How to Fill Out and Submit the Montana Vehicle Registration Form MV1

Montana’s MV1 form is the application for a certificate of title for a motor vehicle, and you submit it with your supporting documents and fees to the County Treasurer’s motor vehicle office in the county where you live.¹ Use it whether you bought from a private seller, picked up a new vehicle at a dealership, or moved to Montana with a vehicle titled in another state. New residents have 60 days from establishing residency to get it done.²

What to Gather Before You Fill It Out

Collect everything first. A missing document means a return trip or a rejected mail-in packet.

Proof of ownership. For a used vehicle, the previous owner’s signed title with the sale information completed on the back. For a new vehicle from a dealer, the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO).³
The VIN. A 17-character code on the lower-left corner of the dashboard (visible through the windshield) or inside the driver-side door jamb. Copy it exactly. One wrong digit will cause a rejection.
Vehicle details. Year, make, model, body style, color, fuel type, and unladen weight. These must match what appears on the title or MCO you are submitting.⁴
Odometer reading. Federal law requires an odometer disclosure for most vehicles less than 20 model years old. In 2026, that means any vehicle with a model year of 2006 or newer needs the mileage recorded and signed off by both seller and buyer.⁵
Lienholder information. If the vehicle is financed, you need the lender’s full name, mailing address, and identification number (FEIN, ELT code, or similar). An $8.24 filing fee applies for each security interest listed.⁴
Personal identification. A valid driver’s license or state ID for every person listed as an owner.

You can download the fillable PDF from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division website or pick up a paper copy at any county motor vehicle office. Gallatin County notes that counter staff can fill the form out for you if you bring all your documents.⁶ If you are writing it in by hand, use blue or black ink.

Out-of-State and Salvage Vehicles Need a VIN Inspection First

If your vehicle currently has an out-of-state title or a Montana salvage certificate, you need a Stage III VIN inspection before the county office will process the MV1. Inspections are performed by Commercial Vehicle Operator Licensing examiners, driver licensing regional managers, and motor vehicle compliance specialists.⁷ Schedule it before your trip to the County Treasurer. Showing up without the completed inspection form is one of the most common reasons out-of-state transfers stall.

Filling Out the Form

Section A: Owner Information

Print your full legal name exactly as it appears on your driver’s license or ID. If there are multiple owners, list each one. Montana does not recognize the conjunction “or” on titles, so every person listed as an owner must sign to transfer the title later, regardless of how the names are joined.⁶ Think before adding a co-owner. It creates a requirement for both signatures on any future sale.

Section B: Vehicle Description

Enter the VIN character by character, then fill in color, fuel type (gas, diesel, electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or liquid petroleum), and unladen weight.⁴ Pull the fuel type and weight from the title or MCO rather than guessing. Any mismatch between what you write here and what appears on the supporting title document will send you back to the drawing board.

Section C: Security Interest (Lien)

If no lender has a financial interest in the vehicle, check “No” and move to Section D. If a lien exists, check “Yes” and fill in the lienholder’s name, ID number, and mailing address.⁴ The $8.24 filing fee for each lien is collected at the counter or included with a mailed application. Montana supports electronic lien and title records, so depending on your lender’s setup, the title may be held electronically rather than mailed as a paper document.⁸

Section D: Purchase Information and Signatures

Record whether the vehicle was purchased new or used, the date of the sale, the seller’s name, and the seller’s address. This block links the new title to the previous chain of ownership.⁴ Every listed owner must sign and date the form, then print their name on the line below the signature to comply with federal odometer law.⁶

If the applicant is a business, enter the business name and have an authorized agent sign and print.⁶ If someone other than the owner is handling the application under a power of attorney, use Montana Form MV65. The person signing writes the owner’s name first, then their own name followed by “POA,” for example, “Sharon Smith by Jane Doe POA.”⁹

Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected

County clerks see the same errors over and over. Checking for these before you submit saves a second trip.

VIN discrepancies. The VIN on your MV1 must match the VIN on the title, MCO, and VIN inspection form exactly. Even a single transposed character triggers a rejection.
Missing signatures. Every owner listed on the title must sign. If you added a spouse or co-owner, both signatures are required.
Incomplete lien release. If the previous title shows a lien, you need proof that the lien has been released, either a stamped lien release letter or a title with the lien satisfaction section completed. Without it, the county cannot issue a clean title in your name.
Skipped odometer disclosure. For vehicles with model years 2006 through 2026, the seller must disclose mileage and the buyer must acknowledge it. A blank odometer field on a qualifying vehicle stops the application cold.⁵
No VIN inspection. Out-of-state and salvage vehicles need a completed Stage III VIN inspection. The county will not accept the MV1 without it.⁷

Where and How to Submit It

Bring the completed MV1, your supporting documents, and payment to the County Treasurer’s motor vehicle office in the county where you live.¹ In person is the fastest route. County staff review your paperwork on the spot, collect the fees, and hand you temporary registration and license plates at the counter. You can also mail the packet to your county office with a check or money order for the total fees.

Nonresidents who own real property in Montana may register a vehicle in the county where that property is located.¹

What It Costs

Plan on at least the title fee and your annual registration fee, plus a lien filing fee if applicable and a county option tax based on the vehicle’s depreciated value.

Title issuance fee: $12 for light vehicles, $10 for motorhomes and motorcycles.¹⁰
Lien filing fee: $8.24 per security interest.⁴
Annual light vehicle registration: $217 for vehicles 4 years old or less, $87 for vehicles 5 through 10 years old, and $28 for vehicles 11 years or older. Vehicles with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price above $150,000 that are 10 years old or less pay an additional $825.¹¹
County option tax: one-half percent of the vehicle’s depreciated taxable value in most counties.¹⁰

Active-Duty Military Members Use a Different Form

Montana residents serving on active duty outside the state, including National Guard and Reserve members, can register a vehicle they own and operate without paying certain registration fees, fees in lieu of property tax, and county option taxes. The process uses Form MV53, Application for Military Registration, which can be submitted by mail.¹² Other taxes and fees still apply.

What Happens After You Submit

The county office issues temporary registration at the time of processing. Metal plates are handed over at the counter during in-person visits or mailed shortly after for mail-in applications. The permanent certificate of title is printed by the state’s central office and mailed separately. Gallatin County advises new residents to expect the title within four to six weeks.¹³ If there is a lien, the title may be held as an electronic record with the state rather than mailed to you or the lender.⁸ Keep the receipt from the County Treasurer’s office as proof that you applied.

1
Montana Legislature. Montana Code Annotated 61-3-303 – Original Registration Process Fees
2
Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Vehicle Registration
3
Yellowstone County Montana. Motor Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions
4
Montana Department of Justice Motor Vehicle Division. Montana Code Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle
5
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Consumer Alert: Changes to Odometer Disclosure Requirements
6
Gallatin County, MT. Application for Montana Title Instructions: How Do I Complete the Application for a Montana Title?
7
Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections
8
Montana Legislature. Montana Code Annotated 61-3-109 – Electronic Title Lien Filing and Registration
9
Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Power of Attorney Form MV65
10
Yellowstone County Montana. Motor Vehicle Tax and Fee Schedules
11
Montana Legislature. Montana Code Annotated 61-3-321 – Registration Fees of Vehicles and Vessels
12
Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Application for Military Registration
13
Gallatin County, MT. New to Montana: I Just Moved to Montana and Need to Transfer My Titles