Overview
The deadline is what trips people up: 40 calendar days from the purchase date to apply for the new title at your county treasurer's office (60 days if you just moved to Montana with a vehicle you already owned). Miss it and a flat $10 late-title penalty applies - modest compared to states that scale penalties off unpaid sales tax, precisely because Montana has none to scale.
01 - Official fees
Montana title transfer fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title fee - light vehicle/truck/bus under 1 ton | $12.36 | |
| Title fee - trailer, boat, snowmobile, heavier truck | $10.30 | |
| Lien/security interest filing fee | $8.24 | per lien recorded |
| Late title application penalty | $10.00 | flat, after the 40-day window |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county treasurer's motor vehicle office (MT MVD) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to transfer a Montana title
- 1
Get the seller's signed-over title, noting the odometer reading if the vehicle is under 20 years old.
- 2
Complete Form MV1, Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle.
- 3
Bring the title, MV1, lienholder information if financed, and ID to your county treasurer within 40 calendar days.
- 4
Pay the title fee ($12.36 or $10.30), any lien filing fee, and the registration due for the vehicle.
- 5
There's no sales tax step - Montana's title transaction is the fee schedule above, full stop.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Montana vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Montana title transfer FAQ
How much does a title transfer actually cost in Montana?
$12.36 for a standard light vehicle, or $10.30 for trailers, boats, snowmobiles, and heavier trucks, plus $8.24 if a lender's lien needs recording. Registration is separate and due at the same visit.
What happens if I'm late transferring a title?
A flat $10 penalty applies once you're past the 40-calendar-day window from the purchase date - there's no percentage-of-tax penalty like sales-tax states use, because Montana has no vehicle sales tax to penalize you a percentage of.
I just moved to Montana with a car I already own - how long do I have?
60 days from establishing Montana residency to title and register it here, a slightly longer window than the 40 days given to a newly purchased vehicle.
Can I transfer a Montana title online?
New-owner title applications require an in-person or mailed MV1 to the county treasurer - it isn't a self-service online process the way registration renewal is.
Does a title transfer trigger the county option tax?
It can - the county option tax (where the county imposes one) is assessed as part of the registration that accompanies every title transaction, based on the vehicle's depreciated MSRP at its current age, not on the sale price.
What if the vehicle has an out-of-state lien?
Montana still records it for $8.24 and lists the lienholder on the new title; the lender typically holds the title (or a lien-recorded electronic title) until the loan is paid off, same as any financed purchase.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.