Montana Vehicle Registration

All Montana drivers need to register their personal vehicle to be driven legally. Vehicle registration requirements differ in Montana based on whether residents are permanent or temporary residents.

All residents must provide the vehicle title, proof of auto insurance, and payment for various fees and taxes; temporary residents must also provide their current out-of-state vehicle registration. The state of Montana requires that both residents and individuals working in Montana register their vehicles with the county where they live or work.

NOTE: Other vehicle types have separate registration requirements, including snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, and custom-built cars.

Registering a Vehicle in Montana

New to Montana?

Upon establishing residency in Montana, new residents have 60 days to register their vehicle with your County Treasurer’s Office.

Residents of this state must also register their vehicle if they are employed in Montana.

Individuals who are moving to Montana for work, but do not plan on moving permanently, need to review our look at the “Temporary Residents” section.

To register a vehicle in Montana, individuals need to visit their County Treasurer’s Office and present:

A completed a vehicle registration application.
Proof of insurance.
The vehicle’s title.
Submit the registration certificate from your former state.

Pay all fees:

Vehicle registration fees, which vary based on the age of the vehicle and length of registration.
County option tax, which is based on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), type of vehicle, and depreciation of the value of the vehicle.
Titling fees, if required.
License plate fees, if you order specialized plates.

Both permanent and temporary residents of Montana must register their vehicles with the state. Below you will find the processes outlined for each category of driver. Residents of Montana need to make sure they have an active car insurance policy when registering their vehicle.

Registration Time Periods

There are different time periods available for registration in Montana. Residents can choose 12-month or 24-month registration, or they can register their vehicle quarterly if they are working or staying for a short time. There is also an option for permanent vehicle registration for certain vehicles.

The registration time periods in Montana are as follows:

12-month vehicle registration: The vehicle owner must pay all registration fees, county option tax, and any special license plate fees.
24-month vehicle registration: The vehicle owner must pay all registration fees, county option tax, and any special license plate fees to cover the full 2 years.
Permanent vehicle registration: Available only for vehicles over 11 years old. The vehicle will no longer be required to renew their registration for the life of the vehicle or until the vehicle is sold.

Vehicles with special license plates that require annual renewal are not eligible for permanent registration.

Quarterly registration: Montana offers non-residents who are working in the state the option to register or renew their registration quarterly, so they do not have to pay the full amounts required for longer registration periods. Remember: residents must register their vehicle with the Montana Motor Vehicles Division, even if they are not planning on becoming permanent residents.

Vehicle Registration for Montana Residents

Dealerships will send paperwork for a newly-purchased vehicle to your County Treasurer’s office. Otherwise, MT residents are responsible for the titling and registration of the vehicle, which takes place at the same time.

To register, visit a County Treasurer’s Office. Treasure State residents must register in the county where they reside. Upon arrival, individuals must provide:

A completed vehicle registration application.
Proof of auto insurance.
The car’s title
- If the vehicle was bought from a private party, the title needs to be signed by the previous owner over to the new owner of the vehicle. If the vehicle has recently been purchased, the title transfer and registration take place at the same time.
Pay the registration fee based on the vehicle’s age and on the length of the registration.
Pay the county option tax, which is based on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), type of vehicle, and depreciation of the value of the vehicle.
Pay titling fees, if required.
Pay license plate fees, if you opt for specialized license plates.

Vehicle Registration for Temporary Montana Residents

Anyone working in Montana is required to register their vehicle with the state. The Montana license plate must be displayed along with the license plate of the owner’s home state.

To register, visit the County Treasurer’s Office for the county where the individual works and provide:

A completed vehicle registration application.
Proof of auto insurance.
The car’s title.
The vehicle’s current registration certificate.
Payment for registration fees (based on the vehicle’s age and the length of the registration).
Payment for the county option tax (based on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price [MSRP], type of vehicle, and depreciation of the value of the vehicle).
License plate fees, if the individual opts for specialized plates.

Montana Vehicle Registration Fees

Vehicle registration fees vary by vehicle type, size, age, value, and registration time period. The following fees are for passenger vehicles and pickup trucks weighing under one ton.

Montana Vehicle Registration Rates

All fees listed below are based upon a 12-month registration. Any other periods of time should be multiplied or pro-rated according to the time period for which the vehicle will be registered. Montana vehicle registration fees are as follows:

Vehicles 4 years old and under: $217.
Vehicles 5 to 10 years old: $87.
Vehicles over 11 years old: $28 (if the vehicle is not permanently registered).

