Here are the facts on that and other out-of-state buying issues to keep in mind. This is done by applying for the title to and registering the vehicle at the County Treasurer’s office in your county of residence. Buying from an illegal dealer will put you at risk. A late fee of $10 will be charged if you wait longer than 40 days. Note the odometer declaration (mileage) on the title and compare it to the vehicle’s odometer. To ensure we can process your transaction, please bring all required documents. Most are required for any car sale. All applicable fees (these are listed on the application). You may even be able to convince the seller to provide the vehicle history as a courtesy. However, if circumstances are different for some reason, make sure you obtain EITHER: For cars bought from a private seller, you'll need to obtain the vehicle title in order to transfer ownership yourself. Then you’ll pay yearly about $90-$220 to the Flathead DMV, $20 to the State of Montana for the LLC, and $49 a year for us to be your registered agent and for you to use our address. According to www.stopcurbstoning.com: It’s a good idea to test drive the vehicle on the kinds of roads you plan on using the most; for example, residential, rural, highways, or interstates. Examine the tires. How long have you owned it? By going to see the car in person, you can check for visual defects. Keep documentation of the sale with the buyer’s name and address as your record of the sale. These are general guidelines. Our expert team staffs DMV buffs who know all of the ins and outs of car registration, taxes, titling, and more. Don’t forget to cancel the vehicle’s insurance policy once it’s sold. The state said the new fees are necessary to comply with Oregon's. The person who signs must be the buyer written on the title. Note that, when completing an out of state car title transfer process, applicants will also be required to apply for a new car registration at the same time. Part-year Resident You are a part-year resident if you moved to or from Montana during the tax year with the intention of establishing a permanent residence in your new state. We support our military and veterans. Liens can also be placed on a vehicle when the owner fails to pay child support or for other reasons. Read everything thoroughly when signing paperwork and ask questions if you don’t understand all of it. Are you the owner of the vehicle? If you purchase a car from a dealer, the dealership will almost always provide your county treasurer's office with the necessary paperwork required for titling and registration. Completing an out of state car title transfer in Montana is a mandatory step for vehicle owners who would like to operate a nonresident vehicle within the state. To sell your vehicle, you must have the title in your possession. When buying a motor vehicle, every situation will be unique. As the buyer, you have 40 days from the sale date to transfer the ownership of the vehicle to you. For your convenience, you can use form MV24 Bill of Sale. Your exotic or expensive car or RV is purchased by your LLC. Other sources provide additional information on a vehicle. A record of the sale can be either a photocopy of the reassigned title or a form or document that includes the year, make, VIN, name, address, driver license number, and signature of the person to whom the vehicle is sold and the purchase price and date of sale of the vehicle. If you have a question about a specific circumstance, email [email protected] or call 406-444-3661. Buying a car out of state while in the military,? Because the vehicle will not have license plates and the buyer will need plates to legally drive the vehicle, the best case scenario is for you to go to the County Treasurer’s office with the title and your buyer. https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck. Location: Midwest. Every owner listed on the title must sign over the title in front of a notary public. But it … Do you have receipts? If you establish Montana residency for any purpose, you are a Montana resident as far as taxes are concerned, unless there is a specific exception in Montana law. Hey there! All of MVD’s Online Services in one easy-to-use list. The mileage must be disclosed on any vehicle newer than nine years. Examine the title closely if the mileage notation seems obscured or is not easy to read. You may download a PDF of a Seller’s Checklist and Buyer’s Acknowledgement Form as a helpful resource. I am a Montana Resident, can I buy a car in CA without paying sales tax? (The year is calculated by subtracting the model year of the vehicle from the current year.). The Vehicle Services Bureau regulates the titling and registration of motor vehicles. Updated November 5, 2020: A Montana LLC vehicle registration is an option some out-of-state residents choose in order to purchase a vehicle without having to pay sales tax on it. To legally sell a vehicle, you must be the owner listed on the Certificate of Title. county treasurer's office, or mail it to: Though a bill of sale is not required for registering and titling your vehicle, it's always smart to keep a copy of one for your records. This app allows you to renew your registration online as long as all criteria are met. Common vendors are. However, if you're a nonresident who will take the vehicle to another state or country and immediately license and title it there, you can buy the vehicle without paying sales tax if you complete Form ST-104-MV and give it to the dealer." What major work have you done on the vehicle? The VIN is usually located in two places: on the inside edge of the driver’s door, and where the dashboard meets the windshield on the driver’s side. You do not need to notify the County Treasurer’s motor vehicle office that you sold the vehicle. Liens can also be placed on a vehicle when you fail to pay child support or for other reasons. These forms are available on the Motor Vehicle Division forms website. attrapereves. Applications include: Online Driver License