AutoTaxCalculatorMontana light vehicle registration fees
Montana registration = $217 (4 years old or less), $87 (5–10 years) or $28 (11+ years), + $10 + $9 parks fee + any county tax. A new SUV in a county without a local option tax costs $236 a year to register.
Under MCA § 61-3-321, the annual registration fee for light vehicles, trucks and buses weighing 1 ton or less depends only on the vehicle's age. Two smaller fees are added to every light vehicle:
- $10 state fee, charged on every light vehicle registration.
- $9 for state parks, fishing access sites, trails and the Virginia City and Nevada City heritage sites. You can opt out at registration if you don't plan to visit state parks or fishing access sites.
- An optional $5 transportation fee you can choose to pay.
Luxury vehicles pay more. A light vehicle with an MSRP over $150,000 that is 10 years old or less adds $825 a year.
No sales tax on cars in Montana
Montana has no general sales tax, so buying a car here carries no sales tax, from a dealer or a private seller. What you pay when you buy is the $12 title fee for a light vehicle and $12 for a new set of standard plates, plus the registration.
County local option motor vehicle tax
A county can ask its voters to approve a local option motor vehicle tax of up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value, or a flat fee instead. It's paid with registration. The value is the MSRP multiplied by a depreciation percentage from MCA § 61-3-503 that depends on the vehicle type and age, with a $500 minimum value:
| Age | Automobile | Truck | Van | Sport utility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 90% | 96% | 93% | 98% |
| 2 | 69% | 86% | 78% | 90% |
| 4 | 49% | 73% | 60% | 76% |
| 6 | 33% | 57% | 45% | 57% |
| 8 | 21% | 43% | 32% | 39% |
| 10 | 14% | 31% | 22% | 29% |
| 12 | 10% | 22% | 15% | 22% |
| 16 | 9% | 12% | 9% | 15% |
From 17 years old, the age-16 value drops by 10% a year until it reaches $500. Trucks and SUVs hold their taxable value much longer than cars.
Electric and plug-in hybrid fees
| Unladen weight | Electric vehicle | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6,000 lbs (class 1) | $130 | $70 |
| 6,000–10,000 lbs (class 2) | $190 | $100 |
These fees apply at initial registration and every renewal. To count as an electric vehicle, the battery has to be at least 20 kWh. A plug-in hybrid needs at least 5 kWh.
Permanent registration for older vehicles
Once a light vehicle is 11 years old or older, you can register it permanently instead of every year. You pay an $87.50 registration fee, five times any county local option tax or flat fee, a $5 insurance verification fee if you're not getting new plates, and the EV fee if it applies. The permanent registration lasts as long as you own the vehicle, but it doesn't transfer to a buyer.
Worked examples
New $40,000 SUV in a county with no local option tax
- Registration (4 years old or less): $217
- $10 state fee + $9 parks fee
- Yearly total: $236.00, plus $24 for title and plates the first time
Six-year-old car, $30,000 MSRP, county with a 0.5% local option tax
- Registration (5–10 years): $87 + $10 + $9 = $106
- Local option tax: $30,000 × 33% = $9,900 × 0.5% = $49.50
- Total: $155.50
Twelve-year-old pickup, $35,000 MSRP, same county
- Registration (11+ years): $28 + $10 + $9 = $47
- Local option tax: $35,000 × 22% = $7,700 × 0.5% = $38.50
- Total: $85.50 before the truck's gross vehicle weight fee
Frequently asked questions
When does the $217 fee drop to $87?
When the vehicle turns 5 years old. It drops again to $28 at 11 years old.
Does my county charge a local option tax?
Only if its voters approved one. Your county treasurer's office can tell you the rate or flat fee.
Will the title fee change?
Yes. The light vehicle title fee is $12 until June 30, 2028, then $7 from July 1, 2028.
Sources
- MCA § 61-3-321: Registration fees
- MCA § 61-3-537: Local option motor vehicle tax
- MCA § 61-3-503: Assessment and depreciation table
- MCA § 61-3-572: Electric vehicle registration fees
- MCA § 61-3-562: Permanent registration
- MCA § 61-3-203: Title fee
This calculator gives an estimate. Your county treasurer calculates the final amount. How we calculate