Permanent Vehicle Registration Fees

Vehicles over 11 years old are eligible for permanent registration. MT residents will never have to renew their registration after they pay the one-time permanent registration fees. Permanent vehicle registration fees in Montana are as follows:

Registration: $87.50.
Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention: $10.30.
County Tax, which is based on the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), type of vehicle, and depreciation of the value of the vehicle.
Insurance Verification Fee: $5.
Optional state parks support: $6.

Vehicles will not be eligible for permanent registration if they have special license plates that require annual renewal fees.

Montana License Plates

Montana residents will receive their license plates when they register. The expiration date and registration period will be displayed on the plates. Standard vehicle plates are issued for 5 years, after which they must be replaced.

Depending on whether residents get brand new plates with a new plate number, or choose to have an existing license plate number transferred over to their new license plate, will pay one or more of the following fees:

$10 new issue fee.
$10.30 replacement fee (for a new plate number).
$15.45 duplicate plate fee (for transferring an existing number and plate type).
$10.30 duplicate permanent tab fee.
Personalized plates cost $25 initially, and $10 at renewal.

Temporary residents of Montana will be issued license plates for their vehicles. The Montana license plate must be displayed along with the license plate of the owner’s home state.

Motorcycle Registration in Montana

To ride a motorcycle in Montana legally, MT residents will be required to register it with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Both street and off-highway motorcycles are required to be registered. Use this guide to learn more about motorcycle registration in Montana.

New Montana Residents

Upon establishing permanent Montana residency, new residents of MT must register their motorcycle within 60 days. Since titling a motorcycle will also be required, residents of Montana can usually title their motorcycle when they register it.

To register a motorcycle, MT residents can visit their local country treasurer’s office with:

The current out-of-state title and registration.
A completed:
- Inspection Checklist for Motorcycles and Quadricycles (Form MV70) to prove the motorcycle is in safe working order.
- Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle (Form MV1).
Proof of Montana motorcycle insurance.
Payment for the appropriate fees:
- $53.25 for street-legal ONLY motorcycles.
- $114.50 for combination use motorcycles.

(Other taxes and fees may apply.)

Temporary Montana Residents

Temporary residents who plan to work in Montana temporarily must obtain Montana license plates and registration for the off-highway or street-legal motorcycle. Keep in mind that MT residents must display these Montana license plates along with those from their permanent state of residence.

Temporary MT residents will pay permanent registration fees, regardless of how long they will work in the state; HOWEVER, they may choose to register their motorcycle quarterly, rather than for an entire year.

To register, head to a local county treasurer’s office and:

Provide your out-of-state motorcycle registration certificate.
Submit a completed:
- Inspection Checklist for Motorcycles and Quadricycles (Form MV70).
- Application for vehicle registration (available from your county treasurer).
Show proof of Montana motorcycle insurance.
Pay the appropriate registration fee:
- Street-legal ONLY motorcycle: $53.25.
- Combination use motorcycle: $114.50.

Other applicable taxes or fees may apply.

Registering a Montana Motorcycle

Dealership Purchases

When MT residents purchase a motorcycle at a Montana dealership, the dealership will send the required documents for titling and registration to the county treasurer’s office. Montana residents need to be sure to confirm that no other information or additional steps will be required on their part.

The fees associated with titling and motorcycle registration will often be included in the purchase price—see MT Motorcycle Registration Fees below for a breakdown of what fees may be owed.

Private-Party Transactions

Montana residents who have purchased a motorcycle from another owner need to title and register it in their name.

Visit the county treasurer’s office with:

The current motorcycle title and registration.
- Must be signed by you AND the seller, with all signatures notarized.
A completed:
- Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle (Form MV1) with the odometer disclosure included.
- Inspection Checklist for Motorcycles and Quadricycles (Form MV70).
- Bill of Sale (Form MV24).
Proof of Montana motorcycle insurance.
Payment for the applicable fee:
- $53.25 for street-legal ONLY motorcycles
- $114.50 for combination use motorcycles.
Any other applicable taxes or fees.

Motorcycle Registration Exemptions in Montana

Members of the military stationed in Montana temporarily are not required to obtain Montana motorcycle registration or license plates unless they obtain a second job within the state. MT residents will be required to maintain registration in their current state of residence to avoid any fines or penalties.

MT Motorcycle Registration Fees

The cost of registration for motorcycles in Montana varies depending on if it is a street-legal motorcycle, an off-road motorcycle, or a quadricycle.

Keep in mind that registration for any of these vehicles is permanent. The fees associated with registration are only required to be paid upon initial registration, or if the motorcycle is sold to someone else.

