61-3-201. Certificate of title required -- exclusions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile that is in this state and for which a certificate of title has not been issued by or an electronic record of title has not been created by the department shall apply to the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer for a certificate of title for the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile.
(2) The following motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, campers, motorboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, or snowmobiles are exempt from the requirements of this part:
(a) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile owned by the United States, unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile is registered in this state;
(b) except as required in 61-4-111, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile that is:
(i) owned by a manufacturer, a dealer, a wholesaler, or an auto auction; and
(ii) held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway, used for purposes of testing or demonstration, or used solely by a manufacturer for testing;
(c) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile owned by a nonresident or a nonresident who has an interest in real property in Montana who chooses not to register a motor vehicle in this state as provided in 61-3-303;
(d) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property and:
(i) for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in another state or jurisdiction; or
(ii) that is properly registered under the provisions of Title 61, chapter 3, part 7;
(e) a vehicle moved solely by human or animal power;
(f) an implement of husbandry;
(g) special mobile equipment or a motor vehicle or trailer designed and used to apply fertilizer to agricultural land;
(h) a self-propelled wheelchair or tricycle used by a person with a disability;
(i) a dolly or converter gear;
(j) a mobile home or housetrailer;
(k) a manufactured home declared to be an improvement to real property under 15-1-116; or
(l) a golf cart unless it is operated by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license.
History: (1) thru (6)En. Subd. 3, Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1758.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 72, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 148, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 63, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 191, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 399, L. 1977; Sec. 53-109, R.C.M. 1947; (7)En. Subd. 2, Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1758.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 244, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 146, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 121, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 116, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 214, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 74, L. 1975; Sec. 53-108, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 53-108(part), 53-109; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 203, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 324, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 358, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 104, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 363, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 604, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 724, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 13, Sp. L. August 2002; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 209, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 370, L. 2013.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 3. Certificates of Title, Registration, and Taxation of Motor Vehicles
61-3-201. Certificate of title required -- exclusions
61-3-202. Certificate of title -- issuance -- contents -- joint ownership
61-3-203. Fee for original certificate of title -- disposition
61-3-204. Replacement certificate of title -- application
61-3-205. Transfer of ownership of vehicles by insurance company
61-3-206. Odometer disclosure requirements on transfer of vehicle -- dealer to preserve record
61-3-208. Affidavit and bond for certificate of title
61-3-212. Retitling salvage vehicles -- penalty
61-3-214. Certificate of title -- custom-built motorcycle
61-3-216. Certificates of title -- application -- contents -- issuance
61-3-218. Certificate of title -- issuance -- delivery
61-3-219. Refusal to issue certificate of title
61-3-220. Certificate of title -- voluntary transfer -- duties
61-3-221. Involuntary transfer
61-3-222. Surviving spouse or heir -- small estates
61-3-224. Temporary registration permit -- issuance -- placement -- fees