Montana Vehicle FAQs
We’ve been doing Montana vehicle registrations for years, helping tens of thousands of clients successfully register their vehicles. Along the way, we’ve answered a ton of questions. Here’s a compilation of the most common questions and answers.
General Montana Questions
Is it true that Montana does not charge a sales tax?
Yes, it’s true! Montana does not have sales tax. A couple of the more populated counties have excise tax, but we don’t have any type of sales or excise tax in Flathead County. This means you could be saving thousands of dollars on your vehicle purchase when you register in Montana. Use our sales tax savings calculator to find out how much you could save on when you register your vehicle in Montana!
Do I need a Montana driver’s license to register a vehicle in Montana?
If you’re registering your vehicle under a Montana LLC, then no, you don’t need a Montana driver’s license. Your Montana LLC is the legal resident under which your vehicle is owned. Remember, you’re only trying to LEGALLY avoid paying sales tax on your vehicle. If you’re not a Montana resident, then simply get your license in the state where you reside.
Montana LLC Vehicle Registration
How much does it cost to register my vehicle in Montana?
The cost to register your vehicle in Montana can vary widely depending on the type of vehicle you’re registering, your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), the age of your vehicle, and a ton of other factors. You can use our site menu to find out the cost of your vehicle by locating “Titling & Registrations” and selecting your vehicle type. Each page includes details about state registration fees for your vehicle. You can also visit our Montana Links and Resources page and find a list of our pages with state registration fees.
If you’re thinking about registering your vehicle under a Montana LLC—a very popular option for those looking to register out-of-state vehicles in Montana. Check out our Montana RV & Vehicle LLC service page to learn more! Our all-in service covers everything you need to register your vehicle in Montana: LLC formation, titling services, a year of registered agent services, and the first year of DMV fees are all included in our flat fee.
Can I register my vehicle in my personal name?
Unfortunately, if you are not a Montana resident, state law prohibits a vehicle from being registered in your name. We can, however, register a vehicle in the name of your Montana LLC. If you’ve hired us to form your LLC, we will provide you with paperwork showing all managers/members of the entity.
If you are a Montana resident, we can help you register a vehicle in the name of your Montana LLC. But if you want a vehicle registered to your personal name, you should contact your local DMV for best assistance.
How do I sign the title when purchasing a vehicle for my LLC?
There are 3 areas on the title that you should complete:
- ‘Buyers signature.‘ This is your everyday signature followed by “ , Member”. For example, John Doe would sign as “[John Doe’s signature], Member”
- Buyer’s printed name. This is where you list the name of your LLC. It’s crucial that you do NOT list your human name.
- Buyer’s address. This is where you list our address. Again, it’s important that you list our address, not yours. Our address:
1001 S Main St Suite 49
Kalispell, MT 59901
How do I insure my Montana LLC-owned vehicle?
There are a few ways for you to obtain insurance for vehicles owned under a Montana LLC. Check out our page on Insuring a Vehicle Owned by an LLC, where you can also find a list of reputable insurance agencies our clients have had success with in the past.
Vehicle Registration Renewal
How do I renew my vehicle registration?
You can renew your vehicle registration yourself—or, if you’re a client, have us take care of it! Here are the ways you can handle your Montana vehicle registration renewal:
Renew Registration on Your Own
- Via mail. Follow the steps on the back of your blue card renewal notice, which includes info on who you need to write your check out to and where you need to send your renewal.
- Online. Locate the MVD Your Way portal on the front of your blue card renewal notice. You can also access the registration renewal here: MVD Your Way.
We Renew Your Registration for You
This is usually the fastest option for current clients since our process is streamlined with the state and USPS.
- We can renew for you. For hassle-free renewals, log in to your online client account and head to the “Vehicle Registrations” tab. For each active vehicle, you’ll have the option to turn on “Auto Renewal,” which will generate an invoice for the renewal two months before the due date. Then you can set up Autopay for your vehicle registration renewal from the “Services” tab in your online client account. If you have further questions about renewing your vehicle registration, give us a call or send us an email!
- New Vehicle Signups. If you’re a new client who ordered our Montana LLC vehicle registration service, you’ll be automatically enrolled for vehicle renewal registration (or permanent plates, depending on the vehicle).
Whether you renew yourself or we renew for you, the state will send your renewed vehicle registration to our office, where we’ll scan and upload it into your online account. Renewals will be shipped within 5 business days to the mailing address we have on file.
How do I add a vehicle to my LLC?
Please ship your original title, Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO), or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) to our Kalispell address:
1001 S Main St Suite 49
Kalispell, MT 59901
Make sure to address the envelope to your LLC name. We highly recommend you use any method of tracking when shipping us documents.
What do you need from me to register my vehicle to my LLC?
Because every registration is very, very different, we do not have a standard list of requirements that Montana State will need. We recommend filling out your title to your LLC and ship us any and all original documents. If there is anything that Montana State will not need, we will send it back to you with your completed Montana plates, and registration.
What happens after I ship you my title?
Once we receive your initial vehicle paperwork for registration, it will be put in queue. Keep in mind that:
- All documents are reviewed in the order to which they are received. There is no option to expedite this process.
- If we need any additional documents, we will upload a Rejection Notice to your documents in your client account and you will also receive an automated email. This notice will explain what we need and why we need it. If we are able to, we will also upload the document that we need, pre-filled out for you. Do keep in mind, however, that you will usually have to ship the original to our office.
- Our team will also create your invoice when they review your paperwork, which will also send you an automated email. Once we have all required paperwork and your invoice has been paid, we will send your paperwork to Montana State for processing.
- Once your Montana plates and registration have been processed by the state and sent back to us, we then ship these to you at your address on file. The state will ship the title to our office roughly 5 weeks later. Once we receive the title, we’ll scan and upload it to your account and then ship it via USPS with tracking to you.
Can I get a temporary plate while I wait for my title, registration, and Montana plates?
Once we have all required paperwork in our office, we will be happy to request a temporary plate for you! Timelines and fees may vary so please reach out to us for exact details. Temporary plates are not automatically issued-they are available only upon request.
Can I register my vehicle if I have/am planning to have a lien on it?
This is up to your lien holder. If you are currently financing, we recommend you reach out to that finance company and ask if they’re okay with you titling and registering this into your LLC name ONLY. We will also need them to ship the original title to our office along with a letter giving us permission to register this vehicle to the LLC name only. If you’re planning to finance, you will simply need to have a conversation with the finance company and let them know you’re wanting to title and register this in your LLC name only and confirm that they are okay with this.