Choosing Which Club Gets Your Money
Choosing which club gets your money when you buy an Ontario ATV trail permit can feel like choosing where you’re allowed to ride. Usually, those are separate decisions. The club you select helps direct a share of permit revenue, while the permit may provide access across a wider participating trail network. Here’s how to make the choice based on where you ride and what you want to support.
What your club choice does
With an OFATV permit, the club selection is a way to direct part of the permit revenue toward a local club. Under the allocation model described for the permit, 75 percent goes to the club you choose, while the remaining share supports the federation’s work and related costs. Check the current permit information before buying to confirm the allocation and how the purchase is handled.
The selected club can use its share to support the local trail system and the work needed to keep it usable. That may include maintenance, signage, landowner relationships, trail development, and administration. The exact needs differ by club and can change over time, so choosing a club is also a practical way to support the area you most want to see maintained.
Your choice does not necessarily limit you to riding that club’s trails. An OFATV permit may be accepted across a wider network of participating clubs, subject to their rules, trail conditions, and any separate access requirements. The permit is different from a club membership, too. A permit gives you trail access under its terms; membership can involve additional participation or benefits. For the distinction, see Ontario ATV Trail Permits Explained and Club Membership Versus a Trail Permit.
| Your decision | What it generally affects | What it does not automatically mean |
|---|---|---|
| Select a club when buying an OFATV permit | Directs the club share of permit revenue to the club you choose | That you may ride only in that club’s area |
| Choose a club near your usual riding area | Supports a club whose trails you are likely to use | That every nearby trail is covered by the permit |
| Buy a separate local pass where required | Provides access under that local pass’s terms | That an OFATV permit replaces every local pass |
| Join a club | May provide a way to participate beyond buying a permit | That membership by itself is a trail permit |
For an overview of how permit access and payment fit together, see The OFATV Permit and What It Costs in Ontario. The important point is to treat club selection as a funding choice, then check access requirements separately for each place you plan to ride.
Don’t confuse the club share with a trail boundary
A common mistake is choosing the club that owns or maintains the trail system you intend to ride, assuming the permit revenue will only support that club or that the permit only works there. These are two different questions: which club receives the designated share, and which trails your permit lets you use.
Before purchasing, check the permit’s current terms and the club or trail system’s access information. A network permit may be recognized across multiple participating club areas, but the details can depend on the type of permit and the local system. Does Your Permit Cover the Next Club’s District? is useful if your route crosses from one club area into another.
The same care applies to a local pass. Some systems have their own permit arrangements, and a network permit may not replace them. Ontario’s Separate Club Passes covers why a rider might need a pass from a particular club or trail organization in addition to a broader permit.
How to choose a club that fits your riding
There is no single best club for every rider. A sensible choice usually reflects where you ride most, which trails you want maintained, and whether you have a meaningful connection to a particular area. The club receiving the allocation does not have to be the only club whose trails you use.
Start with your usual riding area
If most of your rides begin in one region, selecting a club active there is an easy way to align your contribution with your riding. Think about where you go for a day ride, where you take visiting friends, and which trail network you return to year after year.
If your rides are spread across several regions, look at the club areas where you spend the most time or where trail upkeep matters most to you. You could also support a club that helps connect routes you use regularly. Check whether those routes are actually open and covered by your permit rather than relying only on a map or an old trip plan.
The article Picking a Club Area for Your Permit can help frame the choice around your typical destinations. If you are planning a ride beyond your usual area, confirm that the permit is accepted there and check for closures, seasonal restrictions, and any local pass requirements.
Consider where the club does its work
A club’s contribution is most useful when it supports work you value. Depending on the area, that might mean maintaining a trail you ride often, improving wayfinding, managing relationships with landowners, or helping keep a larger route connected. A local club’s notices, trail maps, and membership information can give you a better sense of what it maintains.
If you ride only occasionally in a club’s area, you may still choose to support it because you value its trails or its role in keeping a route open. If you mostly ride elsewhere, supporting your regular riding area may make more practical sense. Neither choice is inherently better; it depends on what you want your purchase to support.
