Required Documents for Vehicle Registration

Exemptions

Documents required to qualify for an exemption must be provided to the county treasurer’s motor vehicle office when paying for title and registration or registration renewal.

DOR Form AB-30P is the application provided by the Department of Revenue (DOR). The application is used by individuals and organizations to apply for personal property tax exemption. Once submitted to the DOR and reviewed, the applicant will receive a determination letter from the DOR with a decision regarding the application for exemption. This determination letter is provided to the MVD by the customer applying for the exemption to confirm exempt status.

Property tax exemption applications for organizations filed with the DOR are due on March 1 each year. Click the following link for more information: https://mtrevenue.gov/property/property-tax-exemptions/tax-exemption-organizations/

*NOTE: The table below outlines when a determination letter from the DOR is required; however, a government entity (individual or organization) as defined in MCA 15-6-201(1)(a) (federal, state, or local) is exempted (NOT required) from providing a determination letter from DOR.

Exemption Type	Requirement	Frequency
Cemetery District	Determination letter from DOR unless exempt*	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Charitable Organization	Determination letter from DOR	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Developmentally Disabled	Determination letter from DOR	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Educational	Determination letter from DOR (e.g., private schools, charter schools, First Student Transportation, and others)	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Ex-Prisoner of War	For Ex-POW or surviving spouse (if not remarried): DD214 or its successor to confirm ex-POW status Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Original title and registration
Federal	None if a confirmed government entity	Original title and registration
Government (State/Local)	None if a confirmed government entity	Original title and registration
Hospital	Determination letter from DOR: Specific vehicles only (e.g., maintenance, hospice) Vehicles used by hospital management and staff are NOT exempt.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Irrigation District	Determination letter from DOR unless exempt*	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Military	For a non-resident active military service member: Serving in Montana, Proof of service is required (contact your county treasurer’s motor vehicle office to verify acceptable proof of service) NOTE: ARM 42.19.502(3) – exemptions are prorated equally for military versus nonmilitary owners	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Montana Military	For a Montana resident who: Entered the service from Montana Serves outside the state of Montana MVD Form MV53 required.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Potable Water	Determination letter from DOR This exemption applies to vehicles used for maintenance of wells and cisterns.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Purple Heart	For a Purple Heart recipient who is 50% or more disabled or surviving spouse (if not remarried): DD214 or its successor to confirm Purple Heart recipient Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Surviving Spouse	An official document from the U.S. Department of Defense verifying military service member killed while on active duty An official document from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs verifying military service member or veteran died of a service-connected injury or disability. *Surviving spouse only eligible if not remarried	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Tribal	Individuals: Proof of Tribal membership Residency on reservation NOTE: Contact county treasurer’s office to verify acceptable proof of membership and residency. Organizations: Essential tribal government is exempt* Determination letter from DOR is required for private organizations related to a tribe NOTE: ARM 42.19.502(1) – exemptions are prorated equally for tribal versus nontribal owners.	Original title and registration and registration renewal
Veteran	For a disabled veteran who is 100% disabled or paid at 100% disability or surviving spouse (if not remarried): Proof of eligibility for exemption from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs	Original title and registration and registration renewal

Heavy Vehicle Use Tax

Purpose	Requirements	Frequency
The Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT) is an annual federal highway tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more (e.g., trucks, truck tractors, and buses) that use public highways. Revenues generated by this tax are returned to the states for highway construction and maintenance projects.	Applicant must provide a stamped copy or e-filed copy of IRS Form 2290, Schedule 1, as proof of payment or exemption from HVUT. E-filed confirmation of payment will include a watermark of the e-file logo Applicants for registration who qualify for exemption from HVUT must still file form 2290 with the IRS A photocopy of Schedule 1 and both sides of the applicant’s cancelled check are also accepted as proof of payment A transaction summary from a third-party transmitter is not acceptable proof of payment	Original title and registration and registration renewal

For more information about HVUT, visit the Montana Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Services web site at: http://www.mdt.mt.gov/business/mcs/licenses.shtml.

License Plate Requirements

Active military and veteran license plates are available for all branches of service.

Any requirements for veteran license plates or related past military service must include reference to “other than dishonorable” discharge from service.

