Why do you see so many Montana license plates all over the country especially on motor homes RVs and sometimes high-end expensive vehicles? Well, the reason why is there are some advantages that people may use through titling and registering a car in the state of Montana that could be advantageous for an owner who may have a full-time RV or maybe has multiple houses and multiple addresses.
The two most common reasons are:
The state of Montana does not charge sales tax on vehicles. So if you have a vehicle that you’re purchasing and you can title it in Montana if it’s legal, you may be able to avoid having to pay sales tax, which you would have to pay if you title it in a different state.
Now you want to ensure you’re following all proper laws and regulations and not doing tax fraud or tax avoidance. But if you legitimately have a multiple-state residency, have a full-time RV, or you have some domicile in Montana, you may be able to title your vehicle in that state and not pay sales tax.
In order to do this, you will have to create a corporation in the state of Montana unless you’re a resident with a Montana license, but that’s not what most people do. Most people are residents of another state or multiple states. They form a corporation in Montana and title the vehicle in that corporate name. So you’ll have some corporation filing fees usually a couple of hundred bucks and you may have to pay a service to be a registered agent in Montana to title the vehicle in that state.
You also have to consider insurance issues because if you get vehicle insurance for a motor vehicle titled in Montana, you’re representing to your insurance company that the vehicle is domiciled in Montana. Also known as the location where the vehicle is garaged. So you want to make sure you’re not misrepresenting your garage location to your insurance company and here’s why. You might think that you could just tell them “Hey it’s in Montana”, but if you have any type of a claim for an accident or damage, whether it’s your fault or not, you may have issues where the insurance company wants to deny your claim because you’ve misrepresented on your application where it’s garaged.
Why do they do this? Well, if they’re giving you an insurance rate based on having your vehicle most of the time driving in Montana, it might be a lower rate because it’s a safer state. But if it turns out, you live in a big city downtown Seattle or downtown Chicago, and the rates would be higher there because of more theft, accidents, and more risk of damage, you might be accidentally unintentionally committing insurance fraud.
So you want to make sure you get good legal advice from an attorney and that you get good insurance advice from your insurance agent before you place insurance on the vehicle in Montana. You may be able to get insurance for your Montana title vehicle and still have a garage address elsewhere, just make sure your scenario matches the proper use of this process.
That’s the reason why there are so many exotic vehicles and high-end vehicles, and expensive motor homes that have Montana license plates on them. Next time you’re driving by an RV resort or an exotic car meet-up, look at the license plate and see how many are Montana. Even if you’re not anywhere near Montana, you may be surprised at how common it really is.
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What happens to your car title when it’s financed? Well, this entirely depends on whether or not you live in a title-holding state or a non-title-holding state.
Title-holding state: A title-holding state will send the vehicle title with the owner’s name and lienholder’s name directly to the vehicle owner to hold until the loan is paid off.
Non-title-holding state: A non-title-holding state means that this particular state requires that the lienholder hold the title until the loan is paid off. Most states in the US are non-title-holding states.
There are currently 41 non-title-holding states:
There are currently 9 title-holding states:
For as little as $269 for most processes, we will save you the headache and prepare all of the car title paperwork needed to get you a new title. Simply choose the title recovery method you’d like to use and we’ll get started!
Are you a licensed mechanic looking to get a title for a car that was left behind by its owner? If so, you may be eligible to file a mechanic’s lien to get a title. However, it’s not as straightforward as filing a mechanic’s lien and getting a title. How can a mechanic get a title for a car?
A mechanic’s lien is a legal right that attaches to real property (in this case, the property being the vehicle) and protects mechanics who have done work on a car. Mechanics are able to file liens against cars after they have performed repairs/repairs on them because they have been damaged by the owner. The purpose of this law is to prevent mechanics from having their work go unpaid by people who abandon their cars before paying for repairs.
The mechanic’s lien process is a legal process available in every state. Once all filings and contacts have been completed, the final steps of the process include selling the vehicle at a public auction. It is at this point that the mechanic can also bid on the vehicle, purchase it, and get a new title. As an example, take a look at how to get a mechanic’s lien in Kentucky.
In order to be eligible for a mechanic’s lien in Kentucky, a vehicle or vessel must be in the possession of a person engaged in the business of selling, repairing, or furnishing parts for vehicles and the owner of that vehicle owes that person charges for repairs, labor, or supplies for more than 30 days. Once the vehicle or vessel has met this criterion, it may be sold at auction in order to pay for the accrued charges.
Before the sale can proceed, you must make all reasonable attempts to contact the registered owner and any security interests such as lienholders. This information must come from a title search to ensure the proper parties are contacted according to the DMV’s records. This contact must be made through certified mail to notify the owner and lienholder of the proposed sale. This initial notice of sale must be sent at least ten days prior to the proposed sale date. Be sure to keep all certified mail receipts as they will be needed when applying for a title.
