Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to turn in my damaged car title?
Residents of Montana who have a damagedcar title need to apply for a car title replacement. To do so, mail in or present the damaged car title to a local Montana DMV office. Upon turning in the damaged car title, you will also need to complete and notarize an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and provide a payment of $10 for the duplicate car title fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

How do I file a police report if my car title was stolen?
Residents of Montana who are dealing with a stolen car title are advised to contact a local law enforcement agency or a police department in order to file a report for the stolen car title. Since car titles contain identity information and ownership of the vehicle, the best thing for you to do would be to make an immediate report at the nearest police station, in order to avoid stealing of your identity or putting the vehicle ownership into question. Once you file a report at a police department, you need to bring a copy of the report to your local Montana DMV office for prevention purposes.

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

How do I obtain a duplicate car title?
Residents of Montana dealing with a damaged or lost car title need to apply for a car title replacement by mail or in person at a local Montana DMV office. To successfully apply, you must submit a completed and notarized Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and provide a payment of $10 for the duplicate car title fee. In case your car title is damaged, bring it with you when replacing car title. Once you gather all the required documents, bring them in person, or mail them to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

How do I obtain a salvaged car title?
Montana vehicles that have been damaged by fire, flood, accident or other, and which are uneconomical to have them repaired, belong to the group of salvaged vehicles. Prior to obtaining a salvaged car title, the vehicle must pass a state inspection.

Once the inspection process is finished, the inspector will provide you with a copy of the original inspection report, which he will send to the Montana Title and Registration Bureau. After that, you will need to go in person to your local Montana DMV office and submit an application, providing:

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

How do I transfer my car title between states?
Montana drivers who are moving to another state need to transfer car title from state to state. In order to have a successful transfer of title, you first need to take into consideration not only the Montana rules, but also the rules from the other state, and provide the following documents:
  • Proof of residency:
    • Driver’s license changes
    • Employment
    • Housing arrangements
    • University enrollment
  • All the needed title transfer forms

For more information: Montana Cross-State Title Transfers

How do I transfer my car title if I lost the original?
If you are a Montana resident and you have lost your car title, you must immediately apply for a cat title replacement by submitting the following documents to a local Montana DMV office:

Residents can also mail the application and payment to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

How do I transfer my car title?
Montana residents dealing with buying, selling, gifting, donating or inheriting a motor vehicle, must learn how to transfer car title. The process of transferring car title includes these steps:
  1. The seller assigns the title over to the buyer with a notarized signature
  2. The buyer must fill an Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle
  3. Both the buyer and the seller must complete a Bill of Sale
  4. The buyer pays titling and registration fees
  5. The buyer submits all the documentation to the local Montana DMV office

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

How do I transfer the title of my RV?
In Montana, drivers who own a recreational vehicle (RV) must follow the same procedure as for any other vehicle title transfer which include visiting a local Montana DMV office and providing the following documents:

Remember that there are additional documents that may be needed for a transfer of title depending on why you are transferring the title; so before visiting the local DMV office, contact the Title and Registration Bureau at 406-444-3661.

How long does it take to receive my replacement car title after ordering online?
The Montana DMV does not offer the option of applying for a duplicate car title online. However, in the misfortune of having your car title lost, stolen or damaged, you need to either visit a local Montana DMV office in person or mail the needed documentation to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

If a family member dies and leaves his or her car to me, how do I switch over the title?
Montana residents who have inherited a motor vehicle as a result of the death of a family member, must go through a process of transferring car title which varies based on the status of the estate of the deceased family member: probated or non-probated estate.

On the one hand, when the estate is probated, an executor or personal representative named in a will or appointed by the court is required, while on the other hand there is no need of an executor when the estate is non-probated.

The process for car title transfer of an inherited vehicle requires for you to:

  • Provide a copy of the death certificate of the family member.
  • Provide a copy of the deceased family member s will.
  • Pay the required titling and registration fees.

If you want to go into more details about the probation of the estate of the deceased family member, read the Title Manual, or contact the Title and Registration Bureau at 406-444-3661.

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

What are some reasons that may require me to transfer my car title?
Residents of Montana must go to a local Montana DMV office in order to begin the process of a car title transfer. The most common reasons why you should transfer car title include:
  • Selling a used vehicle
  • Buying a used vehicle
  • Donating a used vehicle
  • Receiving a vehicle as a gift
  • Inheriting a vehicle as a result of the death of a family member

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

What are the required fees to get a replacement car title?
Drivers in Montana who need to obtain a duplicate car title due to the misfortune of having their car title lost, stolen or damaged, must apply for a car title replacement. In order to replace car title successfully, you need to complete and notarize an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title. The required fee for a car title replacement is $10. Once you collect the needed documentation, bring them in person at a local Montana DMV office or mail them to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

What documents do I need to present for a replacement car title?
Montana residents who have a damaged, stolen or lost car title, must begin a process of replacing car title either by mail, or in person at a local Montana DMV office. You can obtain a duplicate car title by providing a completed and notarized Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and paying a $10 duplicate car title fee.

If your car title is damaged either by fire, liquid or other, you must submit the damaged car title along with the required documents. In the case that your title shows a lienholder, you must complete a Security Interest Action in your application. Once you ve successfully gathered all the necessary documents, you can present them to a local Montana DMV office, or mail it to the address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

What documents do I need to transfer my car title?
If you are a Montana resident and you have bought or inherited a motor vehicle, or a motor vehicle has been donated of gifted to you, you will need to undergo the process of transferring car title. In order to have a successful car title transfer, you should prepare certain documentation when applying at a local Montana DMV office, including:

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

What forms must I fill out for a duplicate car title?
In order to receive a duplicate car title in Montana, you need to fill out an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and have it notarized. Additionally, you should also submit a payment of $10 for the car title replacement fee either in person at a local Montana DMV office or by mail to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

What if the original is located after my car title replacement has been issued?
In the case that your lost car title is found after your car title replacement has been issued, you should keep both as proof of ownership. Request a replacement pink slip by filling out an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and paying a $10 fee for a duplicate car title. Submit both the application and the payment to a local Montana DMV office or mail them to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

What is the process to get a title for a scooter or motorcycle?
In Montana, scooters, mopeds, and other motor-driven cycles are registered as motorcycles, so the process for getting vehicle title is the same as the process for motorcycles. Upon visiting a local Montana DMV office, you will need to provide:

For additional information on how to get a vehicle title, please contact the Title and Registration Bureau at 406-444-3661.

When should I complete a Bill of Sale?
In Montana, the Bill of Sale document is necessary when you are buying or selling a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle cannot be bought or sold without having completed a car title transfer process.

Both the seller and the buyer complete the bill of sale, which contains a full description of the vehicle and an Odometer statement reflecting the amount of mileage of the vehicle.

For more information: Title Transfers or obtaining a New Certificate of Title in Montana

Where can I mail my request for a replacement title?
If you are a Montana resident who needs a car title replacement, you ought to submit a completed and notarized Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and a payment of $10 for the duplicate car title to the following address:

Title And Registration Bureau

1003 Buckskin Drive

Deer Lodge, MT 59722-2375

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana

Will I need to present proof of insurance to get a car title replacement?
In Montana, residents applying for a car title replacement are not required to present proof of insurance. The required documentation for obtaining a vehicle title replacement includes a notarized Application for Replacement Certificate of Title and a payment of $10 for the duplicate car title fee.

For more information: How to Replace a Lost Vehicle Title in Montana