Renewal & Status Check, Online Registration Renewal, Practice Test App for iPhone and Android, Driver & Vehicle History Search. Application for Replacement Certificate of Title, Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle, Affidavit/Application for Title With Insufficient Evidence of Ownership or Bonded Certificate of Title, Vehicle Identification Number Inspection Certificate. You may apply for a Montana commercial driver license at any driver license station, regardless of where you live in Montana. I’ve decided to pick a few questions and try to help out. These are general guidelines. Since you won’t have license plates yet, you can obtain a 40-day temporary registration permit from the dealer or from a Montana County Treasurer’s office. Buying a car out-of-state can be a major undertaking. Avoid buying a car with costly hidden problems. If you buy from a dealership, the dealer may alleviate some of the burden by filing paperwork or submitting tax forms once you have paid for the car. ); odometer reading; total loss history; and, salvage history. The names and addresses of any security interests/liens are listed on the front of the title in the section labeled “This vehicle/vessel is subject to the following security interest,” or a similar heading on out-of-state titles. In December 2007, a man named Robert Thomas bought a $351,800 RV at the Dixie RV Super Store in the city of Hammond in his home state of Louisiana. Here are some helpful questions to ask when buying a car, motorcycle, or other vehicle from a private seller or dealership: If you would like to know if a dealer is legally licensed, you can email [email protected] or call the MVD’s Vehicle Services Bureau at 406-444-3661 option 3. Buying a car out of state might allow you to purchase the new or used car of your dreams. If you don’t have the title, you or the owner of record will have to apply for a replacement title from the state where the vehicle was last titled. The easiest way to do so is to buy a car in a state with no sales taxes and register the car there. If you are buying a used vehicle, getting a history report – which lists accidents and major repairs on a specific car or truck – is a good idea. A record of the sale can be either a photocopy of the reassigned title or a form or document that includes the year, make, VIN, name, address, driver license number,  purchase price, and date of sale of the vehicle. For more information about your state's coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, see our. Thinking about buying a new vehicle from another state in the hopes of avoiding taxes? However, some cars simply aren’t widely available in certain areas. You can ask to transfer the plates to another vehicle you own; contact your County Treasurer’s office for more information. They may do so by submitting an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (Form MV7) to the Montana MVD. What you need to title and register your new car depends on how you purchased it: from a dealership, or from a private party. They may have been written off as total losses by insurance companies due to collision, flood, or other damage. If you, the seller, are not the owner of record listed on the title, that person will need to sign the replacement title over to you once it’s received. It was the 41st state included in the United States on November 8, 1889. These are general guidelines. I have been told to pick up the car out of CA, but I might be subject to sales tax if I come back in the state. The governor's executive order also included some purchase incentives for people buying battery electric vehicles , "It really does even out," Barnhart said. If the buyer is going to test drive the vehicle, make certain they have a valid driver license. Right now, I don't have enough money for a car, but I will once I start working out … To ensure we can process your transaction, please bring all required documents. Buying from an illegal dealer will put you at risk. Most transactions require an appointment through our appointment scheduling. Search for oil change and maintenance stickers on windows or door frames, in the glove box, or under the hood. When selling or buying a motor vehicle, every situation will be unique. In addition to those documents above, the following paperwork may be required when attempting to title and register a vehicle from another state: If you buy a vehicle without a title or registration and the seller is unable to apply for duplicate, you'll need to acquire a bonded title. They must match. Check the current status of your Montana driver license. Know about the vehicle you want to buy and take your time when making a decision. Compare the mileage on the odometer with the mileage on the vehicle’s maintenance or inspection records. Title Tips for Buying/Selling a Vehicle in Montana. Selling a vehicle in Montana can be done only through a licensed dealer or by the person whose name is on the title. It’s critical to have the security interest/lien resolved before purchasing the vehicle because the lien holder could have a legal claim to your vehicle if the previous owner doesn’t pay the loan. For example, the California Highway Patrol has a special website that people can use to report vehicles with Montana or other out-of-state plates. Once you buy a curbstoned vehicle, you have nowhere to turn if the car develops problems. My home Address is in California and I’ve been in the service for 3 years with my current residency in Alaska. It is illegal for you sell a vehicle that is not licensed and registered in your name unless you have a dealer’s license. Unfortunately, unless you register the vehicle in the sales-tax-free state, you still have to pay the sales tax when you register the car in your home state, and using dummy addresses doesn't fool revenue departments. Vehicles operated in Montana must be licensed and titled as required by Montana law. You will need: Drop all of this off in person at your local Out of State titles are used in conjunction