61-4-129. Assignment of demonstrator plates. (1) (a) A dealer or wholesaler may purchase demonstrator plates at a fee of $5 a plate.
(b) Demonstrator plates may not be issued to a new or used dealer whose business is restricted to the sale of power sports vehicles.
(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(c), demonstrator plates may be used on a motor vehicle displaying a Monroney label or a buyer's guide label, as required by 61-4-123(2), or on a truck, truck tractor, truck tractor pulling a laden or unladen semitrailer, or travel trailer that is:
(i) being demonstrated and offered for sale to a dealership customer for not more than 72 hours when operated by an individual holding a valid operator's license;
(ii) owned by the dealership when operated by an officer or bona fide full-time employee of the dealer or wholesaler and used to transport the dealer's or wholesaler's own tools, parts, and equipment;
(iii) being tested for repair;
(iv) being moved to or from a dealer's place of business for sale;
(v) being moved to or from service and repair facilities before sale; and
(vi) being moved to or from exhibitions within the state, provided the exhibition does not exceed a period of 20 days.
(b) Demonstrator plates may be used:
(i) on trailers being hauled to or from the place of business of the manufacturer and the place of business of the dealer or to and from places of business of the dealer;
(ii) on travel trailers held for sale to demonstrate the towing capability of the motor vehicle, for not more than 72 hours;
(iii) on any motor vehicle owned by the dealer that is used only to move a travel trailer that is in the dealer's inventory; and
(iv) on trailers being moved to or from exhibitions within the state if the exhibition does not exceed a period of 20 days.
(c) Extra demonstrator plates may be made available to dealers eligible for demonstrator plates under subsection (2)(a) to provide to one or more service repair facilities to be used when moving a motor vehicle in the dealer's inventory to and from the dealer's place of business and the service and repair facility prior to sale. A motor vehicle displaying demonstrator plates under this subsection is not required to have a Monroney label or a buyer's guide label as required by 61-4-123(2).
(d) A motor vehicle being operated in accordance with this subsection (2) need only display one demonstrator plate conspicuously on the rear of the motor vehicle.
History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 409, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 299, L. 2003; amd. Secs. 1, 2, Ch. 258, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 167, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 329, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 129, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 86, L. 2013; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 389, L. 2021.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Chapter 4. Sales and Distribution of Motor Vehicles
61-4-101. Types of licenses and terms -- common application -- bonds -- zoning
61-4-102. Dealer plates -- restriction of use -- fees
61-4-104. Record of purchase or sale
61-4-105. Criminal penalty -- civil penalty imposed by agency
61-4-107. Cease and desist order
61-4-109. Privileges incident to license -- withdrawal upon certain conditions
61-4-111. Used vehicles -- transfer to and from dealers
61-4-112. New motor vehicles -- transfers by dealers
61-4-113. New motor vehicles towed into state to be labeled
61-4-122. Compliance specialists as peace officers
61-4-123. Dealer requirements and restrictions
61-4-125. Wholesaler restrictions -- demonstrator plates -- annual report
61-4-126. Claims against dealer, broker, wholesaler, or auto auction bonds
61-4-127. Broker requirements -- restrictions -- annual report -- fees
61-4-129. Assignment of demonstrator plates
61-4-130. Courtesy license plates -- issuance -- restrictions on use
61-4-132. Right of designated family member to succeed in dealership ownership
61-4-133. Refusal to honor succession to ownership -- notice required
61-4-134. Procedure to determine right to succeed
61-4-135. Written designation of succession unaffected
61-4-136. Violation -- penalty
61-4-138. through 61-4-140 reserved
61-4-143. Unlawful curbstoning of vehicle for sale
61-4-144. through 61-4-149 reserved
61-4-150. Sale, transfer, or exchange of dealership -- notice -- response to notice