Trip Permit — Light Vehicles

Light vehicles in Oregon are those that are under a certain weight threshold. Passenger vehicles that weigh 10,000 pounds or less or trailers that weigh 8,000 pounds or less qualify for light vehicle trip permits. There are four other types of vehicles that qualify for this permit:

• Low-speed vehicles
• Medium-speed electric vehicles
• Motorcycles
• Mopeds

These permits last for 21 consecutive days. If you need to buy more than two of these in a year, then you’ll have to purchase full registration for your vehicle; you can buy only two trip permits in a 12-month period.

Trip Permit — Heavy Motor Vehicles

Do you have an unregistered heavy vehicle? This is the trip permit for you! Any motorized fixed load vehicle or passenger vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds qualifies for this permit. This permit does not work for tow or recovery vehicles, and motor homes need to get the above permit.

These permits allow you to drive your heavy vehicle on Oregon roads for up to ten days. If your vehicle exceeds the weight qualifications significantly, it might require other filings:

• Vehicles that exceed 26,000 pounds are subject to the weight-mile tax.
• Vehicles that exceed 80,000 pounds need to get an overweight permit.

Trip Permit — Recreational Vehicles

If you own a recreational vehicle that isn’t registered in Oregon, you’ll need to get a recreational vehicle trip permit. Campers, motor homes, and travel trailers qualify for this permit as long as they’re not longer than 45 feet. If they are, you can’t use your RV in Oregon.

These permits can be for any amount of time between one and ten days. You can get up to ten total days of this permit in a 12-month period.

Trip Permit — Registration Weight

Sometimes, people need to use a vehicle to haul a trailer or some goods that exceed what the vehicle’s current registration allows. Usually, this means that they’re using a passenger vehicle to tow a heavy trailer or haul goods that make the whole thing weigh more than 10,000 pounds. If this is your situation, then this is the permit you’ll need.

Registration weight trip permits last for ten days. For-rent vehicles aren’t eligible to get this permit.

Trip Permit — Registered Vehicle

Have a vehicle registered in Oregon that you need to use in a way that your current registration doesn’t allow? This is the trip permit for you. With this permit, you can use your vehicle for ten consecutive days in a way your current registration prohibits.

Not all kinds of vehicles qualify for this permit. It can’t be used for the following:

• Tow and recovery vehicles
• For-rent vehicles
• Farm (or pro-rated farm) vehicles
• Manufactured structure transport vehicles
• Vehicles that have a charity or non-profit purpose

Trip Permit — Out-of-State Snowmobiles

Non-Oregon residents who own a snowmobile need to get a trip permit if they want to use it in Oregon. These permits last for 60 days, so once you have one, you’ll be set for the next two months.

If you already have a registration for your snowmobile, then congratulations! You don’t need this permit.