Your Club Keeps $20 of a Membership Permit
A Nova Scotia membership permit is more than permission to use club trails: part of its value supports the local club connected to your purchase. If you have heard that the club keeps $20, the important question is what that means for your costs and access. Here is how the club share fits into the permit, and what to check before choosing one.
What the $20 Club Share Means
When you buy a membership permit, $20 of the purchase price stays with the club associated with that membership. It is a portion of the permit purchase, not a separate $20 charge added at checkout. The rest of the permit price is handled through the broader permit program.
That distinction matters when you compare a membership permit with a permit-only option. The membership purchase connects you with a club and directs a share of the price to it. A permit-only purchase is structured differently; it is not simply the same transaction with the club share removed. For a comparison of the two choices, see Nova Scotia Club Permit vs Standalone Permit.
The club share gives riders a direct way to help support local trail work and club operations. Depending on the club’s needs, local resources may help with activities such as maintaining a corridor, organizing volunteers, communicating trail updates or supporting club events. The $20 does not mean that every club spends its share on the same item, or that your payment buys a particular service. Clubs have different local priorities.
It is also useful to separate the club’s share from the permit’s overall purpose. A permit supports access through the provincial trail system, while the membership component connects a rider with a particular local organization. The $20 is the amount identified as the club’s portion of a membership permit; it is not a promise that the entire permit price goes to the local club.
| Question | What the $20 share means |
|---|---|
| Is it an extra charge? | No. It is a portion of the membership permit price. |
| Who receives it? | The club associated with the membership purchase. |
| Does every club spend it the same way? | No. Local needs and priorities differ. |
| Does it represent the full permit price? | No. It is one share of the overall purchase. |
| Is it the same as the permit-only arrangement? | No. The membership and permit-only options are structured differently. |
If you are choosing a club mainly because you ride in a particular area, check which club’s membership applies to your purchase and what that club does locally. The club share is most meaningful when it goes to an organization whose trail network, updates or volunteer work matter to your riding plans.
For more detail on the purpose of a membership purchase, One Purchase That Buys Membership and a Permit explains how the two parts fit together. If you want to understand the broader destination of permit funds, Where the Money Actually Goes is a useful companion.
What Membership Adds to a Permit
A membership permit combines trail access with a relationship to a club. That can be useful even if you are not a regular volunteer. Clubs can be a practical local contact for information about trail conditions, closures, events and the work taking place on nearby routes. The exact benefits and communications can vary, so ask the club what its membership includes rather than assuming every club offers identical services.
The membership side can matter most when you ride repeatedly in one region. A local club is more likely to know about a temporary reroute, a washed-out section or a corridor that has been closed by a landowner. Riders can also find opportunities to take part in maintenance days or club events. Membership does not, by itself, guarantee that every nearby trail is open. Always check current conditions and respect closures.
If your rides take you across several areas, compare the location and reach of the clubs available to you. Your choice need not be based only on where you live. Consider where you usually ride, which club maintains or supports the relevant trails, and whether its updates are useful to you. To find a nearby organization, see Finding an ATVANS Club Near You.
A membership permit is not a substitute for checking the rules that apply to your machine and your ride. Registration, insurance and trail-permit requirements are separate matters. A trail permit does not register a machine, and registration does not automatically provide a trail permit. If you are sorting out the paperwork before riding, Do You Need to Register an ATV in Nova Scotia? covers a different part of the process.
It is also worth confirming what type of machine the permit covers. A permit intended for an ATV does not necessarily apply to a dirt bike or snowmobile. For those distinctions, see Nova Scotia Permits Not Valid for Motorcycles and Nova Scotia Permits Not Valid for Snowmobiles. Checking before purchase can prevent an avoidable mismatch between the permit and the machine you plan to use.
Membership Permit or Permit-Only Purchase
The right option depends on whether you want a club membership as well as a permit. Riders who value a local connection may prefer the membership permit, especially if the club supports trails they use often. A rider who does not want club membership may look at the permit-only option instead. Both choices need to be understood on their own terms rather than compared as though they were identical products.
