Montana Vehicle Bill of Sale
Montana has no sales tax, so a private car sale is sales-tax-free, and the MVD form is Bill of Sale MV24.
Introduction
A Montana vehicle bill of sale records the private sale of a car, truck, motorcycle, or other vehicle between a buyer and a seller. Montana publishes a named official form, Bill of Sale (Form MV24, rev. 2/24), through the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of the Department of Justice. The MVD offers MV24 as a convenient record of the sale; the assigned certificate of title is what transfers ownership, and MV24 is a required transfer document only in specific paths such as an electronic record transfer or a bonded or break title. The most distinctive Montana feature is the tax posture: Montana has no general sales tax, so a private vehicle purchase triggers no sales or use tax on the stated price. Two narrow charges still apply: counties may levy a local-option vehicle tax up to 0.7% of depreciated value, and under MCA 61-3-321 a light vehicle with MSRP over $150,000 that is 10 years old or less pays an extra $825 annual registration fee. Notarization is no longer required for a standard sale, since HB 165 (2025) amended MCA 61-3-220 effective October 1, 2025 to remove the prior acknowledgment requirement. The buyer has 40 days from the sale date to transfer the title through the MVD via the county treasurer. DocDraft drafts a Montana vehicle bill of sale from your facts, with attorney review available.
Key Things to Know
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Montana has a named official form. The Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) publishes Bill of Sale (Form MV24, rev. 2/24). The MVD offers it as a convenient record of the sale; you may also use the reassigned title or another document that includes the year, make, VIN, names, address, driver license number, purchase price, and date of sale. Check the Montana MVD site for the current version of MV24.
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Notarization is no longer required for a standard sale. HB 165 (2025) amended MCA 61-3-220 effective October 1, 2025 to remove the prior notarization or acknowledgment requirement for title-transfer signatures. Per the MV24, a notary is required only in narrow scenarios, such as when the form is used with an Application for Break or Bond Title (MV10) or an electronic records transfer occurs.
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Odometer disclosure applies to newer vehicles. For a vehicle of model year 2011 or newer, the MV24 directs you to complete the separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form MV90A). This tracks the federal baseline under 49 CFR 580, which requires a written odometer disclosure at transfer for vehicles under 20 model years old.
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No general sales tax on the purchase price. Montana has no general sales tax, so a private individual-to-individual vehicle sale generates no Montana sales or use tax, and the bill-of-sale price does not drive any sales tax. Counties may levy a local-option vehicle tax up to 0.7% of depreciated value, which is separate from a sales tax on the stated price.
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Title with the Montana MVD within 40 days. The buyer has 40 days from the sale date to transfer the title; title and registration are handled through the Montana MVD (Department of Justice) by way of the county treasurer.
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A bill of sale is supplementary in a standard sale. The assigned certificate of title transfers ownership; a bill of sale alone cannot transfer a Montana title. MV24 is offered as a sale record and becomes a required document only in specific paths, such as an electronic record transfer or a missing or bonded title.
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No sales tax on the price is the distinctive Montana feature. The named MV24 form combined with no general sales tax means a private purchase carries zero sales or use tax on the price. The only added charges are an optional county local-option vehicle tax up to 0.7% of depreciated value and, under MCA 61-3-321, an extra $825 annual registration fee on a light vehicle with MSRP over $150,000 that is 10 years old or less.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Bill of Sale in Montana, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.
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Montana Requirements for Bill of Sale
Use Montana MVD Bill of Sale (Form MV24, rev. 2/24), or the reassigned title or another document containing the same sale information, which the MVD also accepts. Notarization is not required for a standard sale; HB 165 (2025) amended MCA 61-3-220 effective October 1, 2025 to remove the prior acknowledgment requirement, and per the MV24 a notary is required only in narrow scenarios such as a break or bond title (MV10) or an electronic records transfer. Check the Montana MVD site for the current MV24.
Identify the buyer and the seller by full legal name, address, and driver license number. These details support the record of sale that the Montana MVD expects for a private transfer.
Describe the vehicle by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), year, make, model, body type, and color so it can be matched to the title at transfer.
Record the odometer reading. For a vehicle of model year 2011 or newer, the MV24 directs you to complete the separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form MV90A). This tracks the federal baseline under 49 CFR 580, which requires a written disclosure at transfer for vehicles under 20 model years old.
State the purchase price and date of sale. Montana has no general sales tax, so a private individual-to-individual sale generates no Montana sales or use tax on the price, and the bill-of-sale price does not drive any sales tax. Counties may levy a local-option vehicle tax up to 0.7% of depreciated value, and under MCA 61-3-321 a light vehicle with MSRP over $150,000 that is 10 years old or less pays an extra $825 annual registration fee. Confirm current charges with the Montana MVD and your county treasurer.
The assigned certificate of title transfers ownership; a bill of sale alone cannot transfer a Montana title. MV24 is offered as a record of the sale and becomes a required document only in specific paths, such as an electronic record transfer or a missing or bonded title.
The buyer has 40 days from the sale date to transfer the title. Title and registration are handled through the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), part of the Department of Justice, by way of the county treasurer.
Keep a copy of the completed MV24 or other record of sale, the assigned title, and the Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A) where it applies, as proof of the price, date, and terms of the transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
The assigned certificate of title is what transfers a vehicle in Montana; a bill of sale alone cannot transfer the title. A record of the sale can be a photocopy of the reassigned title or a document with the year, make, VIN, names, address, driver license number, purchase price, and date of sale, and the MVD offers Bill of Sale (MV24) for this. It becomes a required document only in specific paths, such as an electronic record transfer or a bonded title.
No, not for a standard private sale. HB 165 (2025) amended MCA 61-3-220 effective October 1, 2025 to remove the prior notarization or acknowledgment requirement for title-transfer signatures. Per the MV24, a notary is required only in narrow scenarios, such as when the form is used with an Application for Break or Bond Title (MV10) or an electronic records transfer occurs. A signed bill of sale from buyer and seller is otherwise sufficient.
Yes. The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) publishes Bill of Sale (Form MV24, rev. 2/24). The MVD offers it as a convenient record of the sale, and you may also use the reassigned title or another document that contains the same sale information. Check the Montana MVD site for the current version of MV24 before you complete it.
Montana has no general sales tax, so a private individual-to-individual vehicle purchase carries no Montana sales or use tax on the stated price, and the bill-of-sale price does not drive any sales tax. Counties may levy a local-option vehicle tax up to 0.7% of depreciated value, and under MCA 61-3-321 a light vehicle with MSRP over $150,000 that is 10 years old or less pays an extra $825 annual registration fee. Confirm current charges with the Montana MVD and your county treasurer.
You title and register the vehicle through the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), part of the Department of Justice, handled by way of the county treasurer. The buyer has 40 days from the sale date to transfer the title. Bring the assigned certificate of title, the Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A) where it applies, and your bill of sale or MV24 as the record of sale.
A Montana vehicle bill of sale should identify the buyer and seller by name and address, describe the vehicle by VIN, year, and make, and state the purchase price, date of sale, and driver license number. For a vehicle of model year 2011 or newer, complete the separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A). Using Bill of Sale (MV24) captures the information the Montana MVD expects for the record of sale.