Trail Passes for a Borrowed Machine
Borrowing an ATV or UTV can make a Minnesota trail day easy, but the pass question depends less on who holds the handlebars than on the machine’s registration and where you plan to ride. Check those details before leaving home. This article explains how to tell whether a borrowed machine needs a Minnesota trail pass and what to confirm with its owner.
Start with the machine’s registration
For a borrowed machine, begin with its current registration—not the borrower’s Minnesota residency, the owner’s address, or whether someone in the group already has a pass. Minnesota’s nonresident trail-pass rules generally apply to an ATV that is not registered in Minnesota when it is used on trails where a pass is required.
That means a Minnesota resident borrowing an out-of-state ATV may still need to arrange a pass for the machine. Likewise, a visiting rider using an appropriately registered Minnesota machine generally does not need a nonresident pass simply because the rider lives elsewhere. The machine’s status is the key starting point.
Before you ride, ask the owner to show you the registration and confirm that it is current. A decal, old registration card, or verbal assurance that “it’s legal” is not enough to tell you whether the machine is authorized for the trails you have planned. If the machine was registered for private use only, for example, that may not give it the same public-trail access as a public-use registration. For background on that distinction, see Minnesota Public Use Versus Private Use Registration and Machines Registered in Minnesota and the Pass.
| Borrowed machine’s situation | What to check before using a Minnesota trail |
|---|---|
| Current Minnesota public-use registration | Confirm that the registration is valid and the trail allows that machine. A nonresident pass is generally not the issue. |
| Registration from another state | Check whether a Minnesota nonresident ATV trail pass is required for the trails on your route. |
| Minnesota private-use registration | Do not assume it authorizes public-trail riding. Confirm what registration or pass is required. |
| No current registration or unclear paperwork | Resolve the machine’s eligibility before heading out. A trail pass does not replace required registration. |
| Riding only on private property with permission | Public-trail pass rules may not apply there, but property rules and other legal requirements still matter. |
Minnesota registration and a trail pass serve different purposes. Registration identifies and authorizes a machine under applicable registration rules. A trail pass is an access requirement for certain trails and machines. One does not automatically replace the other. If the owner cannot establish the machine’s registration status, do not treat buying a pass as a shortcut around that uncertainty.
The same principle applies to a UTV or side-by-side: verify the machine’s category and registration rather than assuming every off-road vehicle follows an identical rule. Minnesota has different requirements for different types of off-highway vehicles, and a pass intended for one category may not authorize another. When the vehicle’s classification is unclear, check with the Minnesota DNR or a license agent before riding.
Confirm whether your route requires a pass
A pass question cannot be answered without knowing where the machine will go. Requirements can differ between a state-managed trail, a grant-in-aid trail, private land, and other riding areas. A borrowed machine’s pass status is not blanket permission to ride everywhere in Minnesota.
Plan the route first, then check the requirements for the specific trails and riding areas. Which Minnesota Trails Require a Pass can help you understand the trail-access question, while Minnesota’s Grant-in-Aid Trail System explains why a route that looks like one continuous trail may involve land and maintenance arrangements that matter to riders.
Also check for trail closures, seasonal restrictions, and machine-width limits. A valid pass does not open a closed trail, override a local restriction, or guarantee that a particular UTV can fit on a route. If your planned ride crosses multiple trail systems, confirm the rules for each section instead of assuming the first trail’s rules apply for the whole day.
Keep these separate questions in mind:
- Is the machine properly registered for the type of riding planned?
- Does the machine need a trail pass for the route?
- Is the route open to that class and size of machine?
- Does the rider meet applicable age, safety-certification, and operating requirements?
- Are there local restrictions or conditions that affect access?
A pass addresses only one part of this list. It does not make an otherwise ineligible machine legal to operate on a trail, and it does not certify the rider. Visitors should review Minnesota Rules for Visiting Riders for other requirements that may apply to their trip, including safety rules.
Private land is another common source of confusion. If you have the landowner’s permission and remain on private property, public-trail pass rules may be different from those on a public trail. But a ride that starts on private property and then joins a public trail changes the situation. Permission to cross one parcel does not necessarily authorize riding on the next parcel or on a public route. Make sure you know where the private riding ends and the regulated trail begins.