A club’s name alone may not tell you how much of the local network it manages or whether its trails suit your machine. Before settling on one, look at current trail information and the club’s description of its area. Wide side-by-sides, for example, may need to check route suitability as well as permit acceptance.
Ask what you want your purchase to support
If your priority is helping maintain trails you ride often, choose a club closely connected to those trails. If you have a favourite destination or want to support a club that maintains a route you hope to ride more, that can be a reasonable basis too.
Some riders choose a club because they live nearby, volunteer there, or want to help strengthen a trail network they value. You do not need to be a member or resident to make your club selection based on a particular area, but check the permit provider’s purchase process to see which clubs are available to select.
If you are uncertain, contact the club or permit provider before completing the purchase. Ask whether the club is part of the permit network, what area it maintains, and whether riders need an additional local pass. That is more reliable than assuming the club selected at checkout determines every access right.
Check access separately from the club allocation
Choosing a club for the revenue share does not override trail rules. Each ride still depends on where you are, what kind of machine you have, whether the trail is open, and what permit or pass the land manager requires.
Before setting out, check the trail system’s current information for closures, seasonal openings, construction, and route restrictions. A permit does not authorize riding on a closed trail, private land without permission, or a route that does not allow your machine. Trail access can also differ between neighbouring areas, even when the route appears continuous on a map.
If your trip crosses club boundaries, verify that your permit applies in each area. Some routes may also require a separate pass or have their own access procedure. Ontario’s Separate Club Passes explains why a rider may encounter more than one permit arrangement in Ontario.
It helps to make two separate checks:
- Where can I ride with this permit? Confirm participating areas, local passes, and machine restrictions.
- Which club should receive the club share? Choose based on the riding area or trail work you want to support.
This separation avoids a frustrating surprise: you can choose a club that receives the revenue share and still need a different pass for a particular trail system. Conversely, your permit may let you ride across several participating club areas even though you selected just one club at purchase.
Keep your permit and trail information together
Once you buy, follow the permit provider’s instructions for displaying or carrying proof. Save the purchase confirmation and review any requirements for the permit sticker or digital record. A patroller or other official may need to confirm that the machine has a valid permit, and local rules may require additional proof.
Before a multi-area ride, keep the permit information accessible along with the route map and current trail notices. If a club or trail system requires a separate pass, make sure you have that too. A quick check before departure is easier than trying to resolve an access issue at a trailhead.
A practical decision process
If you are buying an OFATV permit and have not chosen a club yet, use this sequence:
- List the areas you ride most. Start with your usual trailheads and destinations, not just the place you plan to visit next.
- Confirm which areas accept your permit. Check the current network information and identify any separate pass requirements.
- Compare the clubs connected to your riding. Look at which clubs maintain the trails or routes you value.
- Choose where you want the club share directed. You can prioritize regular use, a favourite trail area, or the club whose work you most want to support.
- Review the checkout details. Confirm that the selected club appears correctly and that you understand the permit type and its access conditions.
- Check conditions again before riding. The club choice does not guarantee a trail is open on the day of your trip.
If you ride mainly in one area, choosing its associated club is often the simplest option. If you travel across the province, choose a club you especially want to support and verify access throughout your planned route. If you ride a system with its own pass, account for that separately rather than changing your club selection on the assumption that it will solve the access question.
The allocation is not the only way to support a club. Some riders also join, volunteer, or participate in local trail work. Those are separate choices, and details vary by organization. What a Club Membership Adds explains what membership can offer beyond a permit. You can also check with the club directly about ways to help that fit your interests.
The amount directed to a club is only one part of the permit’s overall cost and purpose. The remaining share supports the wider permit and federation structure; 75 Percent to Your Chosen Club and What the Other Quarter Covers in Ontario explain those parts of the allocation. For a buyer, the practical takeaway is straightforward: choose a club whose work you want to support, then confirm trail access and any local pass requirements independently.
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.