with Form MV-1, “Application for Certificate of Title.” This form is only available from authorized agents of PennDOT. State Inspection. If you’re in a state like California, you’ll soon realize that the license plates—or tags, as some call them—remain with the vehicle (which confuses out-of-staters who see used-car lots full of plated vehicles). When selling a motor vehicle, every situation will be unique. Don’t head back home until you have them all. White-out or attempts to erase or scratch out entries void the title. It won't work. (See. © 1999 - 2021 DMV.ORG. So I have a seasonal job out in Montana starting in April. Most states report to NMVTIS, which is designed to protect customers from fraud and unsafe vehicles. It is your responsibility to be an informed and educated consumer. MVD also offers veterans a designation that can be added to any Montana credential & special license plate options. If you are a Montana military resident who is stationed out of state, you may be eligible to register your vehicle and purchase license plates without paying Montana taxes and fees meaning you only pay the cost of the registration. Make sure you are informed and comfortable with your decision before you approach a dealer or private seller. Keep documentation of the sale with the seller’s name and address as your record of the sale. There are five states without sales taxes: Montana, Alaska, Delaware, Oregon and New Hampshire. The states are well aware of the Montana LLC scheme and many are actively trying to get the people who use it to pay state sales or use taxes. If there is a security interest (lien) listed on the title: For more information, go to the MVD’s Vehicle Title and Registration website under How to Find Out if a Security Interest is Filed on a Vehicle. 0. Sellers need to complete the odometer (mileage) disclosure. For your convenience, you can use form MV24 Bill of Sale. Additional title and registration information is available on the MVD’s Vehicle Title and Registration website. When budgeting for a vehicle, consider the costs of maintenance and repairs. Otherwise, you might find that the car has more defects than the seller let on. The process to transfer an out of state car title can be completed through your county treasurer’s office, which serve as agents of the state Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). You must file Montana state income tax returns as a resident (if required to file). In most states, however, the plates are assigned to the registered owner and should be removed when the car gets sold. Military members stationed outside their home state, or people keeping a car at an out-of-state vacation home may also want to own a car in one state and have a license from the other. You remove your plates from the vehicle and the formal transfer of ownership is complete. Further, buying an out-of-state car at Balise Mazda is actually pretty easy, because we take care of all of the tough stuff for you. There are costs involved in having this done, but paying a few dollars to determine that the vehicle is or is not what is being represented is worth it to avoid buying a vehicle and later finding out you made an expensive mistake. The real beauty of the Montana LLC for holding exotic or specialty vehicles is if your car or truck is over 11 years old, you can get a permanent plate. You must buy new license plates when you title and register your vehicle at the County Treasurer’s office in your county of residence. The Montana Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection website Vehicles and Lemon Law: The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) Used Car Buying Tips: It’s critical to have the security interest/lien released before selling the vehicle because the lien holder could have a legal claim to the vehicle if you haven’t paid the loan. EXCEPTION: If the vehicle: 1) was last titled in Montana; 2) is currently registered; and 3) is being sold to a Montana resident, the seller (i.e., titled and registered owner) can give the following documents to the buyer. Buying a car out of state might be a little more effort than buying a car close by, but it can often reap great rewards. If the defects are the fault of the manufacturer and you have met certain requirements, then Montana law requires them to repair or replace the vehicle. If you’re buying a used car from a private party, you may have to pay taxes on the transaction price when it’s registered. If you have a question about a specific circumstance, email [email protected] or call 406-444-3661. When you buy a car in your home state from a car dealer, the dealer takes care of the registration and title for you. If you buy a car from out of state, though, you have to title and register the car in your home state on your own. Never buy a vehicle under the pressure that there is another buyer pending. After establishing Montana residency, you must live in the state of Montana a minimum of 120 days a year. Check with your state’s DMV site to confirm exactly what you’ll need (links are below), but here are the most common things you’ll need to sign when buying a car out of state. Subscribe to stay in the loop & on the road! Federal law requires that a warning decal be placed on the driver’s door opening on the vehicle body, between the upper and lower hinge area, reflecting any odometer changes that have taken place in the past. For more information about what to be on the lookout for when buying a used vehicle, go online to: A “lemon law” is a protection you have against purchasing a defective vehicle that is less than two years old and has 18,000 miles or less on the odometer. If you have a question about a specific circumstance, email [email protected] or call 406-444-3661. They create an LLC in Montana and then buy and register the vehicle in the LLC's name. Florida Car Registration Requirements. Some of the extra steps for out-of-state buying are going to cost you money. In this situation, the seller needs to provide you with a