License Plate Information
Standard Plates
The Title and Registration Bureau issues standard plates to all vehicle
owners unless they request other plates.
The Montana plate pictured above was issued beginning in January 2006. The
design features Montana's sky in a rich blue-green. Along the bottom, mountain
ridges and forest transition to foothills then prairies in an image that
echoes the state’s geography. The "dot" between a county prefix and the plate
number is the familiar silhouette of an animal’s skull. "Montana" is written
across the top in rustic gold lettering.
The Title & Registration Bureau regulates the issuance of vehicle license
plates. The following guidelines and procedures apply.
- License plates are issued for a one-year period, by the County Treasurer
in the county where the vehicle is subject to tax or fee.
- As of 2001, License plates for any age vehicle may be registered for 24
months (2 years), or a permanent registration may be purchased for vehicles
11 years and older. A two year registration costs 2 x 1yr registration, and
a permanent registration costs 5 x 1yr registration. Please contact
our office for more information.
- A vehicle may be operated without plates for a 40-day grace period, before
registration, by displaying a 40-day permit issued by a dealer if purchased
from a dealer; or a vehicle purchase permit issued by the County Treasurer if the vehicle is purchased from
an individual. A fee of $3.00 is required.
- Anniversary months for renewal of plates are assigned according to the
month in which the vehicle is first registered. The anniversary month is
identified by the decal on the license plate.
- A renewal notice is mailed for passenger vehicles and light trucks on the
staggered system. Failure to receive the notice does not relieve the owner
of renewal responsibility.
- License plates stay with the owners and may be transferred to another
vehicle of the same type ONLY when proper application is made through the
County Treasurer.
License Plate Types
Vehicle owners can choose from several types of license plates.
Standard Plates
The standard plate is issued to all vehicle owners unless other plates are
requested.
Personalized license plates are available on either the standard plate or on
specialized plates, for a fee of $33 for the original plate and $10 for each
transfer or renewal of that plate.
Special Plates
The following types of special plates are available:
- Amateur Radio Operator Plate, which is available to a vehicle owner
who holds an unrevoked and unexpired official amateur radio station license
and operator’s license. The additional fee for the plate is $5.
- Collector Plate, which is available for use on a vehicle that is
more than 30 years old and is used solely as a collector’s item, rather
than for general transportation. The additional fee is $5 for vehicles
weighing 2,850 pounds or less and$10 for vehicles weighing more.
- Collegiate License Plates, which depict the name and a special logo
for various public and private colleges in Montana. Both two-year and
four-year colleges participate in the program. The additional fee is $30,
which goes to a scholarship fund at the selected school.
- Military Plates, which are available in a variety of styles to
reflect an individual’s military experience. The bureau issues plates for
National Guard members, reservists, military veterans, disabled veterans,
former prisoners of war, survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack, persons with
disabilities, and veterans who were awarded the Purple Heart. There is an
additional fee of $10 to be paid annually for veteran and Purple Heart
plates.
- Special Mobile Equipment Plate, which is available for anyone who
owns, leases or rents special mobile equipment that must occasionally be
moved on the highways. The additional fee is $5.
Organization Specialty Plates
In 2001, the 57th Montana Legislature passed the “Generic
Specialty License Plate Act,” allowing the Department of Justice to issue
specialty license plates sponsored by qualified organizations or governmental
bodies. These plates are specially designed with distinctive backgrounds, colors
or phrases that identify the sponsoring organization. Under the Act, the Motor
Vehicle Division determines if an organization or governmental body is qualified
as a specialty plate sponsor and sets guidelines that govern the appearance of
any specialty plate.
How to Purchase Organization Specialty Plates
Anyone who owns a passenger car, pickup, van or sport utility vehicle that is
registered in Montana, and who meets the eligibility requirements of the
sponsoring organization, may purchase organization specialty plates. Eligibility
requirements are determined by each sponsoring organization and may include, but
are not limited to, payment of an annual fee to the sponsoring organization. In
addition to any fee set by the sponsor, and taxes and fees imposed by law,
organization specialty plate applicants must pay a one-time administrative fee
of $10 to the County Treasurer at the time of application.
- Select an available plate design from the list of Organization
Specialty License Plates. Note sponsoring organization contact
information and fee.
- Complete an Application to Purchase a Specialty License Plate (available
for printing from the Downloadable
Forms page).
- Mail completed application to sponsoring organization with appropriate
organization fee.
- Receive eligibility notification back from sponsoring organization.
- Take eligibility notification to your County Treasurer. Pay all taxes and
other fees to receive your organization specialty plates.
How to Renew Organization Specialty Plates
- If the sponsoring organization requires an annual fee, complete steps 1
thru 3 of How to Purchase Organization Specialty Plates (see section above).
Sponsoring organizations may provide additional information.
- Take or mail eligibility notification along with your mail renewal notice
to your County Treasurer.
How to Sponsor an Organization Specialty Plate
The Organization's Application to Sponsor a Specialty License Plate lists the
requirements and can be downloaded here.
Once an organization's application is approved, which may take up to eight
weeks, the sponsor must either:
- Pay a fee of $4,000 to reimburse the department for the initial costs of
producing the specialty license plate.
OR
- In lieu of the fee, file with the department a minimum of 400 prepaid
applications for the sponsoring organization's specialty license plate.
The organization specialty license plate will then be programmed for
manufacture.
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