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Vehicle registration

Off-road vehicles

Register all off-road vehicles (ORV) or complete transfer of ownership transactions at any ICBC Autoplan broker.

ORV registration with number plate display is mandatory on Crown land, including resource roads. An off-road vehicle is designed for off-highway use and does not meet safety standards for on-highway use. In the event that you want to operate your off-road vehicle on a highway, you will need to register, get a plate, a licence and insurance.

Types of off-road vehicles

The following are the eligible ORV vehicle types:

  • Golf carts

  • Snow vehicles

  • Snowmobiles

  • All-terrain vehicles (ATV)

  • Trucksters, and

  • Restricted use motorcycles (RUMs)

Contact your Autoplan broker

For more information on the requirements for registering, displaying a number plate, licensing and insuring an ORV, contact your Autoplan broker.

ORV registration requirements

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ORV from B.C., you'll need:

  • New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) or Certificate of Origin for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles and

  • Fully completed Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) signed by seller(s)

ORV from rest of Canada, you'll need:

  • New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) or Certificate of Origin for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles and 

  • Bill of sale from dealer showing that the unit was purchased new, the vehicle details match the Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) and the details of tax paid.

ORV from U.S., you'll need:

  • New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS) or Certificate of Origin for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles and

  • Stamped Vehicle Import Form - Form 1 for ORVs subject to federal Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) requirements for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles and

  • Bill of sale from dealer and

  • Title certificate. Note: Certificates may not be issued for certain ORV eligible body styles (golf carts, snow vehicles, competition bikes) and there will be some variability between U.S. jurisdictions and

  • An original of either a Casual Goods Accounting Document (B15), Canada Customs Coding form (B3) or Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4E)

​ORV from B.C. you'll need:

  • Fully completed Transfer/Tax form (APV9T). *Note: the seller's signature on the Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) is not required when supported by the Bill of sale from dealer

  • Bill of sale from dealer showing that the unit was purchased new, the vehicle details match the Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) and the details of tax paid

ORV from the rest of Canada, you'll need:

  • Bill of sale from dealer. *Note: the dealer's bill of sale is used by your broker to complete the Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) and will be referenced for signatures and tax purposes and    

  • Fully completed Transfer/Tax form (APV9T)

ORV from U.S., you'll need:

  • Stamped Vehicle Import Form - Form 1 for ORVs subject to federal Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV) requirements for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles if you have it. You're not required to go to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to have one issued.

  • Bill of sale from dealer and

  • Title certificate. *Note: certificates may not be issued for certain ORV eligible body styles (golf carts, snow vehicles, competition bikes) and there will be some variability between U.S. jurisdictions and

  • An original of either a Casual Goods Accounting Document (B15), Canada Customs Coding form (B3) or Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4E)

ORV from B.C. or Canada, you'll need:

  • Out-of-province registration documents if imported from a jurisdiction that has an ORV registry; or full continuity of ownership (if not previously registered) and

  • Bill of sale from dealer or Transfer/Tax form (APV9T) signed by seller(s) and

  • BC Consumer Taxation Branch Gift of Vehicle form (FIN 319) if applicable e.g. vehicle was a gift or

  • Missing Signature Declaration form (MV1484) where required if any of the above documents are missing. *Note: Missing Signature Declaration form (MV1484) is not acceptable in lieu of Gift of Vehicle Form (FIN 319)

ORV from U.S., you'll need:

  • Out-of-province registration documents if imported from a jurisdiction that has an ORV registry; or full continuity of ownership (if not previously registered) and

  • Bill of sale from dealer/seller or Transfer/tax form (APV9T) signed by seller(s) and

  • Stamped Vehicle Import Form - Form 1 for ORVs subject to federal Registrar of Imported vehicles (RIV) requirements for sit astride ATVs, restricted use motorcycles and/or snowmobiles if purchased on or after November 17, 2014 and if you've purchased it from the U.S. and

  • Title certificate. *Note: Certificates may not be issued for certain ORV eligible body styles (golf carts, snow vehicles, competition bikes) and there will be some variability between jurisdictions in U.S. and

  • An original of either a Casual Goods Accounting Document (B15), Canada Customs Coding form (B3) or Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4E) and

  • Missing Signature Declaration form (MV1484) where required if any of the above documents are missing. *Note: Missing Signature Declaration form (MV1484) is not acceptable in lieu of documents issued by Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA)

Full continuity of ownership

The "paper trail" showing the sale or gifting of a vehicle to each successive owner in chronological order, from the first owner in the previous (or current) jurisdiction through to the current individual requesting the initial registration in B.C.  The paper trail should consist of an unaltered and fully comp​leted​ bill of sale or gift letter for each vehicle transfer of ownership.

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Example

You want to register an out-of-province vehicle in B.C.

The vehicle had been sold five times prior to bringing it to B.C. to request an initial registration. The five prior sale transactions and transfers of ownership were never registered in the previous jurisdiction(s).  To show continuity of ownership as the current owner, you must provide five fully completed bills of sale or gift letters.

If you present fewer than five bills of sale or gift letters, there is a gap in the continuity of ownership. You must contact the previous owner(s) to obtain the missing bills of sale, gift letters, and/or previous vehicle registrations to bridge the gap, and to demonstrate that you are the legal owner of the vehicle. 

In the absence of being able to bridge the continuity, a notarized Missing Signature Declaration form (MV1484) is required.

Insurance requirements

If you operate an ORV on or across highways, you're required to obtain ICBC’s Basic Insurance. If you operate an ORV on forest service roads, you'll need $200,000 in third party liability insurance. This may be obtained from ICBC or other insurers.

On all other Crown land, liability insurance is voluntary but recommended.   

Sticker Option

A sticker option will be available for customers beginning Nov. 1, 2015 as an alternative to a metal licence plate. Customers who have already registered their off-road vehicle and received a metal plate can substitute it for a number sticker plate at no charge at a broker’s office from Nov. 1, 2015 until Dec. 31, 2015. After Dec. 31, 2015, an $18 fee will apply to exchange a metal plate for a sticker or vice versa.

The metal number plate or sticker must be clearly visible on the front, back or left exterior of the vehicle and securely fastened in a horizontal position. In the case of off-road motorcycles, a sticker may be attached in a vertical position on the left front fork with the first number/letter at the bottom of the fork.

The ORV number sticker plate and the ORV metal number plate are required to be securely fastened to the ORV. However, the ORV number sticker plate has strong adhesive properties. Customers returning the ORV number sticker plate to process ICBC-related transactions may have difficulty removing them. Customers may affix it to any other material rather than being stuck directly to the ORV. The alternate material may then be securely fastened to the ORV.

Driver's licence requirements

You'll need a valid driver's licence to operate an ORV on public roads, highways and on forest service roads.

Police-issued operation permit

Police may issue an operation permit (free of charge) as a condition of highway operation. Operation permits are not required for highway crossings controlled by a stop sign or traffic light or when loading and unloading an ORV from another vehicle in a parking lot.

In all other circumstances, an operation permit is required pdf for on-highway operation. Operation permits must be obtained from the police department/detachment nearest where an ORV will be operated (or from any RCMP detachment along the Gold Rush Snowmobile Trail for operation on the Trail). For more information, contact the police department/ detachment nearest to the location you plan to operate your ORV.

Registration fee

The combined number plate and registration fee will be a one-time fee of $48. You are only required to register your ORV once. The registration and number plate or sticker will be valid as long as the same person owns the vehicle.   

You're required to register with ICBC when an ORV is transferred to a new owner and a $28 transfer fee will apply at the time.

More information