stolen?

Compare the VIN on the frame with the paperwork and look for signs it was ground off or altered. The National Insurance Crime Bureau has a free VINCheck lookup for vehicles reported stolen to participating insurers, and local law enforcement can run a VIN. Walk away from any machine whose number does not match.

Do snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes have titles?

Selling a car comes with a script: sign the title, hand over the keys. Selling a snowmobile, a four-wheeler, or a dirt bike often doesn't. Depending on the state, the machine might have a title, a registration sticker from a wildlife agency, or no state paperwork at all. The bill of sale does very different jobs in each case.

Three ways a state can handle it

For cars, every state uses a title. For off-road machines, states fall into roughly three groups, and the same state can treat snowmobiles, ATVs, and dirt bikes differently:

Titled like a car. The motor vehicle agency issues a title, and the sale works like any vehicle sale: the seller signs the title over and the buyer retitles it.
Registered but not titled. The machine carries a registration number or decal, often issued by the state natural resources or fish and wildlife agency instead of the DMV. Registration proves it may be ridden, not who owns it.
Neither. Some states require only a trail permit or nothing at all for machines ridden on private land.

Street-legal dual-sport motorcycles are the exception that's easy to remember: they're titled and registered like any motorcycle. See buying a used motorcycle privately.

How to find out which system you're in

Ask what the seller has. A title, a registration card or decal, or a manufacturer certificate of origin each points to a different system.
Check the state motor vehicle agency for off-highway vehicle titling.
Then check the natural resources agency, which runs snowmobile and ATV registration in many states.
If you're buying across state lines, check both states. Your state decides what you need to register it at home.

Create a Bill of Sale ($5) Trailer Titling by State

What changes hands at the sale

Titled machine: the signed title plus a bill of sale. Don't accept a title with someone else's name as seller, which is title jumping. See when the seller has no title.
Registered only: a bill of sale and whatever transfer step the registering agency requires, usually a form and a fee in the buyer's name.
No state paperwork: the bill of sale is the ownership record, along with the original certificate of origin if the seller still has it.

In every case the bill of sale should list both parties, the date, the price, and the machine by make, model, year, and VIN or serial number, plus hours or mileage and an as-is statement. See bill of sale for personal property and what to include in a bill of sale.

The VIN matters more without a title

Titles create a paper trail that makes stolen cars hard to sell. Untitled off-road machines don't have that trail, which is why they're stolen and resold more easily. Before paying, compare the VIN stamped on the frame with every document, and look for grinding, fresh paint, or a replaced plate around it. The National Insurance Crime Bureau runs a free VINCheck lookup for vehicles reported stolen to participating insurers, and local police can run the number. A machine whose VIN doesn't match its paperwork isn't a bargain.

When the trailer comes too

Snowmobiles and ATVs often sell with a trailer, and the trailer has its own titling rules, usually based on weight. Treat it as a second item on the bill of sale with its own VIN, and transfer its title or registration separately. See trailer titling by state. If a titled machine comes with no title at all, a bonded title may be the way to get one; see bonded titles.

Create Your Bill of Sale ($5) →