May 2023 and What Changed
May 2023 changed how ATV riders plan cross-border trail trips: the old interprovincial pass arrangement no longer covers Quebec trails. If you ride between Quebec and Ontario, the practical fix is to check the rules for each province and arrange the required pass before setting out.
What changed in May 2023
Quebec ended its reciprocal trail-pass arrangement with Ontario in May 2023. Before the change, some riders could use an interprovincial arrangement rather than obtaining a separate pass for every province on a trip. Once reciprocity ended, a pass from one province no longer served as a substitute for the pass required on the other province’s federated trail network.
The change is about trail access, not a blanket ban on visiting riders. An Ontario rider can still plan a Quebec ride, and a Quebec rider can still travel to Ontario. The difference is that riders must meet the trail-access requirements of the province where they ride. A Quebec registration, insurance document, club membership or Ontario trail pass does not automatically count as a Quebec trail pass.
That distinction matters because several separate requirements can apply to the same ride. A machine may need valid registration and insurance, while its rider also needs the appropriate trail pass and must follow the rules for age, licence, equipment and trail access. A pass addresses access to participating trails; it does not replace the other requirements.
| Before a Quebec ride | What to check |
|---|---|
| You hold an Ontario pass | Do not assume it gives access to Quebec federated trails |
| You are riding in Quebec | Check the current Quebec pass options and requirements |
| You plan to cross a provincial boundary | Check pass requirements on both sides before the trip |
| Your machine is registered elsewhere | Confirm that it meets Quebec’s registration and insurance rules |
| A trail is closed | A valid pass does not permit you to ride the closed section |
The change is often described as the end of the interprovincial sticker. That phrase can be misleading if it sounds as though Quebec stopped accepting every visiting rider. The practical point is narrower: riders should not rely on the former reciprocity arrangement as proof of trail access. For context on the change, see Quebec Ended Reciprocity With Ontario and Why Interprovincial Stickers Died in 2023.
A pass is also not the same thing as permission to ride anywhere in the province. Quebec’s federated network includes trails managed with clubs and land access arrangements. A pass does not open private land, municipal routes that are not authorized for ATV use, or trails closed for weather, maintenance, hunting season or spring thaw. Check the route and its current status as well as the pass.
What Quebec-bound Ontario riders should do
If you are bringing an ATV or side-by-side from Ontario to ride Quebec trails, treat the trip as a Quebec ride for access purposes. Before leaving, confirm the current Quebec trail-pass rules and obtain the pass that fits your visit. Options and conditions can change, so use current information from the responsible Quebec trail organization rather than relying on an old sticker, a past trip or a friend’s recollection.
A short visit still needs planning. The length of your trip does not by itself make an Ontario pass valid in Quebec. If you are going for a day or a weekend, compare the available Quebec options and make sure the pass covers the dates and type of riding you intend to do. Quebec Visitors From Ontario and Quebec Daily and Three-Day Trail Passes address those visitor questions in more detail.
Before departure, work through the practical checks:
- Choose the route and confirm it is open. Use current trail information, not only a saved route or an older map. A pass cannot override a closure, and detours can change the length or character of a ride.
- Confirm the required Quebec pass. Check how it is obtained, when it becomes valid, and what proof riders must carry. If a sticker or other proof is issued, follow the current instructions for displaying it.
- Check the machine’s documents. Verify registration and insurance requirements for a machine registered outside Quebec. Keep the necessary documents available during the ride.
- Check the rider’s requirements. Age, licence, safety training, helmet and other rules may apply independently of the trail pass. Do not assume that satisfying Ontario requirements automatically satisfies Quebec’s rules.
- Plan for patrol checks. Be ready to show the documents and proof that apply to your ride. A phone confirmation may be useful, but do not assume a digital image replaces a required physical item unless the current rules say it does.
- Recheck before riding. Pass arrangements, routes and local access can change. Verify details close to the trip, especially if you are travelling during spring thaw or hunting season.
