Registering and titling a vehicle in Montana: new residents, purchases and renewals
How to title and register a vehicle in Montana through your County Treasurer after buying it or moving to the state, plus registration options and fees for light vehicles, insurance minimums, renewals and plates, from the Montana MVD.
Guide · Montana · Vehicle registration · Titles · updated October 29, 2026
Vehicle titles and registration in Montana are governed by the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of the Montana Department of Justice, but you do the paperwork at the County Treasurer's office in the county where you live. Some services, such as registration renewal and replacement titles, are also online. The MVD says a motor vehicle cannot be titled in Montana without also being registered, because the two happen at the same time. This guide covers buying a vehicle, moving to Montana with one, fees, insurance, renewals and plates.
What must be registered
The MVD says state law requires registration of all motor vehicles, including:
- Motor homes, motorcycles and quadricycles
- Travel and utility trailers
- All-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles
- Motorboats, jet skis and sailboats over 12 feet
Pickup campers are titled but not registered. Non-residents who work in Montana must also register their vehicles here.
Buying a vehicle
The MVD says the buyer has 40 days from the sale date to transfer ownership. You do this by titling and registering the vehicle at the County Treasurer's office in your county, and a late fee applies after 40 days.
- From a dealer: the dealer sends the paperwork to your County Treasurer's office. This can take several weeks, so call the office to confirm it has everything before you go.
- From a private seller: the previous owner signs the current title over to you. If the title shows a lien, the seller must give you a lien release from the lender. The MVD says a bill of sale does not replace a Montana title.
As of October 2, 2025, the MVD says Montana titles no longer need to be notarized. Titles produced after October 1, 2025 have no notary section.
Some other points from the MVD:
- Only a licensed dealer or the person named on the title can sell a vehicle. Someone selling a vehicle that is not in their name is "curbstoning", which is illegal.
- The seller removes the plates. You buy new plates when you title and register.
- If you need to drive before then, you can get a 40-day temporary registration permit from the dealer or a County Treasurer's office.
- Keep a record of the sale. A photocopy of the reassigned title or a Bill of Sale (Form MV24) works.
- For a used vehicle, the MVD suggests a history check through the federal NMVTIS database.
If you are the seller
Give the buyer the current title, signed by all owners, with any lien released. Remove your plates before you hand over the keys. The MVD warns that a private sale is not reported to the state until the buyer titles and registers the vehicle. Without proof of sale, you can be held liable for the buyer's parking tickets and fines.
Moving to Montana with a vehicle
The MVD says new residents must title and register their vehicles within 60 days of establishing residency. Take your out-of-state title to your County Treasurer.
If a lender holds your title, ask the County Treasurer for a Request for Foreign Title Transfer (MV63). Complete it and mail it to the lender, asking for the title to be released to the County Treasurer's office. Once the office has it, you complete the Montana title and registration there.
A VIN inspection may be needed in some cases. For example, a Stage I inspection is required if the vehicle's identity is in question or a Canadian registration is submitted. Local law enforcement, driver exam station staff and participating County Treasurer staff can do it.
For the driver license side of a move, see the Montana driver license and ID card guide.
Registration options and fees for light vehicles
Light vehicles are passenger cars, pickups one ton and under, vans and SUVs. Owners can choose one of three options:
- 12-month registration
- 24-month registration
- Permanent registration, for vehicles 11 years old or older. It does not need renewing as long as the owner stays the same. You pay five times the local option tax or flat fee on top of the registration fees.
The registration rate depends on the vehicle's age. The MVD lists $217 for vehicles 0 to 4 years old, $87 for 5 to 10 years and $28 for 11 years or more, plus a 3% administrative fee. Counties may also charge a county option tax based on the vehicle's original MSRP, reduced as the vehicle ages. Special plate fees and some smaller fees and donations are extra. The MVD's online fee estimator gives your total.
Insurance
Montana law requires liability insurance of at least:
- $25,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in an accident
- $50,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more people in an accident
- $20,000 for damage to others' property
The MVD's FAQ says you do not need to show proof of insurance to register. However, you must carry it when you drive and show it if you are stopped or in a crash. A registered vehicle must be insured even if you are not using it. The state's insurance verification system (MTIVS) checks coverage electronically, and you can look up your own status at MTIVS.com.
Renewing your registration
Your renewal month is shown on your plates and is set when the vehicle is first titled and registered in Montana. You can renew online, by mail using the postcard reminder, or in person at your County Treasurer's office. Residents who move to another Montana county can keep their current plates until the next renewal, then update the address when renewing online.
License plates
Montana requires two plates, one on the front and one on the back. The rear plate must be lit when the vehicle lights are on, and the registration tab with month and year goes on the rear plate.
- Standard plates are issued unless you ask for another kind. The MVD says Montana law requires new plates every five years.
- Other plates: there are nearly 200 designs to choose from, including sponsored and personalized plates, which cost extra.
- Lost or damaged plates can be replaced online or at your County Treasurer's office.
If the plates you want are not in stock, the County Treasurer gives you a 40-day temporary permit. A replacement title costs $10.30 by mail, and you can also order one online.
To visit an office, see the Montana MVD visit guide and the Montana office list.