Registration & Fees
Under § 61-3-321, MCA registration fees are in addition to the county option tax levied on light vehicles and the fees levied in lieu of taxes on other vehicles. Registration fees do not include special plate fees for personalized plates and specialty plates, or other miscellaneous fees.
Registration fees are due upon renewal or transfer of ownership. No credit is given for taxes or fees paid. Only U.S. funds are accepted.
Organ-Donor and Brain-Injury Awareness – When you register your vehicle, you may make a donation of $1 or more to organ-donor and traumatic brain-injury education and support programs. Just ask your county treasurer.
Boat, Personal Watercraft and Motorized Pontoon Registration and Fees
Under § 61-3-321(10)(a)(i), MCA all boats, personal watercraft and motorized pontoons must be permanently registered.
It is a One-time Fees for Motorboats (including Motorized Canoes and Motorized Rubber Rafts), Personal Watercraft, Motorized Pontoons and Sailboats
Fee |
Length |
Amount |
Flat fee |
Under 16 feet |
$65.50 |
16 feet or longer but under 19 feet |
$125.50 |
19 feet or longer |
$295.50 |
Required Decals – To comply with both state and federal laws, Montana boaters need to display:
- a permanent registration decal issued by their local county treasurer’s office – the permanent decal for boats is white and includes the abbreviation “PERM.” The decal must be placed on the left side of the forward half of the boat, three inches behind the identifying numbers. AND
- boat validation decal – the decal is free and expires every three years.
If your boat, sailboat or personal watercraft is already permanently registered, contact your local Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office for information on how to get the required validation decals, or go online to FWP’s Register Boats page.
If you are purchasing a new or used boat, sailboat or personal watercraft, your local county treasurer’s office can issue all of the required validation decals.
Commercial and Heavy Vehicle Registration and Fees
Annual registration – Under § 61-3-529, MCA fees are imposed on commercial and heavy vehicles in lieu of property taxes.
Beginning January 2006, the registration of a commercial or heavy vehicle expires 12 months from the month in which it was first registered. You must renew your registration by the end of the following month, which is indicated on the registration decal on the rear license plate.
For example, the plates on a truck or truck tractor first registered in Montana on April 15, 2006, will expire on March 30, 2007, with the renewal grace period extending until April 30, 2007.
(Prior to this change, the license plates for trucks, vans and buses over one ton expired at the end of the year and had to be renewed by February 15.)
Fee Schedule – The fees vary according to the Manufacturer’s Rated Capacity—the manufacturer’s rated gross vehicle weight for a bus or heavy truck or the manufacturer’s rated gross combined weight for a truck tractor. Fees for heavy vehicles are based on the age (model year subtracted from the current year) and rated capacity of the vehicle. This fee is in addition to:
- Gross Vehicle Weight fees
- Registration fee – $23.44
- Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee – $10.30
Fee Schedule for Buses, Heavy Trucks and Truck Tractors. Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Age of Vehicle |
Rated Capacity |
16,999 pounds or less |
17,000 – 26,999 pounds |
27,000 – 54,999 pounds |
55,000 pounds or more |
1 year or less |
$117 |
$167 |
$284 |
$375 |
2 years |
$109 |
$150 |
$250 |
$300 |
3 years |
$100 |
$134 |
$220 |
$266 |
4 years |
$92 |
$117 |
$184 |
$242 |
5 years |
$83 |
$109 |
$160 |
$195 |
6 years |
$75 |
$100 |
$134 |
$167 |
7 years |
$66 |
$91 |
$117 |
$147 |
8 years |
$58 |
$83 |
$100 |
$125 |
9 years |
$50 |
$75 |
$92 |
$109 |
10 years |
$41 |
$58 |
$79 |
$92 |
11 to 12 years |
$33 |
$50 |
$67 |
$76 |
13 to 14 years |
$28 |
$37 |
$52 |
$61 |
15 to 16 years |
$25 |
$30 |
$38 |
$47 |
17 to 18 years |
$18 |
$26 |
$29 |
$36 |
19 to 20 years |
$13 |
$19 |
$22 |
$26 |
21 years or more |
$10 |
$12 |
$16 |
$20 |
Light Vehicle Registration and Fees
The owner of a light vehicle (passenger cars, pickup trucks one-ton and under, vans and sport utility vehicles) may choose one of the following renewal period options, § 61-3-311, MCA:
- 12-month registration – The owner pays one year of the registration rate, county option tax, all other registration fees and any special plate fees.