License Plate Type	Requirements	Frequency of Action
Active Military	An official certificate from unit commander or reenlistment document verifying eligibility and authorizing the department to issue the plates	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Amateur Radio	Proof of ownership of amateur radio station license and operator’s license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Amateur Radio/Veteran or Disabled Combination	Proof of ownership of amateur radio station license and operator’s license Proof of eligibility for Veteran or Disabled (Form MV5) license plate	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Disabled	Form MV5 or permanent (blue) parking placard issued by Montana MVD	Original title and registration *Cannot be transferred if disabled individual is removed as owner.
Disabled Veteran	An official letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating the disability rating or payment status	Original title and registration *DV plates cannot be transferred to/retained by surviving spouse
Ex-Prisoner of War	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried
Gold Star Family	Complete the State of Montana Application for Gold Star Family License Plate (Form MV57) and provide the supporting documentation listed on the form	Original title and registration
Legion of Valor	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried
Military Reserve	An official certificate from unit commander or reenlistment document verifying eligibility and authorizing the department to issue the plates	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Montana State Council of Professional Fire Fighters	1. Contact the sponsoring organization and request an application form at http://mscopff.org 2. Mail the completed application to the sponsoring organization 3. Once approved, provide the eligibility notification from the sponsoring organization and pay all applicable vehicle registration fees and any special license plate fees	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Montana State Fire Chiefs’ Association	1. Contact the sponsoring organization and request an application form at www.montanafirechiefs.com 2. Mail the completed application to the sponsoring organization 3. Once approved, provide the eligibility notification from the sponsoring organization and pay all applicable vehicle registration fees and any special license plate fees	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
National Guard	An official certificate from unit commander or reenlistment document verifying eligibility and authorizing the department to issue the plates	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Next of Kin	Complete the State of Montana Application for Next of Kin of Deceased Personnel License Plate (Form MV58) and provide the supporting documentation listed on the form	Original title and registration
Pearl Harbor Survivor	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214 verifying eligibility	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried
Purple Heart	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214 verifying receipt of a Purple Heart	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried
Purple Heart/Disabled Veteran Combination	An official letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stating the disability rating and U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214 verifying receipt of a Purple Heart	Original title and registration and registration renewal *DV plates cannot be transferred to/retained by surviving spouse.
Retired National Guard	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214 or its successor	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried
Richland County Ambulance Service/Sidney Health Center	1. Contact the sponsoring organization and request an application form http://sidneyhealth.org 2. Mail the completed application to the sponsoring organization 3. Once approved, provide the eligibility notification from the sponsoring organization and pay all applicable vehicle registration fees and any special license plate fees	Original title and registration and registration renewal *Plates are surrendered when no longer eligible
Veteran	U.S. Department of Defense form DD-214	Original title and registration *Surviving spouse may retain license plate if not remarried

Registration Purposes Only (RPO)

An “RPO” is issued for customers in specific circumstances. The situations where RPOs are issued and requirements are described below.

Situation	Requirements	Frequency
A vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and is being used for gainful employment per MCA 61-3-701 must be registered in Montana. Vehicles in this scenario are not titled in Montana.	Applicant must provide: Evidence of ownership Current registration from the other jurisdiction	Original registration and registration renewal
A vehicle is owned by the federal government. Some federal agencies prefer to display state of Montana plates rather than federal government exempt plates.	Applicant must complete and submit MVD Form MV54 provided by the MVD (contact [email protected] to request application)	Original registration and registration renewal
A non-resident customer is a health care professional employed in Montana by a rural health care facility or in an area identified as having shortages of certain services as described in MCA 15-6-217 and MCA 61-3-707.	Applicant is seeking vehicle registration in an area identified at http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/ to determine if applicant works in a Health Care Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Vehicle must be currently registered in another jurisdiction MVD Form MV104	Original registration and registration renewal

Situation

Requirements

Frequency

A vehicle registered in another jurisdiction and is being used for gainful employment per MCA 61-3-701 must be registered in Montana. Vehicles in this scenario are not titled in Montana.

Applicant must provide:

Evidence of ownership
Current registration from the other jurisdiction

Original registration and registration renewal

A vehicle is owned by the federal government. Some federal agencies prefer to display state of Montana plates rather than federal government exempt plates.

Applicant must complete and submit MVD Form MV54 provided by the MVD (contact [email protected] to request application)

Original registration and registration renewal

A non-resident customer is a health care professional employed in Montana by a rural health care facility or in an area identified as having shortages of certain services as described in MCA 15-6-217 and MCA 61-3-707.

Applicant is seeking vehicle registration in an area identified at http://hpsafind.hrsa.gov/ to determine if applicant works in a Health Care Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)
Vehicle must be currently registered in another jurisdiction
MVD Form MV104

Original registration and registration renewal

Special Mobile Equipment

Special mobile equipment includes vehicles deemed as personal property that occasionally travel on state highways but are not designed or used primarily for transportation of persons or property.

Equipment that is permanently attached to a vehicle does not make the vehicle special mobile equipment. To evaluate if your vehicle may be a special mobile, click the link below.

https://dojmt.gov/special-mobile-vehicle-examples/

In Montana, special mobile equipment is registered and not titled. Before processing a special mobile transaction, the customer should provide a receipt to verify that personal property taxes have been paid via the county treasurer’s office. For more on this topic, click this link: https://mtrevenue.gov/property/property-types/personal-property/

Situation	Requirements	Frequency
Equipment known to be special mobile	Proof of ownership and personal property tax payment	Original registration and registration renewal

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