Welcome to 2025-26 New Hampshire ATV & Snowmobile

New for 2025–2026:

• Beginning the end of September, Annual Registrations will be available online. Customers WILL NOT receive a temporary registration when registering online; they are NOT legal to ride until their decals are affixed to the vehicle.
• Changes for Operating an OHRV or Snowmobile with a Suspended/Revoked Drivers License: any person who operates an OHRV or Snowmobile with a suspended or revoked driver’s license in any jurisdiction within 7 years preceding the date of the second or subsequent offenses will be guilty of the crime.

Reminders:

• Antique Snowmobile registrations are only available for snowmobiles manufactured in 1994 or prior.
• An OHRV safety education certificate does not override a motor vehicle license suspension; you cannot operate if your driver’s license has been suspended or revoked in any state or Canadian province.

The Outdoors Is Open

The popularity of off-highway recreational vehicle and snowmobile riding has increased tremendously in recent years, and New Hampshire is a great place to explore. With over 7,000 miles of snowmobile and 1,300 miles of OHRV trails traversing the state’s beautiful landscapes, there is something for everyone.

Riders are a big contributor to New Hampshire’s economy, and we certainly want people to come and enjoy all New Hampshire has to offer, but to do so safely. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works in collaboration with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of Parks and Recreation, Trails Bureau to ensure an extensive, safe, and enjoyable trail system. We are continually working together to improve safety as well as riders’ experience.

Accidents can happen to anyone with no warning while driving an OHRV or snowmobile, but inexperience and excessive speed continue to be the most common contributing factors in New Hampshire. Fish and Game strongly recommends that all riders participate in a Safety Education Class. New Hampshire State law requires all operators 12 years of age or older to have successfully completed an approved OHRV/Snowmobile Safety Education Class or to possess a valid motor vehicle driver’s license. Visit our safety education page for more class information.

Beginning in September 2025, riders will be able to register their vehicles online in New Hampshire for the first time. More information will be coming so check our website for updates.

Most trails are on private property, so please respect the rights of the landowners and obey all laws. Riding off trail can harm trees, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and crops. OHRV laws and rules are also in place for your safety and the safety of other riders. Always wear safety equipment, and stop at all roadways and marked intersections, where trails cross roadways used by cars. For the latest updates, check the NH Trail Bureau's trail condition report.

If you enjoy off-highway recreation, consider joining a local snowmobile or OHRV club. These organizations and their volunteers are a valuable asset and work to obtain landowner permission, assist with trail maintenance, and educate riders. About 80% of snowmobile and 65% of wheeled-vehicle registration fees collected go to the NH Bureau of Trails, which in turn distributes grants-in-aid to local clubs for maintenance, equipment, and operations.

For more information, including how to take a safety class, how to register your OHRV, open snowmobile registration weekend, and the rules of riding, visit the New Hampshire OHRV information page. Rules can change mid-year, so visit the website for any updates. Happy riding, be safe, and enjoy the outdoors!

Stephanie L. Simek, Ph.D.
Executive Director
NH Fish and Game Department