Vehicle Registration

What vehicles do I have to register?

Under state law, all motor vehicles including motor homes; motorcycles and quadricycles; travel trailers; utility trailers; all-terrain vehicles; sailboats over 12 feet in length; motorboats, jet skis, other motorized watercraft; and snowmobiles must be registered with the state.

**Pickup campers are an exception—they must be titled but are not registered.

Registration requirements apply to all Montana residents as well as:

New residents

New residents must apply for a Montana vehicle title and register their vehicles within 60 days of establishing residency

Montana residents moving to another county

Montana residents moving to another county may continue to use their current plates until their annual registration renewal is due. The current registration and plates remain active until the registration expires. At that time, the customer needs to renew their vehicle registration and update their address with their new County Treasurer's office. Those with permanently registered vehicles do not have to take any registration action.

Military Employees

Non-resident military personnel stationed in Montana may register their vehicles in their home jurisdictions or in Montana, unless they are gainfully employed in Montana outside of their military duties. If they are gainfully employed outside those duties, they must title and register their vehicles in Montana.

Non-residents

Under § 61-3-701 through 704, MCA. non-residents who are gainfully employed in Montana must present their current out-of-state vehicle registration to the County Treasurer's office. Taxes or fees in lieu of taxes are due, along with appropriate registration fees (U.S. funds only). Non-residents may choose to register by the calendar quarter. The vehicle must display the license plate or decal from both its home state and from Montana.

Registration and Fees

Under § 61-3-321, MCA registration fees are in addition to the county option tax levied on light vehicles and the fees levied in lieu of taxes on other vehicles. Registration fees do not include special plate fees for personalized plates and specialty plates, or other miscellaneous fees.
Registration fees are due upon renewal or transfer of ownership. No credit is given for taxes or fees paid. Only U.S. funds are accepted.
Organ-Donor and Brain-Injury Awareness – When you register your vehicle, you may make a donation of $1 or more to organ-donor and traumatic brain-injury education and support programs. Just ask your County Treasurer.
Cancer Screening Support Fund – When you register your vehicle, you may make a donation of $1 or more to support cancer screening programs. Just ask your County Treasurer.

Registration Purposes Only (RPO)

An “RPO” is issued for customers in specific circumstances, as detailed below.

Situation	Requirements	Frequency
A vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and is being used for gainful employment per § 61-3-701, MCA must be registered in Montana. Vehicles in this scenario are not titled in Montana.	Applicant must provide: Evidence of ownership Current registration from the other jurisdiction	Original registration and registration renewal
A vehicle is owned by the federal government. Some federal agencies prefer to display state of Montana plates rather than federal government exempt plates.	Applicant must complete and submit an Application for County Numbered Plates by a United States Government Agency (MV54) provided by the MVD (contact [email protected] to request application)	Original registration and registration renewal
A non-resident customer is a health care professional employed in Montana by a rural health care facility or in an area identified as having shortages of certain services as described in § 15-6-217, MCA and § 61-3-707, MCA	Applicant is seeking vehicle registration in an area identified at http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/ to determine if applicant works in a Health Care Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Vehicle must be currently registered in another jurisdiction Applicant must complete and submit an Application for Exemption for Vehicle of Certain Health Care Professionals (MV104)	Original registration and registration renewal

Situation

Requirements

Frequency

A vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and is being used for gainful employment per § 61-3-701, MCA must be registered in Montana. Vehicles in this scenario are not titled in Montana.

Applicant must provide:

Evidence of ownership
Current registration from the other jurisdiction

Original registration and registration renewal

A vehicle is owned by the federal government. Some federal agencies prefer to display state of Montana plates rather than federal government exempt plates.

Applicant must complete and submit an Application for County Numbered Plates by a United States Government Agency (MV54) provided by the MVD (contact [email protected] to request application)

Original registration and registration renewal

A non-resident customer is a health care professional employed in Montana by a rural health care facility or in an area identified as having shortages of certain services as described in § 15-6-217, MCA and § 61-3-707, MCA

Applicant is seeking vehicle registration in an area identified at http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/ to determine if applicant works in a Health Care Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
Vehicle must be currently registered in another jurisdiction
Applicant must complete and submit an Application for Exemption for Vehicle of Certain Health Care Professionals (MV104)

Original registration and registration renewal

Property Tax Exemptions

Documents required to qualify for an exemption must be provided to the County Treasurer’s office when paying for title and registration or registration renewal.

