Off Road Vehicle Registration Required After June 1, 2015
If you intend to operate your off road vehicle (ORV) anywhere on public lands after June 1, 2015 you have just three weeks left to register it through ICBC. When the vehicle is registered an off road vehicle licence plate will be issued and must be displayed. The changes replaced outdated legislation governing British Columbia’s growing off-road sector, and helps ensure these vehicles are driven in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. (See update at end of article)
An ORV includes snowmobiles, all terrain vehicles (or “quads”), off road motorcycles, side by sides (i.e. rhino, argo, razors) and dual purpose on highway vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, and SUVs.
The one time fee of $48 for the registration and number plate will be valid as long as the same person owns the vehicle. If the ORV is sold or disposed of, the owner keeps the number plate to transfer onto a replacement. Snowmobile owners who have registered their machines under the old Motor Vehicle (All Terrain) Act will receive a refund of the amount they have already paid when they register under the new rules.
The requirement to register and licence an ORV applies to out of province users who bring their machines into BC for use. That may be fulfilled if their home province has an identical program (eg: Alberta) and they are registered there. Otherwise, the ORV must be registered and licenced in BC before use. Similarly, jeeps, trucks and SUVs already licenced and insured for on highway use will be exempt.
Reference Links:
- The Off Road Vehicle Act and Regulations
- Off Road Vehicle Management Framework
- Off Road Vehicle Registration Details - ICBC
- Off Road Vehicle Registration Overview - ICBC
Registration Deferred to November 1, 2015
Mandatory off-road vehicle registration is being deferred from June 1 to Nov. 1, 2015.
The extra time provides additional time for off-road users to prepare for the mandatory registration, while the regulatory details are finalized on both registration and safety.
As well an ICBC-issued numbered sticker will be available in early fall when registering an off-road vehicle (ORV) for those users who would prefer a sticker instead of a registration number plate. The addition of a sticker addresses a key request from off-road motorcycle and snowmobile groups. The sticker will be a similar size as the number plate, and combined cost for registration and sticker will be the same as with the plate option - $48. ORV owners that choose the sticker will be responsible for removing the sticker if the vehicle is resold.
In early fall, ORV owners who have already taken advantage of the voluntary registration period and have a received a plate may exchange their plate for a sticker, if they want, at any ICBC broker at no additional cost for a limited time.
Full details are anticipated to be announced by early fall, with implementation for both mandatory registration and safety provisions to begin Nov. 1, 2015. In the interim, voluntary one-time registration for operating an ORV on Crown land will continue with the combined cost of the registration certificate and ORV number plate remaining at $48.
This registration is integrated within the pre-existing structure of ICBC’s motor vehicle registry, reducing implementation costs and allowing ORV owners to register at any of the 900+ ICBC insurance brokers in the province.
The Off-Road Vehicle Act is a key element of the Province’s Off Road Vehicle Management Framework. The framework will help British Columbians get out and enjoy the beauty of the province’s backcountry and ensure off-road vehicles are driven in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.