A.T.V. Laws (Cheyenne, Laramie: 2010, purchase, sales tax)

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by msdmckee

Remember too, that there are width restrictions on National Forest trails. Many forest now have the rule in place that roads/trails are CLOSED to riding UNLESS signed as OPEN.........a very careful distinction. Just means you need to read before you ride!

I think it's 50 inches. I know the Razr was the first side by side to meet the width restrictions, however, it doesn't meet the weight restrictions. Don't forget about the weight.

I was told last year that legislation was in place to relax the weight restrictions so Razr's would be legal. However, that was false. Nothing has been submitted to Cheyenne to change it so currently, no side by sides are legal on trails.

[snowman0u812]

What does it run to register an a.t.v. ? Just like a car here in MN, we have to renew the tabs on our plates every year and the cost is determined by the year of the vehicle. My 99 Tacoma now dropped to $50. Good info all!

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

Sorry, ElkHunter ... but the most recent statutes require a motor vehicle title be issued on ALL ATV transactions in the state of Wyoming. Even if your intended use is solely on private property, perhaps your own, and you have no intentions of ever using the ATV anywhere else, such as public lands off-road which SNIP.

I called the dealer. Confirmed it by calling the court house. There is no Wyoming Statute that they can find "Requiring" a 4 wheeler be Titled.

According to the court house, buy a ATV and hang onto your MOS because if you ever do decide to Title so you can Register and License, you will need the original.

No Title Required.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

I called the dealer. Confirmed it by calling the court house. There is no Wyoming Statute that they can find "Requiring" a 4 wheeler be Titled.

According to the court house, buy a ATV and hang onto your MOS because if you ever do decide to Title so you can Register and License, you will need the original.

No Title Required.

Sorry, ElkHunter ... but I again checked with the Laramie County Clerk's office, and they advise that the statutes were changed effective January 2008 for all ATV's and "utility vehicles" except snowmobiles.

They verify that you CANNOT simply pay the sales (or use) tax on an ATV without filing for the Wyoming Title. It is required to obtain the Wyoming Title, even if you have no intention of registering the ATV for use on public lands or streets.

Much of this change happened with the 2008 rules regarding street use of ATV's, such as the side-by-side seating machines as opposed to the old straddle the vehicle type seating models.

I've been refered to WY Statute31-1-101a(ix) by the Clerk, and they're sending me a current copy. I tried to research this online, but the newest version I could find was a 2004, which clearly had the older rules.

There's an additional concern here: Without a motor vehicle title to your ATV, you don't have "proof of ownership". You may have a receipt or bill of sale for the purchase, but you don't have a legal ownership without the title.
The problem that the state was trying to address is stolen ATV's, so for example ... you buy an ATV from a private party, who gives you a "bill of sale" and receipt for the machine, and tells you they don't have a title to it, never had one, etc., but "it's been in the family for years" and we bought it from a dealer brand new, etc.

You may very well have purchased a stolen vehicle at that point, and all you've got is a receipt and a vehicle which may be confiscated by the law. Your only recourse at that point is to sue the seller in a civil court, and then try to recover if you win. The state is finding more and more of this happening when folks try to get a use permit for state lands in Wyoming.

I don't know what they're doing up in Sheridan, but I can tell you that I visited with ATV dealers here in Cheyenne and Laramie, and all say that they MUST sell a new ATV with a "temporary" license plate ... even if you have no intentions of using the ATV on public lands or roads, or even displaying the tag of the ATV. They include the title application paperwork with the sale, too.

When I get the copy of the 2008 Statute, I'll post what the County Clerk is referring to for titles.

[ElkHunter]

Please post the info on the county clerk. This one in Sheridan, along with both 4 wheeler dealers, are unaware of a new law.

As far as proof of ownership, it's the same with a mini bike, small boat, atv, snow mobile, small (light) utility trailer, etc. Have to have the Bill of Sale to show ownership. On the BOS, shows the VIN number.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Please post the info on the county clerk. This one in Sheridan, along with both 4 wheeler dealers, are unaware of a new law.

As far as proof of ownership, it's the same with a mini bike, small boat, atv, snow mobile, small (light) utility trailer, etc. Have to have the Bill of Sale to show ownership. On the BOS, shows the VIN number.

Better read the statutes, ElkHunter. A BOS, even with a VIN number on it for the items you've mentioned ... with the exception of a snowmobile in Wyoming ... is not proof of "legal ownership" for a motorized vehicle.

Only a State issued title confers that proof. Otherwise, all you have is a piece of paper which says that you've bought the ATV from somebody, but doesn't verify that it's not stolen or otherwise has a defect in the title, or that it's legal ownership is recognized by the State.

Anybody can write up a BOS. Only the State can issue a Title. Guess which one is a legal document and proof of ownership?

On another note of Titling re motor vehicles ... we've seen incidents where an ATV or powered watercraft was involved in an injury accident. Several times, the operator asserted that they didn't own the vehicle, but had "sold" it to somebody else and were just allowed to borrow or use it. The injured party is now looking for the legal owner of record for financial responsibility ... who is it? The Titled owner or the person whose name is on a BOS?

I'm looking forward to the copy of the Jan 2008 revisions of the statutes. Something obviously is very different in what you're hearing from your local folks and what everybody is saying in Laramie and Albany counties.

[ElkHunter]

I've checked all the state websites on Title'ing a vehicle and none explaine it differently then "Not needed". But their lack of info isn't proof. :-)

In reference to the question about how much it runs each year. I have a 2006 Honda 400 Rancher AT. License plate, state, county, all said and done is $87.53 for the plates this year.

Course, it would depend on cost and such on what yours would run. But that's a good ball park figure.

[sunsprit]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

I've checked all the state websites on Title'ing a vehicle and none explaine it differently then "Not needed". But their lack of info isn't proof. :-)

In reference to the question about how much it runs each year. I have a 2006 Honda 400 Rancher AT. License plate, state, county, all said and done is $87.53 for the plates this year.

Course, it would depend on cost and such on what yours would run. But that's a good ball park figure.

I'm curious as to what websites you've been going to.

I've been all over the Wyoming State websites, I've google'd the issue, and the newest statutes I can find posted online are 2004 versions.

If what the folks in Cheyenne and Laramie are telling me is correct, the statute was changed by the 2007 Legislature and became effective Jan 1, 2008. That's why I waiting for the copy from the Laramie County Clerk's office, which they said they'd send to me. I talked to Deanna there.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by sunsprit

I'm curious as to what websites you've been going to.

I've been all over the Wyoming State websites, I've google'd the issue, and the newest statutes I can find posted online are 2004 versions.

If what the folks in Cheyenne and Laramie are telling me is correct, the statute was changed by the 2007 Legislature and became effective Jan 1, 2008. That's why I waiting for the copy from the Laramie County Clerk's office, which they said they'd send to me. I talked to Deanna there.

That's what I'm saying. I can't find it in print anywhere on the state websites. You'd think that would be an update that they really wanted to get out there in print.

[ElkHunter]

This is the state website with the current posted laws on ATV's. However, they're dated 2006.

http://www.atvsafety.gov/legislation/WyomingLaw.pdf