If you’re a Montana resident buying a car out of state but looking to register it at home, you’ll need to apply at your county treasurer’s office, present your out-of-state title, and have the bill of sale notarized.

If you find the perfect car across state lines, you’ll have quite a bit of logistical planning to work out. On top of getting that car to you, you’ll also have to deal with the paperwork and DMV appointments we all dread.

The good news is that

Jerry

, the super app designed to make

car insurance

shopping a snap, also has some advice for making buying a car out of state as painless a process as possible for

Montana drivers

. And once you get your new ride back home, Jerry can help you find an insurance policy in Montana, too!

How to buy a car out of state as a Montana resident

With all of the options on the market today, the odds of you finding a car outside of Montana’s borders are high. If you do, you’ll have to go through all the steps anyone else has to when buying a car—plus a few more. Those include registering the vehicle, figuring out taxes, and transferring the certificate of title to Montana.

Some of the questions drivers have about buying a car out of state involve the matter of just which state they are playing by the rules of. Where do I pay sales tax, for instance, is one of the biggest questions on drivers’ minds.

Simply put: When you buy a car out of state, you do not have to pay the sales tax of the state from which you bought the car. As a resident of The Treasure State, you are only required to abide by the sales tax on cars in Montana, which is nonexistent.

That’s right, you are not required to pay sales tax on car purchases in Montana, so no matter what the rules are of the state from which you purchase your new vehicle, you likely don’t have to worry about it. You will, however, have to submit the correct forms and fees, to make sure you have registered your car in Montana.

The process of getting your car registered will depend on whether you buy from a dealership or a private seller. If you buy from a dealership, they can help you collect the sales tax that applies in the state where the vehicle will be registered and get it to the proper agencies there. Because there is no sales tax in Montana, this part shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. They can also help you with the registration and title. If you buy from a private seller, though, you’ll have to navigate it by yourself.

When you title your car in Montana, you will also register it—the two have to happen simultaneously, and this must be done at the county treasurer’s office in your county. You may need to make an appointment to do this, although some counties do not require an appointment.

When you get to the office, you will need to present the out-of-state title, along with a few other documents. If you have purchased your car from a dealer, that dealer most likely has already sent the necessary paperwork to the county treasurer.

Make sure you bring the following to your county clerk:

A completed

MV1 form

, the vehicle registration application for vehicles titled initially in another state

Proof of auto insurance

The car’s title, which will need to be signed by the previous owner if the vehicle was bought from a private party

A notarized bill of sale

You will also need to pay certain fees, which are ultimately determined by the age, make, and even MSRP of the vehicle. Those include:

Registration fee

County option tax

Titling fees

License plate fees, if you opt for specialized license plates.

Registration fees in Montana depend on the age of your vehicle and the length of time for which you are registering. You can opt to register your car for 12 months, 24 months, or permanently.

If you register your vehicle for 12 months, you can expect to pay $217 for vehicles four years old and under; $87 for those between five and 10 years old; and $28 for those older than 11 years.

If you opt for permanent registration, only available to those with cars that are more than 11 years old, you will never have to renew your registration after paying these one-time fees.

Registration: $87.50.

Montana Highway Patrol Salary and Retention Fee: $10

Optional state parks support: $9

County tax

Special plate fees, if applicable

The county tax is determined by the age of your vehicle as well and depends on the county you live in. If you do have to pay it, it will be based on the MSRP of the car and its depreciation as determined in statute

§ 61-3-503

Finally, license plate fees may be applicable here as well. In Montana, those depend on whether you are getting a new plate or transferring an existing one:

New issue fee: $10

Replacement fee for a new plate number: $10.30

Duplicate plate fee for transferring an existing number: $15.45

Duplicate permanent tab fee: $10.30

Personalized plate fee: $25

Once you’ve submitted all of your documents and paid the fees, you will be issued your Montana title, registration, and license plate.

MORE:

How to donate a car in Montana

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How to buy a car in Montana if you live out of state

If you’re buying a car in Montana but you live in another state, the process will likely be similar, but it may vary slightly depending on the rules of the state where you plan to register the vehicle.

Keep in mind that even though Montana doesn’t have sales tax on vehicle purchases, the sales tax you pay will be determined by the rules and rates of your home state.

You will likely still need to:

Obtain and present your bill of sale for the vehicle purchase. In some cases, this will need to be notarized.

Make an appointment with your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and bring the necessary documents. These typically include a photo ID, proof of insurance, proof of residency, and an odometer disclosure.

Have your vehicle registered and titled in your state.

MORE: Title transfer in Montana

Tips for buying a vehicle out of state

It may seem intimidating to start the process of buying a vehicle out of state, but don’t let that stop you if you’ve found the car of your dreams a couple of hundred miles away. The process doesn’t have to be stressful—just keep a few things in mind!

Make sure you get a vehicle history report. Dealers may provide this without any hassle, but if you buy from a private seller, you can utilize tools like CARFAX to find a vehicle history report.

Schedule your vehicle inspection. Some states require inspections or emissions testing before you can register your vehicle. You only need to meet the inspection requirements of the state where you will be registering your vehicle. The great news is that

Montana does not have any inspection requirements

for most vehicles.

Brush up on your home state’s vehicle sales tax laws. Every state has different sales tax laws that apply when purchasing a car, but you only have to abide by the required sales tax of the state where you will register your car, in most cases.

Make sure your car insurance has you covered. If you’re going to get your car back home by driving it instead of shipping it, you’ll want to check to be sure your insurance is up to par. While some providers offer options to extend coverage temporarily to new cars before getting a new policy, others do not, and you may have to set up your coverage for your new car before you hit the road.

MORE:

Car loan in Montana 2022

How to save on car insurance in Montana

No matter where your car is from, if you’re a resident of Montana, you’ll need to purchase a car insurance policy that meets the minimum coverage limits there. Luckily, finding car insurance in Montana is a lot easier than registering an out-of-state car there.

That’s because Jerry, the car insurance

super app

, is here to help. When you download the free

Jerry

app, you’ll find you have all the skills and knowledge of a licensed insurance broker at the tips of your fingers.

To get started, simply fill out a quick profile to let Jerry know what you need and want from your policy. In less than a minute, they search their network of providers to bring you the top quotes on the coverage you need, to save you both time and money.

“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.
Jerry
helped me upgrade my policy, and when my record is cleared next year, I will be using Jerry again to choose an even cheaper plan!” —Paige W.

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