- 24-month registration, § 61-3-321(2)(c), MCA – The owner pays the registration rate, county option tax, all other registration fees (except for the license fee for each 12-month period) and any special plate fees for the two-year period.
- Permanent registration, § 61-3-562, MCA– The owner of a light vehicle 11 years old or older may choose to permanently register the vehicle. This registration does not need to be renewed as long as ownership is unchanged. Fees collected at the time of permanent registration are:
- $87.50 registration rate
- $10 Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee
- county tax, $9 optional state parks support, certain special plate fees and, for light trucks, the gross vehicle weight (GVW) fees
- $5 insurance verification fee if existing plates are kept on the vehicle
Note: Light vehicles cannot be permanently registered if they display a license plate that requires recertification or a yearly donation fee. These include: national guard, reserve armed forces, amateur radio, and some organization specialty plates, with these exceptions – by paying a one-time contribution, light vehicles 11 years and older that are eligible for permanent registration, and trailers that must be permanently registered, may have sponsored plates.
The registration period and the expiration date shown on the license plates for light vehicles are determined when the vehicle is first titled and registered in Montana, § 61-3-314, MCA. Please renew your license plates during the month shown on your license plates at the county treasurer’s office in the county you reside in.
Registration Rate, § 61-3-321(2)(d), MCA – based on the age of the vehicle, determined by subtracting the model year of the vehicle from the calendar year for which the registration fee is due. For example, the age of a 2011 model year Chevrolet passenger car registered in 2018 would be 7 years, resulting in a registration rate of $87 (plus 3% Administrative fee).
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Age of Vehicle |
Registration Rate |
0 to 4 years |
$217 |
5 to 10 years |
$87 |
11 years or more |
$28 |
County Option Tax – Counties may impose a county option tax based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, depreciated according to the schedule established in § 61-3-503, MCA The age of the vehicle is determined by subtracting the model year from the current calendar year. For example, the age of a 2005 model year sport utility vehicle registered in 2004 would be -1 year, resulting in a depreciation multiplier of 100%.
Depreciation Multiplier for Calculating County Option Tax
Age of Vehicle |
Automobile |
Truck |
Van |
Sport Utility Vehicle |
-1 year |
100% |
100% |
100% |
100% |
0 years |
90% |
96% |
93% |
98% |
1 year |
80% |
91% |
86% |
94% |
2 years |
69% |
86% |
78% |
90% |
3 years |
58% |
80% |
69% |
84% |
4 years |
49% |
73% |
60% |
76% |
5 years |
41% |
66% |
52% |
67% |
6 years |
33% |
57% |
45% |
57% |
7 years |
26% |
49% |
38% |
48% |
8 years |
21% |
43% |
32% |
39% |
9 years |
17% |
37% |
27% |
33% |
10 years |
14% |
31% |
22% |
29% |
11 years |
12% |
26% |
18% |
25% |
12 years |
10% |
22% |
15% |
22% |
13 years |
9% |
18% |
13% |
21% |
14 years |
9% |
15% |
11% |
19% |
15 years |
9% |
13% |
9% |
17% |
16 years |
9% |
12% |
9% |
15% |
Motor Home Registration and Fees
Annual registration – Under § 61-3-321(7), MCA motor-home owners pay a fee in lieu of taxes, based on the age of the motor home. The age is determined by subtracting the model year from the current year.
The registration of a motor home expires 12 months from the month in which it was first registered. You must renew your registration by the end of the following month, which is indicated on the registration decal on the rear license plate.
Permanent registration – Owners may choose to permanently register motor homes that are 11 years old or older. Permanent registration does not transfer with the motor home when there is a change of ownership.
