May 2023 and What It Meant
May 2023 marked a change for New Brunswick ATV and UTV riders who wanted to use trails in Quebec: the reciprocal trail-permit arrangement ended. The practical consequence is easy to miss when planning a border-crossing ride. A New Brunswick permit should not be treated as permission to ride Quebec trails; check the destination’s current permit rules before you go.
What changed in May 2023
Before the change, a reciprocity arrangement connected New Brunswick and Quebec trail access. In practical terms, it allowed eligible riders to use a permit from one province when riding on participating trails in the other, subject to the arrangement’s conditions.
That arrangement ended in May 2023. The important takeaway for New Brunswick riders is that a valid New Brunswick trail permit no longer automatically gives them access to Quebec trails. Plan to obtain whatever Quebec trail permit is currently required for the trail network you intend to use. The background is covered in New Brunswick Ended Quebec Reciprocity and Why the Quebec Deal Ended.
The change concerns trail access, not every rule that applies to an off-road vehicle. A trail permit is different from vehicle registration, insurance, and permission to use a road. Losing reciprocity does not, by itself, determine whether your machine is registered correctly or whether you may ride on a particular road. Those questions still need to be checked separately.
| Question | What the May 2023 change means |
|---|---|
| Does a New Brunswick permit automatically cover Quebec trails? | No. Do not assume it does; check the current Quebec permit requirement. |
| Does the change cancel New Brunswick registration? | No. Registration and trail access are separate matters. |
| Does it change road-use rules? | No. Road access is subject to the applicable laws and local rules. |
| Can a Quebec permit be used in New Brunswick? | Do not assume so. Check current New Brunswick permit and reciprocity rules before riding. |
| What should a rider do before crossing the border? | Confirm permit requirements with the destination’s trail authority or local club. |
A cross-border trip can involve more than one trail organization, and the requirements may depend on where you plan to ride. A permit that works on one network does not necessarily cover another. For that reason, it is safer to identify your route and check the rules for that network rather than rely on old reciprocity information, a previous trip, or a friend’s recollection.
If you have not bought a New Brunswick permit yet, keep in mind that it serves the New Brunswick trail system under its own conditions. It is not a substitute for checking Quebec’s requirements. New Brunswick Trail Permit Cost in 2026 explains the local permit categories, while New Brunswick Riders Need a Quebec Permit focuses on what to check for a trip across the border.
What New Brunswick riders should check before riding in Quebec
Start with the specific Quebec trail network you plan to use. Confirm whether it requires a Quebec permit, where that permit can be purchased, and how it must be displayed or carried. The former reciprocal arrangement is not a reason to skip those checks.
Use current information from the Quebec trail organization, the relevant local club, or the permit seller. Ask about the route, not just the province in general: you want to know whether your intended trails are open to your type of machine and what documentation is required. If you are travelling with a group, make sure each rider and machine meets the rules rather than assuming one person’s permit covers everyone.
Before the ride, confirm these points:
- Permit coverage: Find out which permit is required for the trails you plan to ride and whether it covers your intended dates and type of use.
- Machine eligibility: Check whether the machine is accepted on the network and whether any restrictions apply to its type or equipment.
- Proof and placement: Ask what proof you need to carry and whether a sticker or other permit marker must be displayed on the machine.
- Registration and insurance: Confirm that your registration and insurance meet the requirements for the trip. A trail permit does not replace either one.
- Route access: Check that the trail is open and that your planned route does not rely on an unapproved road, private property, or closed connection.
- Language and purchasing details: If instructions are provided in French, make sure you understand the conditions before purchasing or riding.
The permit process may change, and purchase channels can vary. Avoid relying on an old receipt, sticker, webpage screenshot, or forum post as proof that a permit remains valid for a later trip. Check the current instructions before you leave. If you are unsure whether your permit applies, ask the organization that manages the trail network and keep its answer with your trip paperwork.
It also helps to separate trail access from border and vehicle paperwork. A trail permit does not grant permission to cross the international border, and it does not establish that you have met every requirement for transporting or operating your machine. If your route or travel plans involve the United States as well as Quebec, verify the relevant requirements for each part of the trip.
What Quebec riders should check when visiting New Brunswick
The end of the arrangement also means visitors should not assume that an old reciprocal privilege still applies in the other direction. A Quebec rider planning to use New Brunswick trails should confirm the current New Brunswick permit rules and whether any applicable agreement or exception is in effect.
That check matters even if the rider has a valid Quebec permit and has ridden in New Brunswick before. Rules can change, and a permit’s validity in its home province does not automatically make it valid elsewhere. Confirm the requirements for the New Brunswick trail network, the visit dates, and each machine in the group. New Brunswick Ended Quebec Reciprocity is relevant background, but current confirmation from the responsible permit or trail organization is the practical step.
Visitors should also distinguish a trail permit from New Brunswick vehicle registration. A visitor may have separate questions about registration recognition, insurance, required documents, and road use. Trail permission alone does not settle those issues. For help separating the paperwork, see New Brunswick Documents You Must Carry and New Brunswick Registration for a Visiting Rider.
Before a Quebec rider heads to New Brunswick, the same basic checklist applies:
- Ask which New Brunswick permit is required for the route.
- Confirm whether the rider’s machine and permit type qualify.
- Check current trail closures and local restrictions.
- Verify registration and insurance requirements separately.
- Carry the required proof and follow sticker-placement instructions.
- Do not rely on a past visit as proof that the same rules still apply.
If you are travelling with a group that includes riders from both provinces, make the permit check part of trip planning for everyone. Different riders may need different permits even when they are riding the same trail on the same day. A group leader’s permit is not a safe substitute for checking each rider’s obligations.
Plan around the current rules, not the old agreement
The simplest way to avoid a costly or frustrating surprise is to treat May 2023 as the point when the old shortcut stopped being reliable. The end of reciprocity does not mean cross-border riding is impossible; it means riders need to verify and arrange access under the destination’s current system.
A useful planning habit is to keep a short record of what you confirmed: the trail organization or club you contacted, the date you checked, the permit type they identified, and any instructions about machine eligibility or proof. This does not replace the permit or official requirements, but it can help keep the group organized and make it easier to spot a misunderstanding before departure.
For a destination in Quebec, check Quebec’s current permit process. For a destination in New Brunswick, check New Brunswick’s current requirements. If your trip crosses multiple networks, check each one separately. New Brunswick and Quebec Compared can help with broader differences between the two systems, while New Brunswick Permit Questions Clubs Hear may help identify questions worth asking before you buy.
Be especially careful with information that predates May 2023. An old club notice, saved social-media post, or previous rider’s advice may describe the former arrangement accurately but no longer answer today’s permit question. Confirm details close to your trip, particularly if you are riding early or late in the season, using a route with several trail connections, or travelling with a mixed group.
The core takeaway is straightforward: a New Brunswick trail permit should not be treated as a Quebec trail permit, and a Quebec permit should not be assumed to cover New Brunswick. Check each destination’s current rules, then keep registration, insurance, road access, and trail access as separate questions.
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.
