Montana Code 61-3-562. Permanent registration — transfer of light vehicle ownership — rules
61-3-562. Permanent registration — transfer of light vehicle ownership — rules. (1) (a) The owner of a light vehicle 11 years old or older subject to the registration fee, as provided in 61-3-321(2), may permanently register the light vehicle upon payment of an $87.50 registration fee, the applicable registration and license fees under 61-3-412, if applicable, the administrative fee and the annual one-time-only donation fee for a generic specialty license plate under 61-3-480 or collegiate license plates under 61-3-465, the fee provided for in 61-3-375 for an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, if applicable, and an amount equal to five times the local option motor vehicle tax or flat fee on vehicles under 61-3-537 and, as applicable, either:
Terms Used In Montana Code 61-3-562
- Authorized agent: means a person who has executed a written agreement with the department and is specifically authorized by the department to electronically access and update the department's motor vehicle titling, registration, or driver records, using an approved automated interface, for specific functions or purposes on behalf of a third party. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Certificate of title: means the paper record issued by the department or by the appropriate agency of another jurisdiction that establishes a verifiable record of ownership between an identified person or persons and the motor vehicle specifically described in the record and that provides notice of a perfected security interest in the motor vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Department: means the department of justice acting directly or through its duly authorized officers or agents. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Electric vehicle: means a vehicle that:
(i)is originally equipped with a 100%-electric motor that draws propulsion energy solely from a battery with at least 20 kilowatt hours of capacity that can be recharged from an external source of electricity;
(ii)has at least four wheels; and
(iii)is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways. See Montana Code 61-3-571
- Light vehicle: means a motor vehicle commonly referred to as an automobile, van, sport utility vehicle, or truck having a manufacturer's rated capacity of 1 ton or less. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Manufacturer: includes any person engaged in the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, travel trailers, motorboats, sailboats, snowmobiles, or off-highway vehicles as a regular business. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Motor vehicle: means :
(i)a vehicle propelled by its own power and designed or used to transport persons or property on the highways of the state;
(ii)a quadricycle if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9; or
(iii)a golf cart only if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9 and is operated pursuant to 61-8-391 or by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Operator: means a person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Owner: means each person who holds the legal title to a vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle: means a vehicle that:
(a)is originally equipped so that the vehicle draws propulsion from an internal combustion engine and a battery with at least 5 kilowatt hours of capacity that can be recharged from an external source of electricity;
(b)has at least four wheels; and
(c)is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways. See Montana Code 61-3-571
- register: means the act or process of creating an electronic record, maintained by the department, of the assignment of a license plate or a set of license plates to and the issuance of a registration decal for a specific vehicle, the ownership of which has been established or is presumed in department records. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, except devices moved by animal power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Montana Code 61-1-101
(i)(A) the original fee and four times the renewal fee for personalized plates; or
(B)five times the renewal fees for personalized plates; or
(ii)if a new set of license plates is not being issued, an insurance verification fee of $5, which must be deposited in the account established under 61-6-158.
(b)The following series of license plates may not be used for purposes of permanent registration of a light vehicle:
(i)Montana national guard license plates issued under 61-3-458(2)(b);
(ii)reserve armed forces license plates issued under 61-3-458(2)(c); and
(iii)amateur radio operator license plates issued under 61-3-422.
(2)In addition to the fees described in subsection (1), an owner of a truck with a manufacturer‘s rated capacity of 1 ton or less that is permanently registered shall pay five times the applicable fees imposed under 61-10-201.
(3)The owner of a motor vehicle that is permanently registered under this section is not subject to additional registration fees or to other motor vehicle registration fees described in this section for as long as the owner owns the vehicle.
(4)The county treasurer shall once each month remit to the state the amounts collected under this section, other than the local option motor vehicle tax or flat fee and the fee collected pursuant to 61-3-573, for the purposes of 61-3-321(2) and 61-10-201. The county treasurer shall retain the local option motor vehicle tax or flat fee. The county treasurer or an authorized agent shall transmit the fee collected pursuant to 61-3-573 to the state as provided in 15-1-504 for deposit to the credit of the department in the highway restricted account provided for in 15-70-126.
(5)(a) The permanent registration of a light vehicle allowed by this section may not be transferred to a new owner. If the light vehicle is transferred to a new owner, the department shall cancel the light vehicle’s permanent registration.
(b)Upon transfer of a light vehicle registered under this section to a new owner, the new owner shall apply for a certificate of title under 61-3-201 and 61-3-216 and register the light vehicle under 61-3-303.