61-3-317. New registration required for transferred motor vehicle -- grace period -- penalty -- display of proof of purchase. (1) The new owner of a transferred motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer has a grace period of 40 calendar days from the date of purchase to make application for a certificate of title and pay the registration fees, fees in lieu of tax and other fees required by this chapter, and local option taxes, if applicable. However, the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer may not be operated upon the streets and highways of this state during this period unless a temporary registration permit has been issued for and is properly displayed on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer as permitted by 61-3-224.
(2) If the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer was not purchased from a licensed motor vehicle dealer as provided in this chapter, it is not a violation of this chapter or any other law for the purchaser to operate the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer upon the streets and highways of this state without a current registration receipt or registration decal during the period allowed under 61-1-101(81)(b) if at all times during that period a temporary registration permit issued under 61-3-224 is properly displayed.
History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 187, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 243, L. 1977; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 399, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 53-147; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 712, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 529, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 515, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 13, Sp. L. August 2002; amd. Sec. 63, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 32, Ch. 592, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 74, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Secs. 57, 147, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 435, L. 2017; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 309, L. 2019.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 3. Certificates of Title, Registration, and Taxation of Motor Vehicles
61-3-301. Registration -- license plate required -- display
61-3-303. Original registration -- process -- fees
61-3-306. through 61-3-310 reserved
61-3-311. Registration -- time periods
61-3-312. Renewal of registration -- exceptions -- grace period
61-3-313. Motor vehicles exempt from registration renewal
61-3-318. Fleet registration period
61-3-319. Registration of custom-built motorcycle -- exemptions
61-3-322. Registration receipts -- issuance
61-3-324. Fleet registration -- application -- additions to and deletions from fleet
61-3-325. Fleet registration -- license plates
61-3-326. through 61-3-330 reserved
61-3-331. Assignment of license plates
61-3-332. Standard license plates
61-3-333. Replacing license plates or decals
61-3-334. Transfer of ownership of motor vehicle -- duty to remove plates
61-3-335. Transfer of license plates to another motor vehicle
61-3-336. Recycling license plates
61-3-337. Permanently registered motor homes -- plate restriction
61-3-338. Contract for manufacture and distribution of license plates
61-3-339. and 61-3-340 reserved
61-3-343. and 61-3-344 reserved
61-3-345. Motor vehicle computer system