Do not wait until a patrol stops you to buy or sort out a pass. Buying after a check may not undo a violation, and a pass purchased later does not make an earlier ride compliant. If a pass is sold online, allow time for any required delivery and keep proof of purchase while following the provider’s instructions for riding before a physical item arrives. Quebec Passes Sold Online Only and Waiting for a Trail Pass Bought Online to Arrive cover those practical details.
The machine’s registration and insurance deserve their own check. Quebec’s trail-pass requirement is separate from the documents that establish whether the machine may be operated and whether the required liability coverage is in place. For a visiting machine, review Quebec’s Liability Insurance Rule, Quebec Registration Compared to Ontario and Quebec Insurance Proof on the Trail. The rules may depend on the machine and the circumstances, so do not treat a trail pass as an all-purpose permit.
What Quebec riders should do in Ontario
The end of reciprocity also affects Quebec riders travelling in the other direction. A Quebec pass should not be treated as automatic proof of access to Ontario trails. Before crossing the provincial boundary, check the Ontario requirements for the network you plan to ride, including any pass, registration, insurance and rider qualifications required there.
This is especially important on a multi-day trip. A route that moves between provinces can involve different trail organizations and separate access rules. Make a simple itinerary showing where you expect to ride each day, then check the requirements for each province and trail system. Do not assume the pass you bought for one part of the trip will cover the next part.
The same caution applies to club membership. Membership can have value for local trail stewardship and riding community, but it is not necessarily a substitute for a pass required by the province or trail network. Check what each purchase actually covers. For Quebec, Quebec Club Membership and the FQCQ explains how club membership relates to the pass; for a trip beyond Quebec, confirm the destination’s own rules.
If a route crosses a border or connects to a trail in another jurisdiction, verify the transition point rather than relying on a broad map line. A map may show a connected route without explaining where access arrangements change. Confirm which organization maintains each section, whether it is open, and what proof riders need. When the route is unclear, contact the relevant trail organization before travelling.
It is also sensible to budget for separate access requirements when comparing trip options. That does not mean every crossing requires the same kind of pass or that a particular fee will apply. It means the cost of riding may include a separate pass for each province, alongside registration, insurance, lodging, fuel and transport. Check the current provider information before setting a trip budget; do not base it on an old interprovincial pass price.
Common misunderstandings and a reliable trip plan
A few assumptions commonly cause trouble after a reciprocity change.
“My machine is registered, so I can ride the trails.” Registration and trail access are different matters. A machine can have valid documents and still lack the pass required for a federated trail. Conversely, a pass does not cure missing registration or insurance.
“The old sticker is still good because it has no expiry date printed on it.” Do not infer current validity from the appearance of an old sticker. The former arrangement ended, and old proof may not establish present access rights. Check with the relevant trail organization before riding.
“I am only passing through Quebec.” The duration of a visit does not establish an exemption. If you plan to use Quebec trails, check the rules for those trails and the pass options for a short visit.
“A pass means every trail is open.” It does not. Clubs and landowners may close or restrict sections, and seasonal conditions can affect access. Confirm the route shortly before riding and obey posted signs and detours. Quebec Passes and the Thaw Period explains why a pass cannot override a seasonal closure.
“The rules are the same on both sides of the border.” They are not guaranteed to be. A rider’s age, licence, training, machine documents and trail access may be treated differently by jurisdiction. Check the rules for the province where the machine will be operated, not only those at home.
For a straightforward cross-border trip, use this order:
- Decide which province and trail system you will ride in each day.
- Check current trail status and any seasonal or local restrictions.
- Confirm the pass required in each province and buy it through the appropriate provider.
- Verify registration, insurance and rider requirements for each jurisdiction.
- Carry the required proof and make sure the trail-pass evidence is displayed or accessible as instructed.
- Recheck access shortly before departure and again if conditions or route plans change.
May 2023 did not end cross-border ATV riding. It ended the assumption that one interprovincial arrangement would cover Quebec and Ontario trail access. Treat each province as having its own requirements, confirm them before the trip, and keep trail access separate from registration, insurance and permission to ride a particular route.
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.
