A change of address in Montana starts with a 10-day deadline: state law gives you 10 days after moving to update your driver’s license address with the Motor Vehicle Division. From there, you’ll want to notify the county treasurer about your vehicles, re-register to vote, tell the Montana Department of Revenue and the IRS, set up mail forwarding, and work through a handful of other agencies depending on your situation.
Update Your Driver’s License Within 10 Days
Montana Code 61-5-115 requires anyone who holds or has applied for a Montana driver’s license or state ID to notify the MVD of a new address within 10 days of moving.1 The clock starts on your move date, not when you finish unpacking.
You have three ways to report the change:
- Online through the state portal at cars.dojmt.gov.
- By mail, using Form 34-0300 (“Change of Driver License Address – Electronic Record”), sent to MVD headquarters in Helena.
- In person at any driver exam station, or by picking up the form at a county treasurer’s office.
Updating your electronic record is free. You’ll need your full legal name, date of birth, Montana license or ID number, your old address, and your new one. If your mailing address differs from where you actually live, list both.
The free update changes the database only. It does not produce a new physical card. If you want a card showing the new address, you have to visit a driver license station in person and pay the $10.30 replacement fee. This applies to standard licenses and REAL ID credentials alike. For a REAL ID replacement, bring two documents proving your new Montana residential address, such as utility bills, a rental agreement, or an insurance policy showing the new location. The qualifying documents are set out in Montana Administrative Rule 23.3.183, and the standard matches an original REAL ID application.
Montana Code 61-5-115 does not spell out a fine for missing the 10-day window, but a stale address causes practical trouble. MVD correspondence, including renewal notices, goes to the address on file. An outdated address can also surface during a traffic stop and invite questions you don’t need.
Vehicle Registration at the County Treasurer
Vehicle registration is handled separately by your county treasurer. Updating your license does not update your vehicle records.
For a move within the same county, you can update online or notify the treasurer so renewal notices reach you. You’ll typically need your license plate number and the last eight digits of your VIN.
A move between counties is more involved. Montana counties can impose a local option tax on vehicles tied to the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, and the rate varies by county. A cross-county move can therefore change what you owe at renewal. Contact the treasurer in your new county promptly so the right taxes are assessed and renewal paperwork reaches you.
Re-register to Vote
Montana does not currently allow online voter registration updates. You update your address by filling out a new voter registration application and returning it to the county election office where you now live, either by mail or in person.
The application asks for your Montana driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, plus your new physical address. The county uses that address to assign you to the correct voting precinct, legislative district, and school district. If you’ve moved to a different county, you have to re-register there; the old registration doesn’t follow you.
Timing matters. Regular voter registration closes 30 days before an election. Montana allows late registration during that final 30-day window, but late registrants have to pick up their ballot in person rather than receive it by mail. If you want full flexibility, don’t wait.
State and Federal Tax Records
The Montana Department of Revenue accepts address changes on the optional Form ADD-CH. You can mail it to the department in Helena, fax it to 406-444-7723, or submit it as a secure message through the TransAction Portal at tap.dor.mt.gov. If you filed your last return on Form 2 (individual income tax), that’s the form you want.
Skipping this step has a cost. If the department sends a notice of deficiency or assessment to an old address and you never see it, penalties and interest keep accruing. The department will not waive those charges because the notice went to the wrong place. If you’re expecting a refund, update your address now rather than waiting for next year’s return.
At the federal level, the IRS has its own process. File Form 8822 to change your home mailing address so refund checks and notices reach you. You can also update by putting the new address on your next federal return, but if that return is months away, Form 8822 is the better option.
Set Up USPS Mail Forwarding
Mail forwarding through the Postal Service is one of the first things to do. A permanent change-of-address request forwards first-class mail for 12 months and periodicals for 60 days. You can file online at usps.com for a $1.25 identity verification fee charged to a credit or debit card whose billing address matches either your old or new address. If online verification fails, you can file at a post office with photo ID.
Treat forwarding as a safety net, not a replacement for updating your address with each agency and business that writes to you. After 12 months, unforwarded first-class mail goes back to the sender.
Social Security and Medicare
If you receive Social Security benefits, update your address through your “my Social Security” account at ssa.gov. Depending on your benefit type, you may need to call the SSA instead at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Medicare Advantage enrollees should pay particular attention. Coverage under private-insurer plans can change or become unavailable when you move to a new area. Original Medicare coverage generally stays the same for moves within the United States.
Other 10-Day Deadlines
Non-Citizens: USCIS Within 10 Days
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1305, most non-citizens living in the United States must notify U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of a new address within 10 days of moving. The form is AR-11 (Alien’s Change of Address Card), filed online at uscis.gov. The requirement does not apply to A or G visa holders or to visitors admitted under the visa waiver program.
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1306, failing to report can be charged as a misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail and a $200 fine. Criminal prosecution is uncommon, but the downstream risk is serious: if USCIS sends a Request for Evidence or an interview notice to your old address and you miss it, your pending application can be denied, and a missed removal hearing notice can lead to a removal order in absentia.
Concealed Weapons Permit
If you hold a Montana concealed weapons permit and move to a different county, you must notify the sheriff and chief of police in both your old and new counties within 10 days.
Selective Service
Men between 18 and 25 registered with the Selective Service System must report an address change within 10 days. The obligation ends on January 1 of the year you turn 26. Updates go through sss.gov.
Loose Ends Worth Catching
If you have federal student loans, contact your loan servicer. You can find your servicer by logging into studentaid.gov and checking the “My Loan Servicers” section, or by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. For a Federal Perkins Loan not owned by the U.S. Department of Education, contact the school that made the loan. Missed servicer mail can mean missed payment deadlines or lost access to repayment options.
If you’ve recently changed your name through marriage or divorce and haven’t updated your Social Security record, handle that before the Montana license change. The MVD verifies your name electronically against SSA records when you apply, and a mismatch can stall the whole visit. Update with Social Security first, then go to the driver exam station.