Vintage and Pioneer Plates

Vintage and Pioneer plates, authorized by § 61-3-411, MCA of the Montana Code Annotated, are available for vehicles that are:

  • more than 30 years old
  • used solely as collectors’ items, rather than for general transportation

How to Purchase Vintage and Pioneer Plates

A Montana title must be issued in the applicant’s name before Vintage or Pioneer plates can be issued.

  1. Complete an Application for Registration of a Vintage or Pioneer Vehicle (MV3).
  2. Send the completed form to the Vehicle Services Bureau (PO Box 201431, Helena, MT 59620-1431), not your County Treasurer.
  3. Pay all applicable title fees and any special license plate fees.

Original Montana Plates

Original Montana license plates were issued during the same year a motor vehicle was manufactured. For example, the owner of a 1976 Dodge may want to use a set of plates issued in 1976. Original Montana license plates are not re-manufactured by the state – the applicant must obtain existing plates. A Montana title must be issued in the applicant’s name before Original plates can be registered.

To display Original license plates on a vehicle used for general transportation, the vehicle must be 25 years old or older. The applicant must have a set of two Original Montana license plates and:

  1. complete the top section of the Application to Display Original Montana License Plates (MV97) and have law enforcement complete the bottom section
  2. permanently register the vehicle in the applicant’s name through the County Treasurer’s office, in accordance with § 61-3-562, MCA
  3. pay all applicable fees and any special license plate fees

To display Original license plates on a vehicle used solely as a collector’s item, not for general transportation, the vehicle must be 30 years old or older. The applicant must have a set of two Original Montana license plates and:

  1. complete the top section of the Application to Display Original Montana License Plates (MV97) and have law enforcement complete the bottom section
  2. register the vehicle in the applicant’s name through the Vehicle Services Bureau, in accordance with § 61-3-411, MCA
  3. pay all applicable fees and any special license plate fees