Where Do I Mount My Registration Sticker on a Side by Side?
You just got your registration sticker. You're staring at it. Your RZR, Maverick, RMAX, or Talon is sitting in the garage, and you're thinking, where does this thing actually go?
It's a fair question, and it's one more riders get wrong than you'd think. Not wildly wrong, like slapping it on the windshield, more like almost right. Wrong side. Wrong spot on the right side. And on certain trails, in certain states, that's enough to earn you a fix-it ticket from a ranger, we hear of it happening all the time!
This guide breaks it down by state, tells you what rangers are actually looking for, explains why sticking it directly to your cage or plastics is a bad idea, and gives you a smarter way to mount it.
Why Sticker Placement Actually Matters
Most riders assume that as long as the sticker is somewhere visible, they're fine. Sometimes that's true. But states like California, Colorado, and Michigan have specific placement rules written into law, and riding in the wrong spot can get you cited just as easily as not having a sticker at all.
The California DMV is explicit: if the sticker is not affixed to the vehicle, or is affixed in an incorrect location, you can be cited by law enforcement.
Beyond the legal side, there's a practical problem most people don't think about until it's too late. Registration stickers are designed to be permanent. Once you put that sticker onto a surface, it will not come off without destroying itself. Stick it directly to your cage and you're looking at sticker residue, scratched powder coat, and a headache every renewal cycle.
The right placement, and the right mounting solution, solves both problems at once.
State-by-State Breakdown
California
California is one of the most specific states in the country when it comes to sticker placement, and it's also one of the most actively enforced, especially in State Parks and OHV areas.
For UTVs and side by sides, the rule of thumb from California State Parks is that the identification sticker should be permanently affixed in a location easily visible from the rear of the vehicle, preferably on the left side. More specifically, ATVs and side by sides require placement on the left rear quadrant of a permanent surface.
In plain terms: driver's side, rear of the cage, visible from behind. Not tucked behind a panel. Not on the passenger side. Not on the right rear.
The identification plate must be securely fastened, clearly legible, and not covered by any material. Failure to display a current and valid identification plate while operating on public lands is an infraction of CVC 38020, which can result in a citation and fines.
Common mistake: Riders put the sticker on the right rear (passenger side) because it feels symmetrical, or high up on the roof bar where it's technically rearward but not clearly visible. Both are wrong by California standards.
Colorado
Colorado is the most demanding state on this list, they require two stickers, one on each side.
For displaying decals on utility-terrain vehicles (UTV)/side by sides and off road buggies/rock crawlers, position one decal on each of the outside faces of the roll bars in an observable location.
Registration decals must be placed on both sides of your UTV, in easily visible locations forward of the operator, and on roll bars or side panels depending on the vehicle design. Think near the base of the windshield opening or windshield, on the outside face of the roll bars.
A Colorado OHV Permit is required for all plated, street legal vehicles when traveling on any designated OHV trail and/or open area for recreational use on public lands. That includes your Jeep or truck — not just UTVs.
Common mistake: Riders who come from California or other single-sticker states show up in Colorado with just one decal and get flagged. Colorado needs two.
Oregon
Oregon's system works on a permit basis rather than a full registration plate.
There are approximately 95 private ATV operating permit agents located throughout the state and several State Parks Offices where you can purchase the permit to place on your machine. Oregon issues a sticker that goes on the vehicle, placement should be clearly visible for inspection, though Oregon is less prescriptive than California or Colorado about exact location on a UTV.
One important detail for Oregon riders: out of state residents can purchase an Oregon permit for $10 which is valid for two years. Oregon has reciprocity with California and Nevada, so if you're riding across state lines in the West, check before you go.
Utah
Utah riders have had new requirements since 2023. As of January 1, 2023, all off-highway vehicles (excluding motorcycles and snowmobiles) must also display a license plate in addition to the registration sticker unless you are from out of state and get a Nonresident OHV sticker.
All off-highway vehicles in Utah must display a current OHV registration sticker when operated or transported on public lands or roads. Beyond that, beginning January 1, 2023, all OHV operators are required to complete the free Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Education Course. It takes about 25 minutes online and is a one-time requirement.
Utah is a popular destination for UTV riders, Moab, the Paiute Trail System, and St. George attract riders from all over the country. Make sure your sticker and plate are both properly displayed before you trailer in.
Nevada
Nevada requires OHV registration decals that must be displayed on the vehicle. OHV decals are $20 and valid for a year from date of purchase. Missing the renewal deadline is $10 extra, and the fine is $100.