Motor homes must also pay:
- $10.30 Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee
- $10.30 new issue plate fee
- $5.15 insurance verification fee if existing plates are kept on the vehicle when permanently registered
Motor homes that are used as commercial vehicles and are issued truck plates must also pay the gross vehicle weight (GVW) fee, § 61-10-201, MCA.
Registration Fee Schedule – Additional fees for motor homes are based on the age (model year subtracted from the current year) of the vehicle.
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Age of Vehicle |
Fee |
Less than 2 years |
$282.50 |
2 years and over, but less than 5 |
$224.25 |
5 years and over, but less than 8 |
$132.50 |
8 years or more |
$97.50 |
11 years or more – permanent registration option |
$237.50 |
Motorcycle and Quadricycle Registration and Fees
Permanent registration – Under § 61-3-321, MCA all street-legal motorcycles and quadricycles must be registered permanently. You may register a motorcycle or quadricycle for both highway and off-highway use by paying the fees for both uses.
Street-legal Motorcycle and Quadricycle One-time Fees
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Fee |
Amount |
Flat fee – off highway only, or |
$53.25 |
Flat fee – street-legal only, or |
$53.25 |
Flat fee – street-legal/off-highway combination use |
$114.50 |
Motorcycle/Quadricycle Safety Fee |
$16.00 |
Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee |
$10.00 |
Chrome for Kids plate See Service Organizations Plate Designs |
|
Plate Manufacturing Fee |
$10.00 |
Off-highway other than Motorcycle and Quadricycle One-time Fees
Fee |
Amount |
Flat fee |
$61.25 |
Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee |
$10.00 |
The single permanent decal for off-highway vehicles is white and includes the abbreviation “PERM”.
Snowmobile Registration and Fees
Permanent registration – Under § 61-3-321(11)(a), MCA snowmobiles are permanently registered except for those owned by companies that rent snowmobiles. Snowmobiles that are used exclusively as rentals may be registered annually for the first two years, after which they must be permanently registered.
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Fee |
Year |
Amount |
Flat fee – Personal use |
N/A |
$60.50 |
Business rental use |
1st |
$40.50 |
2nd |
$20.00 |
3rd – permanent registration required |
$60.50 |
The single permanent decal for snowmobiles is white and includes the abbreviation “PERM”. The decal must be placed in a conspicuous place on the left side of the cowl.
Special Mobile Vehicles
Special mobile vehicles are registered, but not titled. When you pay the ad valorem tax at your county treasurer’s office, they will issue a decal for your vehicle that indicates the tax was paid. For more information, see the License Plates page.
The Montana Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Safety Program produced this brochure for owners and operators of special mobile equipment to help the owner or driver understand how safety laws and regulations may apply when operating vehicles stickered as special mobiles on state roadways.
Trailer Registration and Fees
Permanent registration – Under § 61-3-321(3)(a-b), MCA all trailers must be permanently registered. The single decal for trailers is the same as the decal for permanently registered light vehicles.
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Fee |
Declared Weight |
Amount |
Flat fee in lieu of tax |
Under 6,000 pounds |
$61.25 |
6,000 pounds and over |
$148.25 |
Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee |
N/A |
$10.00 |
New Issue Plate Fee |
N/A |
$10.00 |
Travel Trailer Registration and Fees
Permanent registration – Under § 61-3-321(9)(a), MCA all travel trailers must be permanently registered.
Fees below will include the 3% Administrative Fee when transaction is conducted.
Fee |
Length |
Amount |
Flat fee |
Under 16 feet |
$72.00 |
16 feet and over |
$152.00 |
Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee |
N/A |
$10.00 |
New Issue Plate Fee
|
N/A |
$10.00 |
Registration Reinstatement
For information about reinstating registration after a second or subsequent conviction for no insurance, see the Driver License Sanctions page.
Mobile Homes
To move a mobile home or manufactured home on a public highway, you must meet the requirements set out in § 15-24-206, MCA. For further information on this process, contact your county treasurer or the Montana Department of Revenue.