Arrange the pass with the owner before departure
If the borrowed machine is not registered in Minnesota and your route requires a nonresident ATV trail pass, settle the pass question before you leave. Do not assume the owner’s pass, another rider’s pass, or a pass displayed on a different machine covers the borrowed ATV.
A pass is connected to the machine for which it was obtained and must be handled according to the DNR’s current instructions. In practice, that means you should not move a pass from one vehicle to another or treat a pass in a person’s wallet as a group permit. Check the official requirements for how the pass must be carried or displayed, and make sure it is properly associated with the machine you will ride. Carrying a Minnesota Trail Pass on the Machine covers the practical side of having the required pass with the vehicle.
The owner may be able to arrange the pass before handing over the keys, or you may be able to obtain it through an authorized sales channel. Minnesota offers pass purchasing through its licensing system and license agents; confirm the current options and instructions through Buying a Minnesota Trail Pass Online. Because processes and requirements can change, check the official DNR information rather than relying on an old receipt, an expired decal, or a friend’s recollection.
Before the ride, agree on who will take care of the paperwork and any purchase. If the borrower is arranging it, confirm that the pass is for the correct machine and that the owner is comfortable with any required identifying details. If the owner says a pass is already in place, ask to see it and check that it corresponds to the machine you are borrowing.
A quick handoff checklist can prevent an awkward stop at the trailhead:
- Match the machine’s registration information to the machine you are taking.
- Confirm whether it is registered in Minnesota and what type of registration it carries.
- Check whether the planned trails require a pass for that machine.
- Arrange any required pass before riding and follow the current instructions for displaying or carrying it.
- Bring the registration documents and any required pass information with the machine.
- Confirm that the route is open and that the machine is permitted on it.
Keep the registration and pass details together in a place where the operator can access them. A photo of paperwork may help with trip planning, but do not assume a phone image substitutes for a document or display requirement. Follow the DNR’s current instructions about what must be carried, affixed, or shown.
If you are borrowing a machine from a rental business rather than a friend, do not assume the rules are different just because the company handed you the keys. Ask the business which registration and pass requirements it has handled, and what the renter must carry or display. For that separate situation, see Minnesota Pass Rules for a Rented Machine.
Common borrowed-machine scenarios and mistakes to avoid
The examples below show how to think through the question. They are practical starting points, not substitutes for checking the current rules for the exact machine and route.
A Minnesota resident borrows a machine registered in another state. The rider’s home address does not automatically remove the pass requirement. Check the machine’s registration and whether the planned trails require a nonresident pass. If one is required, arrange it for that machine before riding.
A visitor borrows a Minnesota-registered machine. The visitor’s nonresident status alone does not mean the machine needs a nonresident pass. Confirm that its Minnesota registration is current, that its registration type allows the planned public use, and that the trail is open to it.
The owner says the machine is “registered,” but cannot show what kind. Ask for the registration information and verify whether it is Minnesota registration, another state’s registration, or a private-use record. If the distinction cannot be confirmed, pause the trip until it is clear. A trail pass cannot fix a registration problem.
The owner has a pass for a different ATV. Do not assume it transfers to the borrowed machine. Pass requirements are machine-specific enough that you should verify the rules and obtain the correct pass rather than moving a decal or relying on someone else’s paperwork.
The group plans to ride both private land and a public trail. Permission from a landowner may cover the private portion, but it does not automatically cover public-trail access. Check the pass and registration requirements before the group reaches the public route.
The borrowed vehicle is a side-by-side. Do not rely on an ATV answer without confirming that the vehicle falls under the relevant requirements. Check its classification, registration, trail eligibility, and any width limits along the route.
The most avoidable mistake is treating the pass as a rider credential. It is not a substitute for checking the machine. Another is assuming that a machine’s physical condition or long history of local use proves it is properly registered or authorized for the route. Ask for the paperwork and verify it.
If the owner cannot answer confidently, contact an official source before the trip. A short check can prevent a ride being cut short, a citation, or an argument over who was responsible for the paperwork. For a broader overview of pass rules, see Minnesota’s Non-Resident ATV Trail Pass.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Laws, prices and regulations vary by location and change over time. Consult a qualified professional for guidance on your specific situation.