In addition to the notice, you must also advertise the sale in the local newspaper once a week for three consecutive weeks. The advertisement must include the year, make, model, VIN, name of the owner(s), name of the lienholder(s), and the name, address, and phone number of your automotive shop.
Once all notification requirements have been completed, you can proceed with the sale. The sale may be made to an outside buyer, or your shop may also bid on the vehicle. In compliance with Kentucky statutes above (KRS.376.270, KRS 376.280, and KRS 424.130), the purchaser of a vehicle sold under a mechanic’s lien must provide the following documents when applying for a vehicle title:
The mechanic’s lien process is a very powerful legal tool for licensed mechanics to recoup their losses when a bill goes unpaid. A mechanic can, in fact, get a title for a car, but they must follow the steps of the process and purchase it from the public auction as anyone else would. The benefits of filing a mechanic’s lien are immense for mechanics. Before filing, make sure you know your state’s process so you can get the payday or the car you’ve been waiting for.
Selling a vehicle is simple, but it’s also a legal transfer of an asset. If you’re selling a vehicle, it’s important to know how to properly transfer the title. Knowing how to properly transfer the vehicle title is important when it comes to protecting yourself, as well as your vehicle’s next owner.
In most states, it’s illegal to sell or transfer ownership of a car without having a title that proves the seller is the legal owner of the vehicle. Selling a car without a title is considered fraud and can result in heavy fines and penalties. If you’re found guilty of selling a vehicle without a title, you may face jail time and hefty fines.
To avoid running afoul of local laws, make sure to get a title before selling your vehicle. The steps for getting a title for your car vary by state. However, you’ll need to apply for a duplicate title if the old one is lost or damaged. The only valid title is the original and undamaged certificate of title.
When applying for a duplicate title, you’ll likely need to provide proof of identity and insurance as well as other documentation depending on your state’s laws as well as pay a fee. Only the last titled owner of the vehicle is eligible to obtain a duplicate title. If you were not the last titled owner, you may need to obtain a title through a different method of title recovery.
Go to the DMV with your buyer when they transfer the title. If they don’t switch it over right away, it could create problems for you later because you’re still the legally titled owner. Your name and address are on that title and now that’s information they have access to. They may commit a crime in the vehicle and leave it, if your name is connected to the VIN, you’re going to be questioned. Or maybe they rack up traffic tickets that end up being attached to your license because you’re still the owner of the vehicle.
If you have a lien on your vehicle, you must get a vehicle lien release prior to transferring the title. If you have a lien on the title, you are not the title holder and are not authorized to transfer ownership. Selling a vehicle with a lien will create problems for the buyer.
When selling a vehicle, take a photocopy of the title signed over and a copy of the buyer’s identification. You cannot use this to get a title in the future; only the original title is valid for this purpose. However, having made a photocopy, you have evidence that at some point you sold the vehicle, even though you are still shown as the titleholder.
To prove that the transaction took place, you’ll need to provide the seller with a bill of sale. The bill of sale is absolutely necessary, but it’s only a receipt and is not enough evidence to obtain a title on its own. For more tips, check out our article How to Write a Bill of Sale.
This occurs more frequently than you may think. Oftentimes the primary vehicle driver and the vehicle titleholder are not the same people, they may be a family member or spouse. Make sure that the person signing the title transfer is the prior owner. If there is more than one name listed on the title, everyone must sign the title transfer. The only person authorized to transfer ownership of the vehicle is the person or people listed on the title.
Selling a vehicle is a simple process, but it’s also a legal process, it’s a legal transfer of assets. You should make all efforts to make sure the title transfer is done correctly so it doesn’t come back to haunt you or cause problems for your buyer down the road.
When you need to get a new vehicle title, you’ll need to file for a lost title or use a method of title recovery. The vehicle title is the most important document in relation to a vehicle and proves legal proof of ownership. But what if the title wasn’t in your name? How do you get a new one or file for a lost title?
A lost title is also more commonly known as a duplicate title or a replacement title. A lost title is a vehicle title that was previously titled in your name, but the certificate has been lost, damaged, destroyed, or stolen. A lost title or duplicate title process requires that the individual applying for the title must be the registered owner in the DMV database. If you were not the last titled owner, you are not eligible for a duplicate or replacement title.
If the title you’re applying for was not last issued in your name, you will not be able to obtain a duplicate title. Instead, there are multiple different options for title recovery that may fit your situation.
Title recovery is necessary when you have come into possession of a vehicle and did not receive a vehicle title at the time of purchase or lost the title before it could be transferred to your name. Title recovery uses legal methods allowed by the DMV in your state to get a new title for you in your name when you are lacking sufficient evidence of ownership. Each state determines the title recovery methods that are allowed by law.
The title recovery method that is best for your vehicle situation will depend on the following factors:
Vermont Title Loophole
Bonded Title
Prior Owner Contact
Deceased Owner Title Transfer
Court-ordered title
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