A common mistake is to treat the $20 club share as a discount or surcharge. It is neither: it is an allocation within the membership permit purchase. When comparing options, look at the total current price, what the purchase includes and where the funds are directed. The permit-only option has its own funding structure; A Trail Fund Takes $45 of the Permit-Only Price describes that separate share.
| Consideration | Membership permit | Permit-only option |
|---|---|---|
| Club connection | Includes a membership relationship with a club | Does not provide the same local club membership |
| Local club share | $20 of the purchase stays with the associated club | Uses a different funding structure |
| Best fit | Riders who want a local club connection and permit together | Riders who want a permit without joining through a club |
| What to verify | Which club is associated and what membership includes | Current purchase details and applicable conditions |
The table is a starting point, not a substitute for checking current permit information. The total price and purchase arrangements can change, and clubs may explain their membership benefits differently. Check the current terms with the permit provider and the club before paying.
A membership permit may also make sense if you want to support local trail work even when you do not plan to attend meetings or volunteer. At the same time, do not assume the club share gives you special permission to ride closed routes, private property or corridors outside the permit’s scope. Access still depends on applicable rules, land access and current trail status.
If you ride only occasionally, compare the available options with your expected use and the permit’s validity period. Nova Scotia trail permits are associated with a calendar-year period; Why a Trail Permit Runs January to December explains why the timing matters. Check the actual expiry and conditions for the permit you are buying, particularly if you purchase partway through the year.
How to Choose and Confirm Your Permit
Before purchasing, decide whether you want a club membership, identify the area where you expect to ride most, and confirm that the selected permit matches your machine. Then check the current price and terms through the appropriate provider. The fact that $20 of a membership permit goes to the club is useful context, but it is only one part of the buying decision.
Use this simple process:
- Identify your machine and intended use. Confirm that the permit option applies to the type of off-highway vehicle you will ride.
- Choose between a club membership permit and permit-only purchase. Think about whether a local club connection is valuable to you, not just whether you plan to volunteer.
- Check which club receives the membership share. Make sure it is the club you intended to support and that its area or activities are relevant to your riding.
- Review the current purchase terms. Confirm the total price, validity period, permit delivery method and any conditions directly with the provider.
- Check trail status before setting out. A valid permit does not make a closed trail available or replace permission where it is required.
- Keep the permit information accessible. Follow the provider’s instructions for carrying or displaying proof, and keep any confirmation details in a place you can retrieve while riding.
If you are undecided between clubs, look beyond the $20 allocation. Ask which trails the club supports, how it shares closure and condition updates, and whether it offers events or volunteer opportunities that interest you. You may prefer the club closest to home, or the one most connected to your regular riding area. The best fit is a practical choice, not simply a matter of selecting the first option you see.
If you already have a club membership and are buying another permit, check whether the purchase is for an additional machine or a separate membership. Do not assume that one membership automatically covers every machine you own. Nova Scotia Permit for a Second Machine explains why it is worth confirming the arrangement before you buy.
Finally, treat the club share as support for the local organization, not as a personal credit balance. You should not expect to receive the $20 back if you do not use the trails, and the share does not purchase a guaranteed number of trail kilometres or maintenance response. If you need to know how a specific club uses its resources, contact that club directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the $20 added on top of the membership permit price?
No. It is a portion of the membership permit purchase that stays with the associated club, not an additional charge.
Does the $20 go to the club I choose?
It goes to the club associated with the membership permit you purchase. Confirm the selected club before completing the transaction.
Does a membership permit give me access to every Nova Scotia trail?
No. A permit does not override trail closures, land-access restrictions or other riding rules. Check the status and requirements for the route you plan to use.
Is a membership permit always the better choice?
Not for everyone. It may suit riders who want a club connection alongside their permit. Riders who do not want membership can compare the permit-only option and its current terms.
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.