completed. An NMVTIS vehicle history report provides data on five key indicators associated with prevention of auto fraud and theft: current state of title and last title date; brand history (e.g., junk, flood, hail, etc. In Delaware, you are allowed to have an out-of-state vehicle registration as long as it is registered in another state in which you reside. Online appointment scheduling lets you schedule, view or cancel appointments for most driver licensing services at participating locations from the convenience of your computer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a person tries to sell a vehicle that he or she doesn’t legally own (i.e., he or she is not listed on the title), it’s called curbstoning and it’s illegal. However, it is important to keep in mind that the Montana lemon law does not apply to used vehicles. (The year is calculated by subtracting the model year of the vehicle from the current year.) Has it ever been wrecked, had body repairs, or been repainted? If the odometer on the car shows 20,000 miles or less, the vehicle usually should have the original tires. The mileage must be disclosed on any vehicle newer than nine years. I’m buying a car in California but I’m moving to North Carolina in a month. When buying a used vehicle, the license plates must be removed by the seller. A VIN is required to perform a search. All fields must be completed in blue or black ink only. All private seller purchases require you to do this. You must be a US citizen or a permanent lawful resident of the US and a resident of Montana for at least six months. So, if you can find a similar vehicle at a comparable – or even slightly higher – price within state lines, you should consider that car first. When you buy a car in Montana, you'll need to receive paperwork from the seller in order to properly transfer ownership. Then the buyer can finish the transaction, pay the fees, and get a new set of license plates. Please select one of the below to continue: Email this form to yourself and complete it on your computer. A lien can occur because the owner took out a loan to buy the vehicle and hasn’t fully repaid the bank, lending institution, or private party who loaned the money. Take your time and ask the seller if you can take the vehicle to an independent mechanic of your choice. According to Carfax, you should pay sales tax to the state where you will register your vehicle (where you live), not to the state where you bought the vehicle. Buying a Used Vehicle with an Out-of-State Title. Buy within your means. How to Find Out if a Security Interest is Filed on a Vehicle, https://dojmt.gov/consumer/vehicles-and-lemon-law/, https://dojmt.gov/consumer/used-car-buying-guide/, http://www.vehiclehistory.gov/nmvtis_buyingtips.html, How to Have a Security Interest Removed from a Title, Seller’s Checklist and Buyer’s Acknowledgement Form. If you're buying the car from a dealer, they should provide you with inspection documents and information when you buy the car. In many states, an emissions test or smog check will be required to get a car registered, and that could delay your registration process. Out of state citizen buying a car in MT. Compare the vehicle identification number (VIN) on the title with the VIN on the vehicle. The MVD offers an online vehicle search service that allows users to search for and view vehicle record information including owner information, title history, and registration information for vehicles that are titled in Montana. This page offers services available for active-duty military personnel, such as waivers and reduced fees. This site provides automobile history reports and information about VINs, deterring fraud and theft, and more. You'll probably never need it, but if you do you'll be glad you have it on file. You can easily download a copy of this document from our Looking for Paperwork When Buying a Car in another state? New registration & titling takes place at your local County Treasurer's Office. If the dealer doesn't handle the taxes for you, then you'll need to pay them upon registration at your local motor vehicle department. For more information, go to the MVD’s Vehicle Title and Registration website under How to Have a Security Interest Removed from a Title. Don’t let the buyer drive the vehicle home with the promise that they will return the plates. For more information, visit the Insurance and Verification page on www.dojmt.gov/driving. A Security Interest/Lien Release certifies that you paid off the loan; give it to the buyer with the title to certify that the vehicle is clear of any claims. Typically, they register in a Montana county that doesn't have a local-option tax. When you’re ready to buy a vehicle, contact an insurance agent about purchasing motor vehicle liability insurance. Any fees and additional requirements are listed on the forms. Items to be completed on the title include the following: If the title has been lost, it's the seller's responsibility to apply for a new one before completing the sale. Bullet lists provide important considerations & info. Quick Links: Buying a Vehicle | Selling a Vehicle | Title Tips. Most transactions require an appointment through our appointment scheduling. On a classic car or for personalized plates, if you want to transfer the plates to the buyer you must complete, MV7 Application for Replacement Certificate of Title, MV1 Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle. The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s VINCheck is a free service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, but not recovered, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by cooperating NICB members. If you do not remove the plates, you may be liable for any parking or traffic violations that happen after the sale. Sometimes, unethical used car dealers use curbstoning as a way to get rid of duds they can’t sell on their lots. When you’ve sold the vehicle, you can ignore its annual registration renewal notice that might still come in the mail.