Montana Code 61-4-128. Common standards — dealer plates — demonstrator plates — loaner plates — identification cards — fees
61-4-128. Common standards — dealer plates — demonstrator plates — loaner plates — identification cards — fees. (1) (a) Dealer, demonstrator, loaner, and courtesy license plates authorized under this part must be designed by the department in a manner that is similar to standard license plates furnished under 61-3-332, but the word “dealer”, “demonstrator”, “loaner”, or “courtesy” must be included in the plate design.
Terms Used In Montana Code 61-4-128
- Dealer: means a person that, for commission or profit, engages in whole or in part in the business of buying, selling, exchanging, or accepting on consignment new or used motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, travel trailers, motorboats, sailboats, snowmobiles, off-highway vehicles, or special mobile equipment that is not registered in the name of the person. 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
- 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
- Motorboat: means a vessel, including a personal watercraft or pontoon, propelled by any machinery, motor, or engine of any description, whether or not the machinery, motor, or engine is the principal source of propulsion. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Off-highway vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle designed for recreation or cross-country travel on public lands, trails, easements, lakes, rivers, or streams. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Personal watercraft: means a vessel that uses an outboard motor or an inboard engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion and that is designed to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel rather than by the conventional method of sitting or standing in the vessel. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Registration decal: means an adhesive sticker produced by the department and issued by the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer to the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, motorboat, sailboat, personal watercraft, or snowmobile as proof of payment of all fees imposed for the registration period indicated on the sticker as recorded by the department under 61-3-101. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Snowmobile: means a self-propelled vehicle of an overall width of 48 inches or less, excluding accessories, that is designed primarily for travel on snow or ice, that may be steered by skis or runners, and that is not otherwise registered or licensed under the laws of the state of Montana. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- 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
- Wholesaler: means a person that for a commission or with intent to make a profit or gain of money or other thing of value sells, exchanges, or attempts to negotiate a sale or exchange of an interest in a used motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, travel trailer, motorboat, snowmobile, off-highway vehicle, or special mobile equipment only to dealers and auto auctions licensed under chapter 4, part 1. See Montana Code 61-1-101
(b)Dealer, demonstrator, loaner, and courtesy license plates must be numbered in a manner that is readily distinguishable from other plate styles issued by the department. The numbering system for dealer plates must contain the distinctive license number assigned by the department to a dealer and a number or alphanumeric identification mark that relates to the assignment of sets of dealer plates to a dealer. The numbering system for demonstrator and loaner plates may be sequential and unrelated to the number of demonstrator plates or the distinctive license number assigned to a dealer, wholesaler, or auto auction.
(c)Dealer, demonstrator, loaner, and courtesy plates issued under this part must be replaced on the same cycle that is required for standard license plates under 61-3-332.
(d)Except as provided in 61-4-124, dealer, demonstrator, loaner, and courtesy plates must display a registration decal, affixed as prescribed by the department, for the calendar year for which use of the plate or plates is authorized under this part.
(2)(a) Identification cards must be designed by the department and furnished to dealers to authorize the demonstration of a motorboat or personal watercraft, a snowmobile, or an off-highway vehicle by a dealer licensed under this part or a customer of a dealer licensed under this part. Each identification card must include the dealer’s name and address and the license number assigned by the department to the dealer and must designate the type of power sports vehicle for which its use is authorized, such as a motorboat or personal watercraft, snowmobile, or off-highway vehicle.
(b)The department may use the same numbering system for identification cards as it uses for demonstrator and loaner plates.
(3)(a) Upon issuance of a license to a dealer whose business includes the sale of motorboats or personal watercraft, snowmobiles, or off-highway vehicles, the department shall furnish identification cards to a dealer as follows:
(i)for a dealer who sells motorboats or personal watercraft, one identification card;
(ii)for a dealer who sells snowmobiles, two identification cards; and
(iii)for a dealer who sells off-highway vehicles, two identification cards.
(b)The dealer may obtain additional identification cards for $2, as needed, and upon submitting justification for the need to the department.
(4)(a) An identification card issued to a dealer who sells motorboats or personal watercraft may be displayed on a dealer’s motorboat or personal watercraft while the motorboat or personal watercraft is operating for a purpose related to the buying, selling, exchanging, or performance testing of the motorboat or personal watercraft by the dealer, manufacturer, or potential buyer.
(b)An identification card issued to a dealer who sells snowmobiles must be carried by the dealer when demonstrating the dealer’s snowmobiles or by the dealer’s customer.
(c)An identification card issued to a dealer who sells off-highway vehicles must be carried by the dealer when the dealer’s off-highway vehicles are being demonstrated for sale purposes or by the dealer’s customer.
(5)(a) All dealer, demonstrator, loaner, and courtesy plates and identification cards issued under this part are expired on the first day following the dealer license expiration date of the year of issue and must be renewed annually.
(b)A dealer, wholesaler, or auto auction that files the annual report as required under 61-4-120, 61-4-124, or 61-4-125 may display or use dealer or demonstrator plates and identification cards assigned for the prior calendar year until the dealer license expiration date.