Lewis and Clark County: Motor Vehicles

If you plan on traveling out of state and have not been able to complete your title work, please print the Montana Motor Vehicles Division Governor’s Directive #2 to have with your current vehicle registration in the event you are pulled over. Additional State COVID-19 Motor Vehicles updates are found here.

Motor Vehicle Department

ATTENTION: Limited services November 20-27 due to a major upgrade to computer systems by the State of Montana Motor Vehicle Division.

During the upgrade, customers will be unable to register or renew vehicle registrations online or in-person. Renewals can still be mailed or put in the drop box; however, payments won’t be processed until November 30 or when the system is available.

The department will be open to process in-person temporary registration permits without an appointment.

Title and registration appointments for recently purchased vehicles can still be made.

Schedule Title Work Appointment Online - Does not work with Internet Explorer

Schedule Title Work Appointment by phone - Call 406-447-8328.

Hours
Monday-Friday (except Holidays), 7:30 am to 5:00 pm
The department is open during the noon hour.
Title work is not processed after 4:30 p.m.

Renew by Mail

Vehicle Title and Registration forms: https://dojmt.gov/driving/vehicle-title-registration-forms/ (Montana Dept. of Justice)

Mail to: 316 North Park Avenue, Room 142, Helena, Montana 59623

The Lewis and Clark County Motor Vehicle Department collects approximately $10.9 million in licensing title fees and assessment of all vehicles which require titles under Montana law. Annually 85,000 registrations are issued through this department. Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and the department is open during the noon hour. Title work is not processed after 4:30 p.m.

Out of state residents who are temporarily working in Montana or are using their vehicle for hire, compensation or profit, must display Montana plates and pay taxes for using Montana public roadways. Because they are not Montana residents, they can not title their vehicles in Montana. To qualify for a registration purposes only permit, the out of state resident must provide a current out of state registration. A temporary registration is acceptable, as long as it's current.

Students who are residents of another state do not need to plate and register their vehicle unless they are working while going to school. They must title if they own the vehicle, but a registration purpose only permit is allowed if the vehicle is registered to a different owner, parent for example.

It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Montana without valid vehicle liability insurance policy, certificate of self-insurance or posted indemnity.

If you are stopped for any reason while driving and do not have a valid registration and license, you are subject to fines and vehicle impoundment. If you have any questions or concerns about your vehicle registration, please contact the Motor Vehicle Department at (406) 447-8328. The Motor Vehicle Department supervisor can be reached through E-mail.

Out-of-State Plate Transfer

If you are coming from another state, please register your vehicles as soon as you establish residency in Montana, or before your out-of-state registration expires, whichever comes first. In order to register your vehicle you will need to provide us with the Certificate of Title. If the Certificate of Title to your vehicle is being held by a lien holder, the Motor Vehicle Department will provide you with a foreign title transfer form. This will allow the Certificate of Title to be transferred to a Montana Title and then returned to your lien holder.

Procedures now require your vehicle registration file to include your drivers license number or, in the case of a Corporation, your federal identification number. For this reason, your drivers license will be requested when registering your vehicle. Out of state drivers license will require proof of residency. Documents allowed for proof of residency can be found at www.dojmt.gov/driving/required-docs/#proof

Montana Plate Renewal

License plates are issued to the registrants. The plates are not transferable between individuals, such as on a sale of the vehicle to another person, but the registrants may transfer their plates to their replacement vehicle. Such transfer of plates between vehicles owned by the same person must be done through the Motor Vehicle Department. Motorized vehicles require two plates at all times, except motorcycles, which require only a rear plate. The transfer of plate fees can occur only one time. The amount of the plate fee is $10.00. Subsequent transfers must pay the fees even when the plate is current.

A renewal decal (or tab), that will make your license plate current, will be issued each year after the fees are paid. If you keep your address updated, a courtesy renewal notice will be mailed directly to you from the State of Montana. Nevertheless, if none is received, each driver is still responsible for timely registration renewal. If your registration receipt has an expiration date, you have until the last day of the following month to renew your registration.

Changing your address at the Post Office or with the State at the Drivers Services does not update the Motor Vehicle System. If you have moved, and not submitted a change of address with the County Motor Vehicle Department your renewal done on the web may be sent to an incorrect address. A $10.00 duplicate tab fee may be charged if your address has not been updated.

Personalized Plates

If you would like to have personalized license plates, they are available to you for an additional fee. Unique options are possible using your choice of up to seven numbers and letters, providing the combination is not offensive or in bad taste and has not already been issued to someone else. The initial cost is $35 for plate manufacture and then $10 annually in addition to normal registration fees.

Specially designed plates for veterans, colleges, military units and others are also available a their own initial and annual rates. Old time vehicles and rods may be distinguished with their own plate issue also.

New Registration - Plates Gone - Decal Missing

New vehicle purchasers may obtain a 40 day sticker from the Department of Motor Vehicle. You must present a notarized bill of sale or other issued proof of ownership at the time you apply for a sticker.

If you have lost a plate or decal, get a new issue from the Department of Motor Vehicle. Replacement costs are $15.00. Reporting the loss to the police may also be appropriate.

Cost

Registration costs are based on state established fee schedules. In addition to your registration fee. Lewis and Clark county imposes a county option tax. This tax is based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price, depreciated according to the schedule established by law. To access the state fee schedule go the https://dojmt.gov/driving/

At this time, the Department of Motor Vehicle is prohibited from giving quotes on the cost of renewing or titling your vehicle over the phone. You must either mail or fax a request in. Mailed requests must include a self addressed, stamped envelope. If you choose to fax your request in, the fax number is (406) 447-8330. You may also come into the office on the main floor of the City/County Building, 316 North Park, Helena, Montana, take a title number and go through a title line.

Payment

The Lewis and Clark County Motor Vehicle Department accepts cash, personal checks and money orders made out to Lewis and Clark County in the exact amount of your registration. Please do not send cash through the mail. No counter/starter checks are accepted. Master card and Visa are now accepted in the Motor Vehicle Department. The credit card companies assess a card fee of $1.25 and 2% on your transaction cost. To avoid lines, you may wish to visit our office during midweek, mid morning. The first and last working day of any month are the busiest days and the lines tend to be longer.