Montana License PlatesA Montana license plate is a rectangular metallic piece containing a unique serial attached to the front or rear of a vehicle. Per Section 61-3-301 of the Montana Code Annotated, a person may only operate a motor vehicle, semi-trailer, pole trailer, trailer, or travel trailer upon Montana public highways if the vehicle is properly registered and has proper license plates conspicuously displayed on the vehicle.
Montana law also requires that all motor vehicles in the state have one license plate displayed horizontally on the front and one license plate displayed horizontally on the rear of the motor vehicle, except as provided in Sections 61-4-120, 61-4-129, and subsections 1(b)(ii) through (1)(b)(iv) of Section 61-3-301 of the Montana Code Annotated.
Montana license plates are issued by the state's Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) under the state's Department of Justice. The Montana MVD issues the following types of license plates:
Montana License Plate Design and FormatsThe most recent iteration of Montana license plates was introduced in January 2010, drawing inspiration from the state's classic plate designs. With a solid blue background and a white outline of Montana, this design harkens back to the plates of the 1970s.
The iconic "Treasure State" slogan adorns the top, a nod to the plates of the 1950s. The clear, white lettering for the state name and plate number is reminiscent of classic designs, ensuring readability from a distance. The "10" following "Montana" denotes the design's issue year, a feature seen in designs from the 1980s. The inclusion of a "dot" between the county prefix and the plate number is a stylized representation of a bison skull, a recognizable element in Montana's heritage.
Standard license plate:
Veteran, Vintage, and Amateur Radio license plates:
* Source: Montana Motor Vehicle Division
Montana Vanity License PlateThe State of Montana allows for the issuance of personalized license plates under the provisions of Part 4, Chapter 3, of the Montana Code Annotated. State law defines a personalized license plate as a license plate specially produced to display a specific combination of numbers, letters, or both as expressly requested by the owner of the passenger motor vehicle.
Per Montana law, an individual who is the registered owner of a motor vehicle, motor home, truck, trailer, motorcycle, quadricycle, or other vehicle for the owner's personal use may, upon payment of the appropriate fee, apply to the Motor Vehicles Division for personalized or vanity license plates.
Except as provided for in specific circumstances, the vanity license plates must be the same color and design as standard license plates and must consist of letters or numbers, or any combination of letters or numbers, not exceeding eight positions and not less than two positions, provided that there are no conflicts with existing standard or special license plate series.
In order to apply for a vanity plate, you must complete the MV8 (Application for Personalized License Plates) form. A $25.75 vanity plate application fee and other applicable plate fees are required. Since the $25.75 fee is nonrefundable, you should provide three plate choices and meanings in case one of the choices is rejected.
After completing and signing the MV8 form, take it to the County Treasurer's office in your county of residence. Note that vanity license plates may be issued only to the registered owner of the motor vehicle upon which they are displayed.
Most Popular Montana Special Plate NumbersThere are over 200 special-themed license plates in Montana. Some of the common ones include:
Montana License Plate LookupA Montana license plate lookup is a process that entails retrieving information about a specific vehicle registered in the state by using its MVD-issued license plate number as a search criterion. Typically, this search provides information such as the vehicle's make and model, mileage, accident history, maintenance records, and repossession history.
A Montana license plate lookup may be performed to check a used car's history before purchase. You can use RecordsFinder to perform a quick license plate lookup.
A reverse license plate lookup allows you to find information about a vehicle by entering its plate number to search motor vehicle records. It serves the same purpose as a license plate look-up and can reveal information such as researching a vehicle's history, identifying a car's specifications, or finding the registration status of the car. While a reverse license plate lookup may also help you find the owner of the car, such sensitive information is not usually publicly accessible.
Pursuant to federal law, specifically the Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), identifying information such as the name of the owner of a license plate and the owner's Social Security Number are prohibited from public disclosure except in limited circumstances. Therefore, you must have a valid reason under the DPPA to obtain identifying information to obtain the name of the individual registered with a license plate using a reverse license plate lookup service.
RecordsFinder allows users to access DPPA-compliant motor vehicle information using the license plate number search feature of its website.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Montana?You must register your vehicle to get a license plate in Montana. Under Montana law, all motor vehicles, including motorcycles, quadricycles, motor homes, travel trailers, utility trailers, all-terrain vehicles, sailboats over 12 feet in length, jet skis, motorboats, other motorized watercraft, and snowmobiles must be registered with the state. Upon completing the vehicle title and registration process and settling all applicable taxes and fees, the state will produce your license plates. The processing of all paperwork typically takes around 30 days. If you are a new resident, you must apply for a Montana vehicle title and register your vehicles within 60 days of establishing residency.
A vehicle cannot be titled in Montana without registration, as the two processes occur simultaneously. Once completed, you can visit the County Treasurer's office to obtain your new license plates. In cases where the desired plates are not immediately available, the county treasurer may issue a 40-day temporary permit.
