Title 61, Title 61

All fees payable to the department under this title, unless otherwise provided, shall be deposited in the general fund.

(1) The department shall develop and implement a pilot program to allow: (a) electronic transmission of data by an authorized agent, a county treasurer, or a person to or from the department in lieu of the transmission of paper documents; (b) substantiation of electronic record t…

In the case of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile, a transaction does not create a sale or security interest solely because it permits or requires that the rental price be adjusted either upward or …

The motor vehicle division of the department shall charge, impose, and collect a 3% administrative fee on all fees and donations charged under 23-2-809, 23-2-617, and this title to be deposited into the motor vehicle division administration account established in 61-3-112.

(1) There is an account in the state special revenue fund established by 17-2-102 to be known as the motor vehicle division administration account. (2) Administrative fees collected on behalf of the motor vehicle division pursuant to 61-3-111 must be deposited in the account. (3)…

(1) The department may provide secure electronic applications to permit a person, for specific purposes and as determined by the department, to access or update: (a) an electronic record of title or registration for any vehicle registered to that person; (b) an electronic individ…

(1) The department may authorize a person to perform, on the department's behalf, specific motor vehicle titling, registration, or driver licensing functions assigned to or administered by the department under this title. The authorization must be evidenced by an authorized agent…

(1) The department may accept payment of any fee, tax, or penalty that the department administers by credit card, debit card, electronic funds transfer, or other commercially acceptable means. (2) (a) If the payment is made by credit card, debit card, charge card, or similar meth…

(1) There is a motor vehicle electronic commerce operating account of the enterprise fund type as provided in 17-2-102. (2) A portion of the fees imposed for issuance of a temporary registration permit under 61-3-224 must be deposited in the account. (3) The money in the motor ve…

(1) (a) Whenever a person completes and submits a department-prescribed form, application, or similar document to the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer under Title 23 or this title or whenever a person is issued a notice to appear for a violation of a statute…

As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply: (1) "Declared weight" means the total unladen weight of a vehicle plus the weight of the maximum load to be carried on the vehicle as stated by the registrant in the application for registration. (2) (a) "Specially constru…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (3), the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile that is in this state and for which a certificate of title has not been issued by or an electronic record of…

(1) A certificate of title issued by the department must contain: (a) the date issued; (b) the name and address of the owner; (c) the mileage disclosed by the transferor when ownership of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraf…

(1) Until June 30, 2028, a person applying for a certificate of title shall pay the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer a fee of: (a) $10 if the vehicle for which a certificate of title is sought is not a light vehicle or a truck or bus that weighs 1 ton or le…

(1) If a certificate of title is lost, stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or becomes illegible or if the owner wants to update personal information on the electronic record of title or have a replacement certificate of title issued with updated information, the owner, as shown on the …

(1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2), an insurance company or its adjuster that has taken possession of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile as a result of settling an insurance claim and that…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (4), before executing any transfer of ownership document relating to a motor vehicle, each seller of a motor vehicle shall record on the certificate of title the odometer reading at the time of transfer or, if the certificate of title does not…

(1) If an applicant for a certificate of title cannot provide the department with the certificate of title that assigns the prior owner's interest in the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile to the appl…

As used in this part, the following definitions apply: (1) "Cab" means the passenger compartment of a truck or pickup truck. It is a unit of construction that includes the top or roof and the cowl and may or may not include glass, instrumentation, the steering column, and a seat …

(1) When an insurer acquires ownership of a motor vehicle that is less than 15 years old and that has been determined to be a salvage vehicle, the insurer shall apply for a salvage certificate on a form prescribed by the department. The application must be accompanied by a certif…

(1) Prior to operating a salvage vehicle on the roads and highways of this state, the owner shall present the motor vehicle and the salvage certificate, if one has been issued, or the certificate of title, the appropriate receipts or bills of sale establishing ownership, and the …

(1) When a person applies for a certificate of title for a custom vehicle or street rod and a certificate of title is issued or an electronic record of title is created pursuant to this chapter, the certificate of title or electronic record of title must provide: (a) the model ye…

(1) When a person applies for a certificate of title for a custom-built motorcycle and a certificate of title or an electronic record of title is created pursuant to this chapter, the certificate of title or electronic record of title must include: (a) the make, style, year of ma…

