When you buy a vehicle in Montana, and your plates are not immediately available, your dealer or county treasurer issues a Temporary Registration Permit (TRP). The TRP is valid for 40 days.
How Long Is a Montana Temporary Plate Valid?
Montana Temporary Registration Permits (TRPs) are valid for 40 days from the date of issue. This is one of the longer temporary permit windows in the country. Within those 40 days, you must complete title and registration at your county treasurer’s office and pick up your permanent plates.
If the plates you want are not immediately available at the county treasurer’s office, for example, if you are ordering a specialty plate, the county treasurer issues a 40-day TRP to cover you while the plates are manufactured.
Who Issues Montana Temporary Permits?
Only licensed professionals and state offices can issue a TRP; a private seller cannot provide one.
Licensed Montana Dealers
When you purchase a vehicle from a licensed Montana dealer, the dealer issues a TRP at the point of sale. The TRP allows you to operate the vehicle while the dealer processes your title paperwork and your permanent plates are prepared. Dealers cannot charge a separate fee for the TRP beyond what is established by the MVD.
County Treasurer’s Offices
For private-party purchases, new resident registrations, and any situation where plates are not immediately on hand, your county treasurer’s office issues a TRP. You must visit the office in person with all required documents.
What If I Buy From a Private Seller in Montana?
Montana plates stay with the owner, not the vehicle. When a private seller transfers their vehicle, they remove their plates. You must visit your county treasurer’s office to obtain a TRP before driving the vehicle on public roads.
Bring the following to your county treasurer’s office:
- Original title signed and assigned by the seller, all liens released
- Bill of sale with purchase price, date, and odometer reading
- Valid Montana driver’s license or state ID
- Proof of Montana liability insurance
- Payment for title transfer fees, registration fees, and any applicable taxes (a nominal fee may apply for the TRP itself)
Once your registration is processed and your plates are ready, you return to the treasurer’s office to pick them up. If the plates you ordered are not immediately on hand, a second TRP may be issued for the pickup period.
Where Do I Display the Montana Temporary Permit?
The TRP must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle in the license plate bracket — the same position as a permanent rear plate. All printed information must be clearly visible and legible from behind the vehicle. The TRP must be secured so it does not flutter or detach while driving.
- Do not display inside the rear window.
- Do not cover with any frame or material.
- Do not fold, tear, or alter the permit.
What If My Montana TRP Expires Before Plates Arrive?
Do not drive the vehicle with an expired TRP. Contact your county treasurer’s office immediately.
If the delay is caused by a dealer’s failure to submit paperwork, contact the dealer in writing and notify the MVD. If the plates you ordered have not arrived within the TRP window, the treasurer’s office can advise on options, acting before the TRP expires gives you the most options.
New Montana Residents: How Long Do You Have to Register?
Upon establishing residency in Montana, new residents have 60 days to register their vehicle with their county treasurer’s office. Your out-of-state registration and plates remain valid during this 60-day window. After completing Montana registration, Montana plates are issued and your out-of-state plates must be removed.
If you are employed in Montana but do not plan to establish permanent residency, check with the MVD, non-resident employees may have separate registration requirements.