MT motorcycle registration fees include:

Street-legal only: $53.25.
Off-highway only: $61.25.
Street-legal/off-highway combination use: $114.50.
Safety fee: $16.
Montana Highway Patrol salary & retention fee: $10.30.
License plate manufacturing fee: $10.
Duplicate license plate tab: $10.30.
County tax: Varies.

Boat Registration and Licenses in Montana

Montana residents who want to use a boat on Montana waters may need to register and title it with the Vehicle Services Bureau (TRB) of the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ). All boating laws are enforced by Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP). Continue reading this page for information on titling and registering a boat, as well as the qualifications needed to operate vessels on the waters of Big Sky Country.

Boats That Must Be Titled & Registered in MT

In Montana, residents of this state are required to title and register the following types of vessels:

Motorized vessels (including motorized canoes, rubber rafts, and personal watercraft).
Sailboats 12 ft and longer.

Boats exempt from Montana’s titling and registration requirements include:

All non-motorized:
Canoes.
Kayaks.
Rowboats.
Non-motorized sailboats less than12 ft in length.
Documented vessels.
Boats owned by an entity of the U.S. government.
Lifeboats.
Registered boats from another state or country, not kept in Montana for more than 90 consecutive days.

MT residents who are still unsure if they’ll need to title and register their boat can call the Montana FWP at (406) 444-2535.

Boat Registration in Montana

If a vessel doesn’t have a hull identification number (HIN), PRIOR to submitting a title and registration application residents of Montana need to:

Head to a Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regional office to obtain a valid HIN.
Schedule an appointment to have their boat’s HIN inspected by a Montana peace officer OR an authorized employee of the DOJ.

The inspector will need to complete a Vehicle/Vessel/OHV Identification Number Inspection Certificate (Form MV20)—don’t lose the completed certificate!

MT residents can then make an application to register and title their boat with the Montana Title and Registration Bureau, by visiting your local county treasurer’s office with:

A completed Application for Vessel Certificate of Title (Form MV1A).
The HIN inspection certificate (if applicable).
An acceptable proof of ownership document, such as:
- The boat’s current out-of-state title OR registration (if from a non-titling state).
- The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin.
- A properly assigned title WITH a bill of sale (when purchasing a used vessel from a private party).
- Payment for the necessary vessel title and registration fees.

To complete the title and registration process, MT residents need to obtain their free validation decals:

Online.
At any Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks office.

All Montana boat registrations are permanent. MT residents only need to renew their validation decals, which expire every 3 years.

Montana Boat Title & Registration Fees

The fees associated with titling and registering a boat with the MT Title and Registration Bureau are as follows:

Certificate of Ownership (boat title): $10.
Per lien added: $10.30.
Permanent boat registration (depends on the vessel’s length):
Less than 16 ft: $65.50.
16 ft to 19 ft: $125.50.
19 ft and longer: $295.50
Replacement title: $10.30.
Application fee for a hull identification number: $5.

MT Boat Registration Renewals & Replacements

All boat registrations are permanent in Montana. Residents of this state must, however, renew their boat’s free validation decals every 3 years by:

Visiting any Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks office.

By ordering online.

Replace Lost Title & Registration

Montana residents who need a replacement copy of their MT boat title will need:

A completed Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form MV7).
The applicable fees for a replacement boat title.

Mail the above items to:

Vehicle Services Bureau
P.O. Box 201431
302 N. Roberts
Helena, MT 59620

MT residents who need to request a duplicate boat registration, can contact their local county treasurer’s office for instructions.

Montana Boater Requirements

Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks impose the following age restrictions when it comes to boating on state waters:

Children who are 12 years old or under CANNOT drive motorboats or personal watercraft with more than 10 HP UNLESS accompanied by a supervisor who’s at least 18 years old.
Teenagers 13 to 14 years old need a valid Montana motorboat operator’s safety certificate OR proof of boater safety course completion to operate boats or personal watercraft with more than 10 horsepower WITHOUT adult supervision.

Residents of Montana can fulfill the FWP’s boater education requirement:

Online with an approved education provider.
With a home study guide, which you can request:
Online at home.
In-person at a Fish, Wildlife, and Parks office.
By calling (406) 444-2535.
In the classroom, with a course sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Taking a boater safety course will not only make MT residents safer operators but could also save them money on boat insurance (which is optional in MT).

Accepted Forms of Payment

The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) accepts these forms of payments:

Over the phone (Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card) – (406) 444-3933
Check
Money order
Credit cards are accepted by phone

Check or Money Order Payment

Motor Vehicle Division Records and Driver Control Bureau
P.O. Box 201430
Helena, MT 59620-1430

Checks and money orders need to be made payable to the Motor Vehicle Division (U.S. funds only).