Large Vehicles Need Certification for Teton Pass
Owners of RVs, trailer-towing vehicles, and vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR must self-certify before using the pass.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Trucks
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The Wyoming Department of Transportation has announced the WY22 SAFE PASS mountain safety self-certification requirement for certain large vehicles on Teton Pass. Recreational vehicles, vehicles towing trailers, and vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating must complete certification starting October 2026.
Why it matters
Driving Teton Pass is tricky for any vehicle, and large vehicles have an especially hard time, so the program adds a required safety check before drivers of bigger rigs can use the road. Existing rules, including seasonal closures and the 60,000-pound weight limit, remain in effect alongside the new requirement.
Affected vehicles include recreational vehicles, vehicles towing trailers, and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 10,000 pounds. Certification is valid for one year and must be in hand before the program starts in October 2026.
The players
Wyoming Department of Transportation
The state agency that maintains Wyoming's highways and runs the WY22 SAFE PASS certification program for Teton Pass.
Eric Snow
A Teton County deputy who lives in Alta, Wyoming, and is a candidate for Teton County Sheriff in the November 3, 2026 general election.
The details
Applicants self-certify online by entering basic information and reviewing required safety material covering steep grades, brake fade, and load limits. Once the process is complete, applicants receive a certification letter that stays active for one year. Operating an affected vehicle on the pass without a valid certificate will not be allowed once the program begins.
Timeline
October 2026: WY22 SAFE PASS certification requirement starts on Teton Pass.
November 3, 2026: Teton County general election, in which Eric Snow is a candidate for Teton County Sheriff.
The Home Front
Teton Pass rules set the operating conditions for vehicles that Wyoming households tow with, haul with, or travel in for recreation. Mountain-road requirements like this one shape the cost and logistics of owning and using trucks and RVs in the state's high-country communities.
If you tow a trailer, drive an RV, or operate a vehicle over 10,000 pounds GVWR, plan to complete the online self-certification before October 2026 so you can keep using Teton Pass. Keep your certification letter with your vehicle documents, since it stays valid for one year.
The takeaway
Large-vehicle drivers heading over Teton Pass will need a valid WY22 SAFE PASS certificate once the program starts in October 2026. Calendar the one-year validity period so your certification does not lapse.
Further reading
For more on how big rigs and towing setups are handled on the road, see our Trucks coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 101.9 KING FM.
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Should drivers of large vehicles be required to certify before using mountain passes?
