The short answer
| Item | Montana answer |
|---|---|
| Title fee | $12 ($12.36 at the counter with the 3% admin fee). |
| Deadline | 40 days. |
| Late title | $10, flat. It never grows. |
| Tax | No sales tax. Some counties add an option tax of up to 0.7%. |
| Registration | $28 to $217 a year, by the car's age. |
| Plates | Stay with the owner. Moving them to your next car is free. |
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Montana?
The title is the document that proves who owns the car. In Montana it costs $12 for a light vehicle such as a car, SUV or pickup ($10 for other vehicles). Every MVD charge also carries a 3% administrative fee, so at the counter a title is $12.36.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Title, light vehicle | $12 ($12.36 with the admin fee) |
| Title, other vehicles | $10 |
| Lien filing (recording the lender's claim) | $8.24, including the admin fee |
| Replacement (duplicate) title | $10.30 at the counter today (see below) |
| Late title penalty | $10 |
Duplicate titles: two official figures. The MVD's current replacement-title form (Form MV7) charges $10.30, including the admin fee. The state law now says the fee became $5 on July 1, 2026. Expect to be charged $10.30 until the form changes.
Worked example: new $30,000 car in Yellowstone County
- Registration (0 to 4 years old): $217.00
- New plates: $12.00
- Title: $12.00
- Highway Patrol fee: $10.00
- State parks fee: $9.00
- County option tax: 0.5% of $27,000 (a new car counts at 90% of its $30,000 MSRP) = $135.00
- 3% administrative fee: $11.85
Total: $406.85.
The Montana calculator below starts from the same $406.85.
Does Montana have sales tax on cars?
No. Montana has no sales tax, and the Department of Revenue says so directly. So there's no tax on the price, no trade-in credit to worry about, and nothing extra for a private sale.
What you may pay instead is a county option tax when you register. It's up to 0.7% of the car's depreciated value (its original sticker price, stepped down by age). Yellowstone County charges 0.5%. Rates differ by county, and some counties charge none.
Because there's no sales tax, there's also no family or gift exemption to claim. A car from a relative pays the same title and registration fees as any other.
How many days do you have to transfer a title in Montana?
You have 40 days after the transfer to apply for title and registration. If you're late, the penalty is a flat $10, paid before you can register. It doesn't grow with time.
No notary needed. Montana no longer requires the title to be notarized. That rule was removed in 2025. Some websites still say a notary is required. It isn't.
Montana registration fees by age
| Car's age | Registration a year |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 years | $217 |
| 5 to 10 years | $87 |
| 11 years and older | $28 |
- Add-ons: $12 for new plates, a $10 Highway Patrol fee and a $9 state parks fee. You can opt out of the parks fee.
- Luxury fee: $825 a year, only if the car's MSRP was over $150,000 and it's 10 years old or less.
- Permanent registration: at 11 years and older you can register once for good: $87.50 plus five times the county option tax, the $10 Highway Patrol fee, a $6 parks fee and a $5 insurance verification fee. It ends when the car is sold.
- Term: you can register for 12 or 24 months.
Plates
Plates stay with the owner. The seller removes them. Moving your own plates to another of your vehicles costs $0, and the registration on the car they came from ends. A buyer gets new plates ($12) or moves plates they already own.
Electric and hybrid cars
Montana charges a yearly fee on electric and plug-in hybrid cars, by weight class:
- Electric: $130 a year in the lightest class, $190 in the next.
- Plug-in hybrid: $70 to $100.
Heavier classes pay more. This guide covers passenger vehicles. Regular hybrids (not plug-in) pay no extra fee.
New residents
- Deadline: 60 days to title and register.
- No sales or use tax applies to a car you bring with you. You pay the title, registration and county option tax like any buyer.
What this guide doesn't cover
County option tax rates outside Yellowstone County, EV weight-class limits, motorcycles, trailers and commercial trucks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a car in Montana?
$217 a year for a car 0 to 4 years old, $87 at 5 to 10 years and $28 at 11 and older, plus small fees and any county option tax. A new $30,000 car in Yellowstone County comes to $406.85 with the title.
How much does it cost to transfer a car title in Montana?
$12 for a car, or $12.36 with the 3% administrative fee.
How long do I have to transfer a title in Montana?
40 days. After that a flat $10 penalty applies.
Do I pay sales tax on a car in Montana?
No. Montana has no sales tax. Some counties charge a small option tax at registration, up to 0.7% of the car's depreciated value.
Does a Montana title need to be notarized?
No. The notary requirement was removed in 2025.
See title transfer fees for all 50 states
Calculate your Montana fees
Example for a $30,000 car. Enter your own price to update it.
- Registration (1 yr)Age 0-4$217.00
- County option tax0.5% of $27,000 (90% of MSRP)$135.00
- Title fee$12.00
- Plates$12.00
- Highway Patrol fee$10.00
- State parks feeUnless you opt out in writing$9.00
- MVD administrative fee (3%)3% of $395.00$11.85
Total excludes items marked "not available".
What you'll pay later
Renewal at today's rates: $366.68/yr
5-year total: not shown, because the registration fee and county option tax drop as the car ages.
Estimate only, at today's rates for the same car.
Rates and sources for every fee are on the Montana car registration fee calculator page.
- Montana MVD – Light Vehicle Registration and Fees (registration $217 / $87 / $28 by age, plates $12, Highway Patrol $10, parks $9, luxury fee $825, permanent registration, 3% administrative fee)
- Montana Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Guidance (Montana has no general sales tax)
- Montana MVD – Form MV7, Application for Replacement Title (9/26 edition: $10.30 including the administrative fee) (cited by name, not linked)
- Montana Code Annotated §§ 61-3-203 (title fees, $12 / $10), 61-3-204 (replacement title, $5 from July 1, 2026), 61-3-220 (40 days, $10 late penalty), 61-3-111 (3% administrative fee), 61-3-537 (county option tax up to 0.7%) (cited by name, not linked)
- Yellowstone County Treasurer – Motor Vehicle fee schedules (county option tax 0.5%) (cited by name, not linked)
General information, not tax or legal advice. Fees and tax rules change; confirm with the agency listed before you pay.
Related guides
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- NevadaNevada Car Title Transfer Fees: $28.25 Title, 30 Days and No Tax on Private SalesNevada title transfer: $28.25 title fee, 30 days to register, no sales tax on private, family or gift sales, dealer tax 6.85% to 8.375%, and the yearly GST.Read guide →