In Illinois, operating a snowmobile requires adherence to specific regulations and guidelines. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Illinois Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act, covering essential aspects such as registration procedures, fees, trail use stickers, and mandatory liability insurance.
Snowmobile Registration
The owner of each snowmobile requiring numbering by the State shall file a snowmobile application with the Department. To register your snowmobile, you must submit a snowmobile application, required documents and the appropriate fee. Applications are available from Department of Natural Resources offices, snowmobile dealers or online. State law requires that the purchaser of a snowmobile shall within 15 days after purchase, make application to the Department for Registration/Titling.
Online Renewal
Snowmobile owners are able to renew their snowmobile registrations by using a touch-tone telephone or the Internet. This convenient service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Department of Natural Resources DID NOT send out Snowmobile renewal notices this year.
Before using this service, you are reminded that you need your Illinois registration number and body serial number (located on your registration card), and a pen and paper to record your confirmation number. Upon completion of your transaction you will receive a confirmation number that will authorize you to immediately use your snowmobile. This is especially helpful if your current registration and decals have expired. If you have moved since your last registration, the system will allow you to enter your new address. All information supplied to this service regarding registration and credit card information is guaranteed to be protected for your privacy.
If your registration number consists of 3 numbers and 2 letters instead of 4 numbers and 2 letters then you must enter a zero in front of the registration number. Example: 0123XZ.
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Transactions Requiring Application Form
To apply for one of the following transactions you must complete a snowmobile registration application form and submit with required documents and fee(s). Please refer to the instruction page of the snowmobile registration application form.
- New Registration - New snowmobiles and snowmobiles previously issued an out-of-state registration.
- Transfer Of Ownership - of a snowmobile currently issued an Illinois registration.
- Renew - your current snowmobile registration, or renew your registration online or by phone at 1-866-867-3542.
- Duplicate Registration Card - To replace one which has been destroyed, lost or stolen.
- Corrected Registration Card - To correct information on your current registration card such as change of address.
- Duplicate Decals - To replace ones that have been destroyed, stolen or lost.
- 60 Day Temporary Permit - The temporary Permit copy of the application is valid for 60 days from the date the application is signed for use of your snowmobile in Illinois while your application is being processed.
Fees
Increase the snowmobile registration fee to $45 for new snowmobile registrations, transfer renewals, and renewals. Old registration application forms will be accepted as long as the new fee is remitted.
For the registration years beginning on or after January 1, 2017, every certificate of number awarded under this Section shall be accompanied by a fee of $45. The application for renewal of each certificate of number shall be made by the owner between October 1 and December 31 of each year, and shall be accompanied by a fee of $30.
The Department shall issue to the snowmobile owner two registration expiration decals with the number awarded to that snowmobile imprinted upon the decals. The owner shall apply these decals on each side of the cowling of such snowmobile.
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Non-Resident Trail Use Sticker
Require a Non-Resident to purchase a yearly snowmobile trail use sticker if the snowmobile is not registered in Illinois. The fee for a snowmobile trail use sticker is $25 for a person who is not a resident of this State and who operates a snowmobile within this State if such snowmobile is not registered in Illinois.
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Mandatory Liability Insurance
Require a mandatory liability insurance provision: Other than a person operating a snowmobile on their own property that is not a posted snowmobile trail, and other than a person operating a snowmobile on property other than a posted snowmobile trail in which the owner of the property has given permission to operate a snowmobile on the property, no person shall operate, register or maintain registration of a snowmobile unless the snowmobile is covered by a liability insurance policy, pursuant to Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/7-203).
No person shall operate, register, or maintain registration of, and no owner shall permit another person to operate, register or maintain registration of, a snowmobile in this State unless the snowmobile is covered by a liability insurance policy. The insurance policy shall be issued in amounts no less than the minimum amounts set for bodily injury or death and for destruction of property under Section 7-203 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and shall be issued in accordance with the requirements of Sections 143a and 143a-2 of the Illinois Insurance Code, as amended.
Penalties: Any operator of a snowmobile subject to registration and numbering under this Act who is convicted of violating subsection (a) of this Section is guilty of a petty offense and shall be required to pay a fine in excess of $500, but not more than $1,000. However, no person charged with violating this Section shall be convicted if such person produces in court satisfactory evidence that at the time of the arrest the snowmobile was covered by a liability insurance policy in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section.
Snowmobile Operation Regulations
It's important to familiarize yourself with the regulations governing snowmobile operation in Illinois. Here are some key points:
- Operation Generally: Snowmobiles must not be operated in a careless, reckless, or negligent manner, or in any tree nursery or planting in a manner which damages or destroys growing stock, or creates a substantial risk thereto.
- Speed: Snowmobiles should not be operated at a speed greater than the minimum speed required to maintain forward movement, except on private property with consent.
- Operation on Highways: On highways other than tollways, interstate highways and fully limited access controlled highways snowmobiles may be operated not less than 10 feet from the roadway and in the same direction as traffic.
Accidents
In the case of collision, accident, or other casualty involving the operation of a snowmobile, the operator thereof, if the collision, accident or other casualty results in death or injury to a person or damage to property in excess of $750 shall file with the Department a full description of the collision, accident, or other casualty, including such information as the Department may, by regulation, require.
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Reports of accidents resulting in person injury wherein a person is incapacitated for a period exceeding 72 hours, must be filed with the Department on a Department Accident Report form within 5 days.
Additional Information
Please assist us by allowing sufficient processing time of your application before calling. No registration cards and/or decals are issued over the counter at any Natural Resources Office.
This brochure is only a guide to the highlights of the Illinois Snowmobile Registration and Safety Act. The entire Act may be found in the Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 625. More complete information is available from the Department of Natural Resources Regional Offices or from Law Enforcement Division personnel. Please remember that regulations on State or County managed public lands may be more restrictive. Be sure to check area managers to determine local regulations.
Snowmobile safety education is a positive move toward a safe and enjoyable snowmobile future. Enroll in a Snowmobile Safety course now.
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