Nevada has reciprocity with California and Oregon, so a current California green sticker is accepted in Nevada and vice versa. Placement should be clearly visible, on the cage in an accessible, forward-facing or rear-facing location depending on trail enforcement norms.
Texas
Texas requires a TPWD OHV decal for riding on public lands, but only when those lands are part of the state's OHV program.
Any type of OHV, including ATVs, motorcycles, full sized OHVs, or other types, used at venues where OHV recreation is legal and which are located on public lands, or at private OHV venues which have received TPWD OHV grant monies, are required to have a current Texas OHV decal properly mounted on the vehicle before riding.
The Texas OHV decals are valid for up to one year. The Texas OHV program year is based on the State of Texas fiscal year which, each year, begins on September 1st and runs until August 31st of the following year.
Texas law requires the decal to be "properly mounted" but is less prescriptive about exact location than California or Colorado. Visible on the cage, front or rear, is the practical standard.
Michigan
Michigan uses an ORV License plus Trail Permit system. The DNR has specific placement rules.
For a 3- or 4-wheel multitrack or multiwheeled vehicle, the registration decal shall be attached and visible on a flat surface, bumper, or plate permanently attached to the rear of the vehicle.
That "permanently attached" language is important. Michigan specifically wants the sticker on a fixed surface at the rear, not on the plastics, not on a removable panel, not on the front. The ORV shall be licensed by the DNR, and the ORV license/sticker shall be permanently attached and visibly displayed in the manner prescribed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in accordance with State law.
Common mistake: Michigan riders sometimes put stickers on the front fender because there's more flat surface there. That's technically out of compliance, Michigan wants rear placement.
The Biggest Mistakes Riders Make
After talking with riders and seeing how stickers end up placed in the wild, a few patterns stand out:
Wrong side. In California, the left (driver's) rear is required. Putting it on the right rear looks correct but isn't.
Right side, wrong spot. Even on the correct side, stickers buried too high, too low, or tucked into a recess can create problems during inspection. Rangers want to see it clearly, ideally without having to crouch or walk around the vehicle.
Sticking it directly to the cage or plastics. This one hurts when renewal comes. Those stickers are built to not come off. When you try to remove them, you're left with adhesive residue, scratched surfaces, and sometimes a partially destroyed sticker that you then have to replace at the DMV. It's an avoidable headache.
Assuming your home state rules apply everywhere. If you're trailering your Maverick from California to Colorado for a weekend, you need to know that Colorado wants two decals on the roll bars. Your single California sticker on the left rear won't cut it.
The Smarter Way to Mount Your Sticker
This is where having the right hardware makes a real difference.
The offroadplates sticker mounting plate mounts directly to your cage via zip ties — no drilling, no adhesive on your powder coat or plastics. The plate is made from ASA-CF filament, which is highly UV resistant and built to hold up in full sun, at elevation, through seasons of trail use. The zip ties are PA66 nylon, the same material used in industrial applications for heat and UV resistance.
Each plate is designed to precisely fit your state's OHV sticker, with a raised lip around the perimeter that protects the edges of the sticker from branches, brush, and trail debris. That's especially important if you're riding tight trees in Oregon's forests or the brushy corridors of Michigan's UP trails.
The mount fits all side by side cage diameters, whether you're on a Polaris RZR, Can-Am Maverick X3, Yamaha RMAX, Honda Talon, Arctic Cat Wildcat, or anything else with a tube cage. No adapter needed.
And when renewal time comes, the sticker stays on the plate. Simply apply your new sticker over the old. You're not peeling anything off your cage.
Quick Reference: Where to Mount by State
| State | Placement Rule |
|---|---|
| California | Left rear quadrant, cage or permanent frame member, visible from rear |
| Colorado | Both sides, outside face of roll bars, observable location |
| Oregon | Clearly visible on vehicle |
| Utah | Clearly visible; also requires license plate as of 2023 |
| Nevada | Clearly visible on vehicle |
| Texas | "Properly mounted" and visible; rear or front cage area |
| Michigan | Rear of vehicle, flat metal surface or permanent plate |
Final Thought
Mounting your registration sticker isn't something most riders think twice about, until a ranger walks up and starts asking questions, or until you try to peel a two-year-old sticker off your cage at renewal time.
Get it right the first time. Know your state's rules, put it in the correct spot, and use a mount that protects your machine and your sticker for the long haul.
Ready to do it right? Order an offroadplates sticker plate on our website or through Amazon.