To title and register your vehicle in Montana, follow these steps:
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in MontanaMontana does not categorize any of its license plate classes as commercial. However, there is a difference between passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles. While passenger vehicles are typically used for personal private commuting, the state defines a commercial vehicle as a towed or self-propelled vehicle used in commerce primarily to transport passengers or cargo if the vehicle:
Montana also requires any individual or company operating a commercial motor vehicle in international or interstate commerce to register their business with the state and pay an annual fee in accordance with their fleet size. Passenger vehicles are not subject to this regulation.
Some of the differences between Montana passenger license plates and commercial plates are highlighted below:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Identifies personal vehicles used for non-commercial purposes | Identifies vehicles used for commercial purposes (transporting passengers or cargo for profit) |
| Vehicle Registration | The vehicle to be tagged with the plate must be registered with the Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division | The vehicle to be tagged with the plate must be registered with the Montana Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Services Division |
| Fees | Standard Registration fees apply | Fees vary depending on the the age (model year subtracted from the current year) and rated capacity of the vehicle |
| Additional Requirements | None | Commercial vehicles may require additional permits, inspections, and insurance coverage depending on the type of operation. |
How to Renew License Plate in MontanaPer Section 61-3-312 of the MCA, except as provided in Sections 61-3-313 and 61-3-721 of the MCA, a motor vehicle's registration must be renewed on or before the last day of the month of the vehicle's registration period following the expiration of the vehicle's registration.
To renew your Montana license plates, you must renew your Montana vehicle registration. The Montana Motor Vehicle Division, in partnership with a third party, provides an online service for vehicle owners to renew their motor vehicle registrations. Note that you can only renew your vehicle registrations at your local County Treasurer's office if any of the following conditions apply in your case:
To commence the use of the MVD online service to renew your vehicle registration, you must provide one of the following:
Other items that may be required to complete the process include:
How to Transfer a License Plate in MontanaIn accordance with Section 61-3-335 of the Montana Code Annotated, an individual may request license plates removed from a motor vehicle, pole trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer to be transferred to another motor vehicle, pole trailer, semi-trailer, or trailer owned or acquired by the same person. However, license plates are not transferable between individuals, such as in the sale of the vehicle to another person.
In order to transfer plates to a replacement vehicle, visit your local County Treasurer's office to complete an application.
Montana License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), a federal law enacted in 1994, safeguards the privacy of personal information contained in motor vehicle records. The DPPA prohibits state motor vehicle departments from disclosing personal information from driver's license or motor vehicle registration records without the express consent of the individual to whom the information pertains.
In Montana, the state adheres to these federal guidelines and imposes additional restrictions on releasing personal information from motor vehicle records. According to the Montana Motor Vehicle Privacy Protection Act, personal information from motor vehicle records is confidential and may not be disclosed to the general public unless specifically authorized by law.
These laws make it challenging to find the owner of a license plate in Montana without a legitimate reason. The DPPA and state-specific laws restrict access to personal information associated with license plates to protect the privacy and safety of individuals. However, there are exceptions under the law where access to personal information may be granted for specific purposes, such as by law enforcement for official investigations or by businesses for legitimate business purposes.
Consequently, accessing personal information linked to Montana license plates can be challenging due to the state's strict privacy laws. However, non-personal information about more than 269 million registered vehicles across the USA can be obtained through RecordsFinder.
If your license plate is lost, you may order a replacement set of plates at your local County Treasurer's office. Note that you will be required to pay all applicable fees.
When police officers run your license plate in Montana, they have access to a range of information about you and your vehicle. Using your license plate number, the police can determine the vehicle's make, model, year, and color and whether the vehicle's registration is current. They can also check for any active warrants associated with the vehicle or its owner.
In addition, police officers can access criminal databases, which means they can check if the vehicle is stolen or if the owner of the vehicle has a criminal record. They can also determine if the driver has outstanding warrants or if the vehicle is linked with recent crimes.
Can I Search License Plates for Free in Montana?
You cannot conduct a free license plate lookup using Montana Motor Vehicle Division's online resources. However, on the RecordsFinder website, you can run a free license plate lookup and obtain information such as a vehicle's:
If caught driving with an expired vehicle registration or license plates, you may be fined between $250 and $500 for a first offense, with subsequent offenses attracting higher fines and stringent penalties.
Montana does not require vehicle owners to return their license plates upon selling their old cars. If you purchase another vehicle in the same category, the state Motor Vehicle Division allows you to transfer the plate from the old vehicle to the newly purchased one.
If you are moving out of Montana, you are not required to surrender your license plates. However, you may turn them in at your County Treasurer's office.
Montana license plates are typically 12 inches in width by 6 inches in height.
Once you have completed your vehicle titling and registration process, you can purchase a 90-day temporary permit from your local County Treasurer's office if the license plates you want are unavailable. However, if you recently purchased a vehicle, but have yet to complete the registration process, Montana allows a dealership to issue you a temporary tag valid for 40 days. A temporary tag will enable you to drive a vehicle legally in Montana even if you have not registered the vehicle with the Motor Vehicle Division.
In order to renew your license plate in Montana:
If you have changed your name or want a permanent vehicle registration, you must visit your local County Treasurer's office to renew your license plate.
If you have lost your license plate, follow these steps to obtain a replacement: