For more information on registration fees and requirements, please visit the Montana State Motor Vehicle website. To get an estimate of the cost to title and register a vehicle, please use the state's online calculator.

Tax Schedulefor Passenger Vehicles

The taxable value for passenger cars, pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles previously registered in Montana is based on the manufacturers’ suggested retail price, depreciated according to a set schedule as the vehicle ages. The County Option Tax is calculated at one half percent of the taxable value of the vehicle (calculators and depreciation table below).

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PermanentRegistrations

Effective January 1, 2006, Motorhomes 11 years old or older may be permanently registered at the owner's option.

Required to register permanently: Trailers (including travel trailers), boats, snowmobiles, off highway vehicles, motorcycles, quadricycles.

Allowed to register permanently if 11 years old or older: Light vehicles, motorhomes, and collector vehicles with qualifying collector plate.

Not allowed to register permanently: Large trucks, light vehicles and motorhomes 10 years old and newer, vehicles with restricted license plates or exemptions.

Transfer of ownership: Permanent registrations do not stay with the vehicle. Registration ends whenever there is a change in ownership. So, in addition to titling fees, new owner(s) must register anew, paying all required taxes and fees. Unless required by vehicle type (TL, SN, OHV, BT, MC), a new owner has the option to register the vehicle on an annual or permanent basis.

Late renewals: If an owner wishes to register a qualified vehicle permanently, however, has not completed renewal for the current year, and the vehicle was not 11 years old at the time of scheduled renewal, the owner must complete renewal for that registration period before the vehicle can be permanently registered. Since the vehicle was not 11 years old in its original renewal period, the vehicle may not be permanently registered until vehicle registration is brought current. Then a second registration may be processed for permanent registration.

Permanent registration requests beyond typical renewal period: If a customer has already received an annual registration and requests to permanently register before the vehicle's next grace period, the customer may register permanently, but no credit is given for the fees already paid.

RPO: Light vehicles will not be allowed permanent registration even if age qualified, as those non-resident vehicles that use the RPO process must also verify current registration in their home state. An RPO is never issued for a snowmobile, boat, or off highway vehicle as other mechanisms provided by FWP exist in statue for non-resident use. Motorcycles, quadricycles and trailers (including travel trailers) are registered permanently when issued an RPO, as there is no provision in statute to register them otherwise.

Light Vehicle (1 ton or less)Annual Registration Fees

Light Vehicle (1 ton or less)Permanent Registration Fees

(Optional for light vehicles and collector vehicles with qualifying collector plates 11 yrs old or older)

Fees for Other Vehicles

Motor Homes are registered based on the age of the vehicle. Calculate the vehicle age by subtracting the current year minus the model year. Renewal fees are as follows:

Motor HomesAnnual Registration Fees

Motor HomesPermanent Registration Fees

(optional for Motor Homes 11 years old and over)

Motorcycles/Quadricycles and Off Highway Vehicles

All trailers (including travel trailers), boats, motorcycles, quadricycles, off highway vehicles and snowmobiles are required to register permanently.

Motorcycles & QuadricyclesPermanent Registration

Off-Highway VehiclesPermanent Registration

Use this table for motorcycles/quadricycles that are not street legal.

TrailersPermanent Registration

Travel TrailersPermanent Registration

Boats/Personal Watercraft/Motorized PontoonsPermanent Registration

SnowmobilesPermanent Registration