You might have heard that you can purchase your car or pickup truck sales tax-free using a Montana LLC. It’s true: Montana car and truck registration can save you thousands of dollars. But it can also be a headache trying to meet the Montana residency requirement, juggling different vendors and shuffling through Montana paperwork.
When you sign up for our Montana LLC vehicle registration, you get all the services you’ll need to register your car or truck in Montana, all under one roof.
How do I register my car sales tax-free in Montana?
- Sign up for our Montana LLC vehicle registration service. Our LLC vehicle registration service covers everything you’ll need, no upsells or surprise add-ons at checkout.
- You purchase your pickup or car under your LLC. The LLC we form for you is a legal resident of Montana, so the LLC can own a vehicle. What you’ll do then is purchase your vehicle and list your new Montana LLC as the owner of the vehicle, NOT your human name.
- Send us the titling paperwork. From there, you can send us the titling paperwork for your car or pickup (or have your dealer send it) along with your inspection sheet.
- We register your vehicle in Montana. We’ll register your vehicle with the MVD.
- We send you your Montana registration documents. Once we receive your plates and registration from the state (typically 8-12 weeks), we will overnight these to you. Please note that the state sends us your title separate from your plates and registration (roughly 40 days later). Once we receive your title, we upload it into your online account and send you the physical copy via USPS Ground Advantage™ within 10 business days (tracking number included).
This is by far the easiest and most affordable way to register your out-of-state vehicle in Montana. With us, you’re getting a one-stop shop for LLC formation, Montana titling and registration service, and affordable local registered agent service.
Want a more in-depth look at our proven process? Check out our step-by-step instructions for Montana registration and titling.
How Much Does it Cost to Have You Register My out-of-state car or truck?
Our LLC vehicle registration service is simply a flat rate of $1,049 total ($300 to form your LLC and $749 for registration fees). That includes Flathead County DMV fees, plate registration, the cost of forming your Montana LLC, and the first year of registered agent service.
We only charge flat rates for our registration service in order to further simplify the process. No elaborate tables and fee structures. Just one price to cover everything you need to register your car or truck in Montana.
And here’s the kicker: where we are here in Flathead, there’s no county option tax. We also maintain your LLC and renew your plates and registration for a low yearly fee so that you remain compliant with the state of Montana.
Why Choose Us?
Our full-service Montana LLC vehicle registration covers everything you’ll need to legally register a car or truck in Montana and purchase your vehicle sales tax-free! For just $1,049* total, our service includes:
- Same-day anonymous LLC formation
- Initial DMV registration fees
- A year of registered agent service
- Shipping your license plates, title, and registration
- A dedicated online account
- A Montana business address
You can sign up now and be on your way to saving thousands on your next vehicle purchase!
* Montana applies a luxury tax on certain vehicles based on their value at the time of registration. For “light vehicles” with an original MSRP at or above $150,000, the luxury tax is $825. For vehicles at that price range, you’re still saving way more money in sales tax by registering your car or pickup in Montana.
Montana Car and Truck Registration FAQs
What Is “Light Vehicle” Registration in Montana?
According to the Montana DMV, a “light vehicle” is typically a passenger car, pickup truck one-ton and under, vans, and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Basically, anything that’s not a motor home or big commercial truck is considered an “auto,” and to the MT DMV, that falls under “light vehicle.” So whether you have a Nissan Frontier, Ford F-150, Toyota Tundra, Dodge Ram 2500, Ford Super Duty, or Chevy Silverado 3500, the technical Montana lingo for registering these vehicles is “light vehicle registration.”
What Are The Benefits of Using a Montana LLC to Own a Car or Pickup?
In addition to sales tax and property tax-free vehicle registration, You get several benefits by using a Montana LLC to own your car or pickup:
- No sales tax or property tax. Montana does not impose sales tax or personal property tax on light vehicles.
- No emissions test or vehicle inspection. Montana doesn’t mandate these inspections, so when you register with Montana, you don’t have to worry about the extra cost and inconvenience.
- Permanent plates. If your car, truck or van is 11 years old—or as soon as it reaches that age—you’re eligible to pay for permanent plates. That means that you pay a one-time fee of $130.00 and never have to worry about annual registration again.
- Privacy protection. Your LLC is the owner, and our address is on record. Your name and address stay off Montana Secretary of State and DMV records.
