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Montana Vehicle Registration: How To Make It As Simple As Possible

Whether you are a Montana resident or non-resident, registering your vehicle is paramount. This way, you will be able to move freely with your vehicle and even avoid any legal battle. However, registering your vehicle can sometimes be very time consuming and hectic.

So, how can you make the whole process simple and straightforward? Well, let’s find out as this article discusses how you can make your Montana vehicle registration as simple as possible. Let’s get started.

How To Register Your Vehicle In Montana In Simple Steps

Here is how to register a vehicle in Montana

1.    Make sure you have all the required documents to register your car in Montana

First things first, if you want your Montana car registration to go as smoothly and as fast as possible, you must ensure that you have all the required documents. This way, the officials tasked with the registration will start the process right away. You must provide the following documents:

  • A completed registration application
  • Proof of auto insurance
  • The car’s title [if the car was bought from a private party, the title must be signed by the previous owner over to the new owner of the car].

2.    Make sure your car has all the necessary parts to be registered

For your car to be registered in Montana or to register a RV in Montana, it must have certain things, including:

  • Headlights
  • The brake lights
  • Reflector at the back
  • Taillight
  • Mirrors
  • Turn indicators
  • Horn
  • Speedometer
  • Tires

If your car lacks these, it will be impossible for it to be registered. Before a vehicle is registered, it usually undergoes a thorough inspection to ensure that it has everything it should have to operate on the roads.

3.    Visit the County Treasurer’s Office

With all the necessary documents at hand and your vehicle equipped with the things needed to register it, it is time to visit the County Treasurer’s Office. All vehicles in Montana are registered here. For a new car, the dealership sends paperwork to the County Treasurer’s Office.

4.    Pay the registration fees

Once you have submitted your documents at the County Treasurer’s Office, it is time to pay the registration fee. This usually varies depending on the age, type, size, value, and registration time period of the vehicle.

For a vehicle that is four years old and below, you will have to pay a registration fee of $217. If the vehicle is 5-10 years old, you will pay a registration fee of $87. And for a vehicle that is over 11 years old, the registration fee is $28.

5.    Wait for your license plate

Once you have submitted your documents and paid the registration fees, you should now wait for the license plate. This can take between 2-4 weeks. Your license plate will display the date of registration as well as the date of expiry. The standard license plate usually expires after five years. Once it expires, the car owner will have to replace it. Replacing it is not that hectic. A Montana registered agent can help you with that.