The Department of Revenue's (DOR) Form AB-30P is used by individuals and organizations to apply for personal property tax exemption. Once submitted to the DOR and reviewed, the applicant will receive a determination letter from the DOR with a decision regarding the application for exemption. This determination letter is provided to the MVD by the customer applying for the exemption to confirm exempt status.

Property tax exemption applications for organizations filed with the DOR are due on March 1 each year. Click the following link for more information: https://mtrevenue.gov/property/property-tax-exemptions/tax-exemption-organizations/

Exemption Type and Requirements

NOTE: The table below outlines when a determination letter from the DOR is required; however, a government entity (individual or organization) as defined in § 15-6-201(1)(a), MCA (federal, state, or local) is exempted (NOT required) from providing a determination letter from DOR.

Exemption Type	Requirement	Frequency
Cemetery District	Determination letter from DOR unless exempt*	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Charitable Organization	Determination letter from DOR	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Developmentally Disabled	Determination letter from DOR	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Educational	Determination letter from DOR (e.g., private schools, charter schools, First Student Transportation, and others)	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Ex-Prisoner of War	For Ex-POW or surviving spouse (if not remarried): DD214 or its successor to confirm ex-POW status Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Original title and registration
Federal	None if a confirmed government entity	Original title and registration
Government (State/Local)	None if a confirmed government entity	Original title and registration
Hospital	Determination letter from DOR: Specific vehicles only (e.g., maintenance, hospice) Vehicles used by hospital management and staff are NOT exempt.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Irrigation District	Determination letter from DOR unless exempt*	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Military	For a non-resident active military service member: Serving in Montana, Proof of service is required (contact your County Treasurer’s office to verify acceptable proof of service) NOTE: ARM § 42.19.502(3) – exemptions are prorated equally for military versus nonmilitary owners	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Montana Military	For a Montana resident who: Entered the service from Montana Serves outside the state of Montana MVD Form MV53 required.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Potable Water	Determination letter from DOR This exemption applies to vehicles used for maintenance of wells and cisterns.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Purple Heart	For a Purple Heart recipient who is 50% or more disabled or surviving spouse (if not remarried): DD214 or its successor to confirm Purple Heart recipient Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Surviving Spouse	An official document from the U.S. Department of Defense verifying military service member killed while on active duty An official document from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs verifying military service member or veteran died of a service-connected injury or disability. *Surviving spouse only eligible if not remarried	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Tribal	Individuals: Proof of Tribal membership Residency on reservation NOTE: Contact county treasurer’s office to verify acceptable proof of membership and residency. Organizations: Essential tribal government is exempt* Determination letter from DOR is required for private organizations related to a tribe NOTE: ARM 42.19.502(1) – exemptions are prorated equally for tribal versus nontribal owners. Tribal members must prove residency on their corresponding tribal land to receive the tribal exemption, for example: a Crow tribal member proves residency on the Crow Reservation tribal land. Exception: Little Shell tribal members do not have corresponding tribal land and can prove residency on any Montana tribal land to be eligible for the exemption.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Veteran	For a disabled veteran who is 100% disabled or paid at 100% disability or surviving spouse (if not remarried): Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Original title and registration and registration renewal

What vehicles do I have to register?

Registration requirements apply to all Montana residents as well as:

New residents

Montana residents moving to another county

Military Employees

Non-residents

Registration and Fees

Boat, Personal Watercraft and Motorized Pontoon

Commercial and Heavy Vehicle

Light Vehicle

Motor Home

Motorcycle and Quadricycle

Snowmobile

Special Mobile

Utility Trailer

Travel Trailer

Registration Purposes Only (RPO)

Property Tax Exemptions

Exemption Type and Requirements