The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) would like to thank the dedication of our valued partners throughout Idaho who have assisted our agency in the sale of registration renewals for ATVs, motorbikes, boats and snowmobiles over the last two decades. We understand that businesses and recreationists have concerns about proposed changes to the recreation vehicle registration renewal process.

We are working diligently to ensure the continuation of a convenient registration process in Idaho. However, the changes are on the horizon, and we wanted to provide our customers with the pertinent information regarding those proposed changes.

Currently recreational vehicle registration statistics are as follows: 54 percent of our customers register at their local county DMV, 12 percent mail in their registration renewal forms, 10 percent register online, 2 percent walk in to our offices to register and 23 percent use the vendor system across the state.

The vendor system includes businesses across the state that have partnered with us and offered registration renewals in-store. We value these partnerships and appreciate their efforts in promoting Idaho’s great outdoors. However, the processes associated with this system are antiquated. Currently, IDPR receives the registration renewal information from our vendors on triplicate, handwritten forms that IDPR staff members manually enter into our system.

All registration information that IDPR collects is sent to Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) because by law, ITD is the keeper of all title and registration information. ITD shares that registration information with law enforcement to identify lost and stolen vehicles and for notification of kin in the event of a death.

ITD is installing new computer software to manage its records. To ensure that registration information is up-to-date and accurate, ITD’s new system will now require a driver’s license, social security and/or tax ID number as proof of ownership when renewing registrations. This information will tie the registration directly to the title. Every titled, registered vehicle in Idaho will be stored under a single record by one owner.

While changes will improve registration and titling processes in Idaho, they will prevent IDPR and our vendor partners from collecting, securing and transferring this personal identification information to ITD. These changes will not have an effect on 77 percent of our customers who register at their county DMVs, online or by mail.

Idahoans who will see a change are our valued vendor partners and the 23 percent of recreationists who use the vendor network to register their machines. These individuals will need to plan ahead and register at their county DMV, online or by mail.

We want you to know that we have looked at various options to try to keep a viable vendor system. However, after careful consideration, we have concluded that we must move our registration system to ITD.

IDPR understands the economic impact snowmobiling plays in many of the counties across Idaho and is committed to managing the Non-Resident Certificates (NRCs) program for snowmobiles. IDPR will be able to continue selling these stickers with the help of a small vendor network because the collection of personal information in not necessary for NRCs.

The proposed registration realignment legislation will shift the technical management of the registration renewal process to ITD, but IDPR will continue to manage those funds for the benefit of recreationists and continue to be dedicated to the support of recreation in Idaho. IDPR will continue to offer ATV, motorbike, snowmobile and boating safety classes as well as groom snowmobile trails and maintain trails for Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use.

You can learn more about IDPR’s commitment to recreation in Idaho, proposed changes to the registration process and how Idaho businesses can continue to partner with our agency at parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/registration-realignment.