DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles at Lake of the Woods County is able to help customers with Minnesota DNR registration, renewals and transfers. We accept cash, check and credit/debit card payments.  There is a convenience fee of 2.5% of the total cost of the transaction to use a credit/debit card. Convenience fees are not retained by Lake of the Woods County. 

We can help with registration, renewals and transfers of the following: 

•  All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) 
• Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) 
• Off-Road Vehicles (ORV) 
• Snowmobiles 
• Watercraft 

For information on the various DNR regulations, please visit the DNR Website links below: 

Boating and Water Regulations 

Off-Highway Vehicle Regulations 

Snowmobiling Regulations 

The Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles at Lake of the Woods County offers driver’s licensing services.  Please arrive by 3:45 p.m.  We accept cash, check and credit/debit card payments.  There is a convenience fee of 2.5% of the total cost of the transaction to use a credit/debit card. Convenience fees are not retained by Lake of the Woods County. 

Some of the services we offer: 

• Renew Driver’s License or ID 
• Get a Duplicate License or ID 
• Instruction Permit 
  • If you are a new driver, under the age 18, click here for more information about Minnesota’s graduated driver’s licensing system. 
• Disability Certificates 
• New Resident License or ID 
  • If you are new to Minnesota, click here to learn more about the process and documents needed to apply for your Minnesota credential. 

The Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services website is a great resource if you have questions about a Minnesota Driver’s License or ID.  

Driver’s License Fees 
For information on the fees associated with the different Driver’s License Services, click here. 

Just like a car or truck, a mobile home/manufactured home has a motor vehicle title and needs to be transferred if there is new ownership.  

Before going to the DMV to transfer the mobile home’s title, a mobile home clearance sheet is needed from the county where the mobile home was located.   

For mobile homes located in Lake of the Woods County, the clearance sheet can be obtained from the Lake of the Woods County Auditor/Treasurer Office.  The clearance sheet states that all taxes have been paid and provides the County with information regarding the ownership change for the tax statements.  If you are the seller of the mobile home and this step is missed, tax statements will continue to be issued in your name and be your responsibility.

The Deputy Registrar of Motor Vehicles at Lake of the Woods County offers motor vehicle services.  Please arrive by 3:45 p.m. for title transfers and duplicate titles.  We accept cash, check and credit/debit card payments.  There is a convenience fee of 2.5% of the total cost of the transaction to use a credit/debit card. Convenience fees are not retained by Lake of the Woods County. 

Some of the services we offer: 

• Vehicle Renewal 
• Transfer Vehicle Title 
• Register Vehicle 
• If you are new to Minnesota, click here to learn more about the process and documents needed to register your vehicle in Minnesota. 
• Duplicate Vehicle Title 
• Duplicate Plates/Stickers/Registration Card 

The Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services website is a great resource if you have questions about Motor Vehicle Services and requirements.  

Below is information about the frequently asked questions that we hear. 

Notice of Sale 
To provide a notice of sale or mark a vehicle as sold, visit this page.

Estimated Cost of Vehicle Registration Tax 
How much is it going to cost to renew my vehicle?  Visit this page to estimate your vehicle registration tax.

Motor Vehicle Forms and Documents 
For a full list of Motor Vehicle Forms, Documents and Applications, click here. 

Homemade Trailer 
Need to register a homemade trailer? Here is the form you will need.  You will also need to provide a photo of each side of the trailer (4 photos total).  The photos may be emailed to us when you arrive at our counter.

Permanent Registration Trailer 
Many customers ask how a trailer qualifies for a permanent Minnesota registration sticker. If your trailer is a small utility/snowmobile/boat trailer that has 3,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or less, it would receive a permanent Minnesota registration sticker.  The registration sticker is displayed on the tongue of the trailer and no plate is required. 

If the permanent registration trailer is sold, the new buyer needs to transfer it into their name at the DMV.  If the permanent registration trailer does not have a title, a bill of sale is required for the transfer.