Department of Motor Vehicles

Contact:
Joe Morrissey    [email protected] 
Casey McNulty [email protected] 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, November 9, 2015 

NEW YORK STATE DMV ENCOURAGES SNOWMOBILE ENTHUSIASTS TO REGISTER THEIR RIDES BEFORE THE SEASON BEGINS

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) today reminded snowmobile riders to avoid the last-minute rush and renew their annual registration before the snow flies.  Over the last snowmobile season DMV processed nearly 25,000 annual snowmobile registration renewals online through its website, dmv.ny.gov.  DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations directly through the DMV website, or renew by mail, saving a trip to a DMV office. 

"Every snowmobile in New York State is required to be registered annually and we want to make this process as simple as possible,” said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egan. “The ability for riders to renew their snowmobile registrations online is an example of working smarter and more efficiently, while at the same time making it more convenient for our customers to do business.  We also encourage every snowmobiler to enjoy the coming season safely and responsibly.”

Anyone operating a snowmobile in New York must register the sled in the state and obtain a validation sticker.  Upon completing a registration online, riders can print a temporary certificate, which is valid for 15 days.  DMV generates a permanent registration and mails it to the recipient, along with their validation sticker. There is no additional charge for the temporary certificate.  Registration renewals can also be performed in a DMV office. 

Snowmobilers must carry registration and proof of insurance documents on their person at all times while snowmobiling. Riders must produce the documents at the request of any law enforcement officer or magistrate. Additionally, riders must produce insurance documentation at the request of anyone who is injured or suffers property damage as a result of operation of a snowmobile. Holders of snowmobile safety certificates must carry the certificate when they are snowmobiling.

A New York State snowmobile registration costs $45 if a customer is a member of a New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) affiliated club.  Members must have their member voucher number on hand to process the transaction with the NYSSA discount.  Otherwise, the cost is $100.  All but $10 of each registration goes to the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund, which supports 10,500 miles of public snowmobile trails in New York State, snowmobile safety education programs and enforcement of New York State snowmobile laws.

In New York State, young riders from ages 10 to 18 years old are required to take a New York State-approved Snowmobile Safety Course and obtain a snowmobile safety certificate when riding on public lands.  The course provides fundamental information that all snowmobilers should have in order to ensure the safety of riders and other trail users.  Riders may also be eligible for savings on sled insurance for having a Snowmobile Safety Certificate.  A listing of NYSSA’s safety courses, which is updated on a weekly basis during snowmobile season, can be found here. 

Dominic Jacangelo, Executive Director of the New York State Snowmobile Association, said, “Joining a club and registering your sled could not be easier.  Go to www.nysnowmobiler.com to join a club where you ride, and then go to the DMV website to register your sled.  It takes ten minutes to do both.  Remember that club dues and our snowmobile registration is what supports the 10,500 miles of public accessible snowmobile trails in New York.”

Register a snowmobile. Learn more about the various recreation opportunities on snowmobile trails across New York State.

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