- Asset protection. Your vehicle is an asset owned by your LLC. That makes the LLC legally liable for your vehicle, not you.
- No trip to the DMV. We handle the mundane stuff for you.
What Are The Annual DMV Fees for Light Vehicles in Montana?
The annual DMV fee for light vehicles in Montana depends on the age of the vehicle. Below are the state fees for registering a car or pickup (not including additional state processing fees). These are only the DMV fees.
| DMV Fees | |
|---|---|
| 0-4 years old | $262.00 |
| 5-10 years old | $135.00 |
| 11 years or older | $60.00 |
| Permanent plate for vehicles that are 11 years or older | Fees vary by vehicle type |
Will I have to pay the Montana Luxury Tax for my car or pickup?
If you own a light vehicle (typically a car or pickup truck) with an original MSRP equal to or greater than $150,000, then you will need to pay an $825 annual luxury tax until the vehicle is 11 years old.
For such high-end luxury vehicles, the savings in sales tax far outweigh Montana’s luxury tax.
How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Car or Pick Registration in Montana?
Aside from annual DMV registration fees, your cost will be associated with maintaining your LLC:
- Annual Report Fee. Keep your Montana motorcycle LLC current by submitting an annual report to the Montana Secretary of State. Our annual report filing service keeps your LLC compliant for $70 a year, which includes the state’s fee.
- Registered Agent Fee. Maintain a registered agent in the state of Montana to make sure your LLC remains compliant. When you hire us to form your Montana motorcycle or ATV LLC, we include our registered agent service for one year. To keep us as your registered agent, we charge only $49 a year.
How Long Will it Take to Register My Vehicle in Montana?
Times can vary from 8-12 weeks depending on the state’s workload. If you hire us to handle things for you, we offer same-day LLC formation and DMV registration in order to expedite the process as much as possible. So if you purchase your MT vehicle as soon as your MT LLC is formed and overnight us the title work, you can have Montana plates as quickly as possible.
In a hurry to get on the road? We’ve got you covered. For an additional $75, we’ll get you temporary plates in as little as 10 business days.
What Is The Cheapest County for Light Vehicle Registration in Montana?
You have to register your Montana auto in the county of the registered agent, and several counties in Montana have a county option tax. Not our county—we just so happen to be in Kalispell, which has no county option tax. It’s just one of the ways we’ve made sure that you are saving as much as possible when you choose us to register your vehicle in Montana.
How do I have you take care of my Montana Light Vehicle registration renewal?
Eligible new vehicles signups are auto-enrolled for Montana vehicle registration renewal! First, we form your LLC, provide you registered agent service, and handle your initial registration. After that, our team of local experts stay on top of your everything to make sure your LLC remains in compliance with the state and your vehicle is renewed on time. The best part? You don’t have to worry about a thing—we handle it all and mail you your new tabs (and plates if necessary) when your renewal process is complete!
This service does not include vehicles with perm plates, and it does not include any type of trailers, motorcycles, side-by-sides, scooters, boats, snow mobiles, and jet skis.
How do I register a vehicle with a Montana LLC if I have a lien?
If you currently have a lien or may have a lien in the future, this process is a little more complicated. In some cases, this process cannot be completed if you have a lien. For more information regarding registration with a lien, please contact us.
Can I register more vehicles under my Montana LLC after signing up?
Yes, you can easily register more vehicles under your Montana LLC. Here’s how:
- Log in to your client portal.
- Select “Vehicle Registrations” from the menu.
- Select “+ Vehicle” at the top right corner of the page.
- Follow the instructions to place your vehicle registration order in just a few minutes!
Registering your first vehicle? If you’re already a client and looking to register a vehicle under an existing LLC we’ve formed for you, you can follow the same steps above to register your first Montana LLC-owned vehicle!
Can I register an imported vehicle under a Montana LLC?
Import vehicles have a very different set of requirements. If you have an imported vehicle that you’re looking to have us register under a Montana LLC, please contact us.
Why is Our Montana Light Vehicle LLC Different?
We understand Montana LLC formations and vehicle registrations through and through. We ARE the leader in Montana LLC formations. We file more LLCs in Montana than any other law firm or national incorporation website. Why? We provide more initial tools, great documents, and ongoing compliance tools for Montana businesses.
Additional Montana Registration Information Resources
