Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Certificates of Title
61-3-224. Temporary registration permit -- issuance -- placement -- fees

61-3-224. Temporary registration permit -- issuance -- placement -- fees. (1) (a) The department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer may issue a temporary registration permit for any purpose authorized under the rules adopted by the department.
(b) An authorized agent or a county treasurer may issue a temporary registration permit without use of the department-approved electronic interface only if authorized by the department.
(2) A person, using a department-approved electronic interface, may issue a temporary registration permit for any purpose authorized under the rules adopted by the department.
(3) A temporary registration permit issued under this section must contain the following information:
(a) a temporary plate number as prescribed by the department;
(b) the expiration date of the temporary registration permit; and
(c) if required by the department, a description of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile, including year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, the name of the person from whom ownership of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile was transferred, the name, mailing address, and residence address of the person to whom ownership of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile has been transferred, and the date of issuance.
(4) A temporary registration permit for:
(a) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer must be plainly visible and firmly attached to the rear exterior of the vehicle where a license plate is required to be displayed; and
(b) a motorboat, a sailboat that is 12 feet in length or longer, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle must be plainly visible and firmly attached to the vehicle or vessel.
(5) (a) Except as provided in 61-3-431 and subsections (5)(b) and (5)(c) of this section, a $19.50 fee is imposed upon issuance of a temporary registration permit by the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer. The fee must be paid by the owner of the vehicle or vessel and collected by the department, the authorized agent, or a county treasurer when the vehicle is registered.
(b) Except as provided in 61-3-431, a fee of $24.50 is imposed and must be paid upon issuance of a temporary registration permit by:
(i) the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer to a nonresident of this state who acquires a vehicle or vessel in this state or who registers for temporary use in this state a quadricycle or motorcycle designed for off-road recreational use; or
(ii) a person who issued a temporary registration permit using a department-approved electronic interface.
(c) A fee of $24 is imposed and must be paid upon issuance of a temporary registration permit for a 90-day temporary registration permit as provided in 61-3-303(4)(b).
(6) The fees imposed under this section, upon collection, must be forwarded to the state and deposited as follows:
(a) $16.50 from each permit fee collected pursuant to subsection (5) in the state special revenue account established in 44-10-204; and
(b) the remainder in the motor vehicle electronic commerce operating account provided for in 61-3-118.
(7) If a temporary registration permit is issued under this section to a person to whom ownership of a vehicle or vessel has been transferred, the permitholder shall title and register the vehicle or vessel in this or another jurisdiction before the ownership of the vehicle or vessel may be transferred to another person.
History: En. Sec. 13, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Secs. 47, 138, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 54, Ch. 44, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 23, Ch. 329, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 41, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 120, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 384, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 435, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 143, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 335, L. 2019; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 389, L. 2021.