(1) The owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, travel trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, snowmobile, or off-highway vehicle shall apply for a certificate of title on a form prescribed by the department or, if authorized by the depart…

(1) (a) Upon receipt of an application for a certificate of title and any supporting documents, an authorized agent of the department or a county treasurer shall: (i) review the application and documents; (ii) complete the records check required in subsection (2); and (iii) if an…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), if a person who applied for a certificate of title also requested the issuance of the certificate of title as provided in 61-3-216(2)(f)(i), upon receipt of the application and all supporting documents and after an examination and determi…

The department may refuse to issue a certificate of title if any required fee is not paid or if the department has reasonable grounds to believe that: (1) the applicant is not the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercra…

(1) Upon the voluntary transfer of any interest in a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile for which a certificate of title was issued under the provisions of this chapter, the owner whose interest is to…

(1) (a) An involuntary transfer of title to or any interest in a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile may occur by operation of law through inheritance, devise, bequest, order in bankruptcy or insolvenc…

(1) Subject to the requirements of Title 72, chapter 3, part 11, the surviving spouse or other heir may secure transfer of a decedent's ownership interests in one or more motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, campers, motorboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, o…

(1) A salvage vehicle for which a certificate of title is sought must be inspected for the vehicle identification number to authenticate the identity of the motor vehicle before an electronic record of title can be created or a certificate of title can be issued. The inspection d…

(1) (a) The department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer may issue a temporary registration permit for any purpose authorized under the rules adopted by the department. (b) An authorized agent or a county treasurer may issue a temporary registration permit without use o…

Quarterly, the owner or operator of a motor vehicle wrecking facility, as defined in 75-10-501, shall deliver to the department or an authorized agent, on a form approved by the department, a list of all junk vehicles, as defined in 75-10-501, received by the owner or operator of…

(1) The owner or joint owners of a vehicle or vessel may arrange for nonprobate transfer of the vehicle's or vessel's title at the time of death of the owner or last surviving joint owner by completing the beneficiary designation on the application for certificate of title prescr…

(1) Vehicles removed from the department's records because of the department's data retention procedures may be reentered into the system at the request of the last owner of record. The department may issue a certificate of title if the applicant complies with the requirements of…

(1) (a) A person may not operate a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer upon the public highways of Montana unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or travel trailer is properly registered and has the proper license plates con…

(1) (a) A resident of the state of Montana who owns a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer may not operate the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer with license plates issued by any other state than Montana. (b) (i) A person who has resided in Mont…

(1) Except as provided in 61-3-324, a Montana resident who is an owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer operated or driven upon the public highways of this state shall register the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer in the county where t…

(1) A person whose vehicle is registered in the state may cancel the registration in a manner prescribed by department rulemaking. The person shall remove the vehicle's license plates if the vehicle is in the person's possession. If the vehicle is registered to multiple adults, t…

(1) A person whose vehicle is registered in the state may suspend the registration in a manner prescribed by department rulemaking. If the vehicle is registered to multiple adults, they shall all consent to the suspension. (2) A vehicle with a suspended registration may not be dr…

(1) Unless a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is subject to permanent registration under this title and except as provided in 61-3-313, 61-3-701, 61-3-721, and subsection (3) of this section, the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer shall, up…

(1) Except as provided in 61-3-313 and 61-3-721, the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter must be renewed on or before the last day of the month of the motor vehicle's registration period following the expiration of the motor vehicle's registration. (2) A person may…

(1) The following motor vehicles are exempt from the registration renewal requirements of 61-3-312: (a) motor vehicles owned or leased and operated by the government of the United States or by the state of Montana or a political subdivision of the state; (b) motor vehicles regist…

For the purposes of this chapter, there are 12 registration periods to which a motor vehicle may be assigned. Each registration period commences on the first day of a calendar month. The periods are: (1) January 1 through January 31 1st period (2) February 1 through February 28/2…

Except as provided in 61-3-311, a motor vehicle that is registered for the first time in this state must be assigned a registration period corresponding to when the motor vehicle is first registered in this state. Except as permitted in 61-3-318 or 61-3-324, the registration peri…

(1) The new owner of a transferred motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer has a grace period of 40 calendar days from the date of purchase to make application for a certificate of title and pay the registration fees, fees in lieu of tax and other fees required by th…