Montana
In Montana, residents can personalize license plates for various vehicle types, including passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Personalized plates allow for a combination of letters and numbers, subject to specific character limits and guidelines.
How to Get a Personalized Montana Plate
- Check Plate Availability: Currently, Montana does not offer an online tool to check the availability of personalized plate combinations. Applicants are encouraged to prepare multiple plate combination options when applying.
- Submit an Application:
- By Mail or In Person: Complete the Application for Personalized License Plates (Form MV8) and submit it, along with the appropriate fees, to your local county treasurer's office.
- Await Approval: The Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) will review your application to ensure the requested plate combination adheres to state guidelines. Once approved, the personalized plate will be manufactured.
- Receive Your Plate: You will be notified when your personalized plate is ready for pickup at your county treasurer's office. Processing times may vary.
Important Notes for Montana Residents
- Character Limits:
- Standard Plates: Up to 7 characters for passenger vehicles.
- Motorcycle Plates: Up to 6 characters.
- Prohibited Content: Plates must not contain offensive or inappropriate language. The MVD reserves the right to deny any combination deemed offensive to good taste and decency.
- No Punctuation: Punctuation marks or special characters are not permitted. Spaces are allowed and count as characters.
- Plate Ownership: Personalized plates are generally tied to the vehicle owner, not the vehicle itself. If you sell your vehicle, you may transfer the personalized plates to another vehicle registered in your name.
- Renewal: Personalized plates must be renewed annually, along with your vehicle registration.
Fees:
| State | Initial Fee | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Montana | $25.75 | $10.30 |
These fees are in addition to standard vehicle registration fees.
Montana MVD - License Plate Information