Where do I buy the FCMQ trail permit?

Online only, on the FCMQ website, for every category. A trail warden can sell you one on the trail, but at the $900 rate.

Is the trail permit mandatory?

Yes, to ride the trails of FCMQ member clubs. For the other rules (age, driver's licence, insurance), see our snowmobile driving rules guide.

What counts as a vintage snowmobile for the FCMQ?

The FCMQ defines a vintage snowmobile as a vehicle 19 years or older. Its French page also mentions "model year 2006 and older" and its English page "2007 and under": check with the FCMQ if your sled is on the borderline.

Can I buy my trail permit before my new snowmobile arrives?

To buy the annual permit, the FCMQ asks for the snowmobile's valid identification (serial) number and registration number, both on the registration certificate. The permit is issued in the name of the sled's owner. If you change sleds during the season, the permit can be transferred to another snowmobile with the same owner: remove the sticker from the old one, keep it, and request a replacement permit ($40) from your FCMQ account.

I'm buying a used snowmobile that already has a sticker. Is it valid for me?

No. According to the FCMQ, the permit belongs to the person who bought it: you need to buy a new one in your own name. See also our used snowmobiles.

Should I wait for snow before buying?

The price goes from $465 to $575 after December 15, 2026, regardless of snow conditions. If you plan to ride this winter, buying before that date saves $110. For just a few rides, the 1- to 7-day permits are another option.

How do I reach FCMQ customer service?

For purchase follow-up, the FCMQ lists 514 252-3076 or 1 877 252-4343 (toll-free). For theft, an accident or a question, its website lists 1 844 253-4343.

How much does a full snowmobile season cost?

The trail permit is only one part of the budget. See our annual snowmobile budget for insurance, registration, maintenance and fuel.

Ski-Doo & Snowmobiles

FCMQ Trail Permit Prices 2026-2027: Annual, Daily and Key Dates

By the Groupe Contant Team · Published November 3, 2026

Quick Answer

How much is the FCMQ trail permit for the 2026-2027 season?

The annual permit cost $440 if bought in October 2026. It costs $465 from November 1 to December 15, 2026, then $575 after December 15. Bought on the trail from a warden, it costs $900. For just a few days, the FCMQ offers permits from 1 day ($90) to 7 consecutive days ($300). Purchases are online only, on the FCMQ website.

To ride the trails maintained by Quebec's snowmobile clubs, you need a trail permit from the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec (FCMQ). The price changes every season and depends on when you buy: buying before mid-December saves more than $100.

Here are the 2026-2027 prices as published by the FCMQ, the different types of permits and the conditions to know before you buy.

2026-2027 Annual Permit Prices

Buying in October saved $135 compared to the price after December 15; buying by December 15 still saves $110.

Source: FCMQ online purchase page. During the presale period, the FCMQ warns that processing and delivery can take 2 or 3 weeks longer: don't wait until the day before your first ride.

Permit type	Price
Annual, bought October 1-31, 2026	$440
Annual, bought November 1 to December 15, 2026	$465
Annual, bought after December 15, 2026	$575
Annual, sold on the trail	$900
Annual, vintage snowmobile	$335
Annual, rental snowmobile	$750
Replacement permit	$40

Where Does the Permit Money Go?

The FCMQ publishes how the $575 annual permit (bought after December 15, 2026) is split. The largest share goes to developing and maintaining the trails, redistributed to the clubs.

Item	Amount
Trail network development and optimization fund	$396.35
Other FCMQ funds and operations (volunteers, promotion, magazine, club services, sales platform, operations)	$40.00
Federal and provincial taxes	$65.34
Rider's $1,000,000 civil liability insurance	$30.80
Club's $2,000,000 civil liability insurance	$29.26
Claims reserve fund	$13.25

Short-Term Permits

No sticker: you get a printable permit by email, and the download link becomes available 24 hours before your ride date.
The date can be changed up to 2 days before the planned ride, for the current season only.
Daily permits are not sold on the trail.
They include $1,000,000 in civil liability insurance. If you're already insured, the insurance portion can be refunded on request, as long as you ask before the ride.

Duration	Price
1 day	$90
2 consecutive days	$150
3 consecutive days	$190
5 consecutive days	$240
7 consecutive days	$300

Insurance: With or Without

Civil liability insurance is mandatory for every snowmobile owner. With the annual permit, the FCMQ offers $1,000,000 in civil liability insurance for $30.80, taxes included.

If you're already insured elsewhere, you can buy the annual permit without the FCMQ's insurance. You then submit proof of insurance, and a $23 verification fee (taxes included) is added. In that case, no temporary permit is issued.

The Sticker and the Temporary Permit

The annual permit is a sticker that goes on the left side of the hood. Also keep the "member copy", which can be requested during trail checks.
While the sticker is in the mail, a temporary permit valid 21 days is issued, but only if the annual permit is bought with the FCMQ's insurance.
The permit is non-transferable and non-refundable. Only the insurance portion can be refunded.