How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Montana in 2026

A transfer of vehicle ownership between family members in Montana is administered through the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and the county treasurer's motor vehicle office in the buyer's county of residence. Montana treats titling and registration as a single transaction, so the change in ownership is completed only after the transfer documents are accepted, and the vehicle is titled and registered in the new owner's name.

A family transfer may be recorded as a gift or as a sale, depending on how the transaction is documented. In either case, the transfer is processed through the same state title system, and Montana's published guidance gives the buyer 40 days from the transfer date to apply for title and registration through the county office.

What Does Transferring a Car Title to a Family Member in Montana Mean?

Transferring a car title to a family member in Montana means changing the legal owner of record through the state's title process. Montana describes a title as the document that establishes the legal owner of a vehicle.

Under 61-3-216, MCA, the owner applies for a certificate of title containing the information required by state law. Until the existing title is properly reassigned and the application is accepted for processing, the current titled owner remains the owner of record.

For a standard private-family transfer, the assigned certificate of title remains the core ownership document, and the official MV24 refers to electronic record transfer only in specific circumstances.

Eligible Family Members for Title Transfers in Montana

Montana does not create a separate ordinary family-transfer category with reduced paperwork or a relationship-based title procedure. A spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, in-law, or other relative may receive the vehicle, but the transaction is still processed as a standard used-vehicle transfer through the county treasurer and MVD.

The state does not describe a general title fee exemption based solely on family relationships. For light vehicle registration, the MVD explains that title fees, registration charges, and county option tax may apply. For some other vehicle classes, Montana uses fees instead of taxes. As a result, the financial treatment of a family transfer is determined by the vehicle class, registration status, lien status, and the submitted documents, rather than by the parties' relationship.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Gift to a Family Member in Montana

Step 1 — Verify the Current Title Record Confirm that the person making the transfer is the owner shown on the Montana title, confirm that the vehicle identification number on the vehicle matches the title, and check whether a security interest is listed on the record. Montana's selling guidance states that the titled owner must be the person transferring the vehicle.

Step 2 — Clear Any Lien Before Submission If the title shows a security interest, the lien should be released before or with the transfer packet. Montana provides MV37A for a paid lien that must be marked satisfied.

Step 3 — Assign the Title to the Family Recipient All owners listed on the title must sign the certificate of title. Effective October 2025, notarization is no longer required for vehicle title transfers between individuals in Montana (per HB 165). The buyer's legal name and address are entered on the title, and the title should be completed in ink without erasures or correction fluid.

Step 4 — Complete Odometer Disclosure if Required Montana requires mileage disclosure for vehicles with a model year of 2011 or newer. If a separate disclosure form is needed, the official MV90A is used. That form states that vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 pounds are exempt.

Step 5 — Prepare the State Title Application The recipient completes the MV1, which is the Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle. A bill of sale does not replace the assigned Montana title, but a completed bill of sale may be useful as a written record showing that no money was exchanged.

Step 6 — Remove the Seller’s Plates Montana's seller guidance states that the license plates belong to the seller, not to the vehicle. New plates are obtained by the recipient through the county treasurer as part of the title-and-registration transaction.

Step 7 — File the Transfer Within the State Deadline Montana's official guidance gives the buyer 40 days from the transfer date to apply for title and registration through the county treasurer's motor vehicle office in the buyer's county of residence. A late fee applies if the transfer is not completed within that period.

How To Transfer a Car Title as a Sale to a Family Member in Montana

Step 1 — Complete the Title Reassignment The seller signs the certificate of title, the buyer's name and address are entered on the title, and the buyer signs where required. Notarization is not required for vehicle title transfers between individuals in Montana.

Step 2 — Record the Purchase Price and Sale Details The amount paid should be documented in the transfer paperwork and may also be recorded on the official MV24, which captures the seller, purchaser, vehicle description, and consideration.

Step 3 — Obtain Lien-Release Paperwork If Necessary. A recorded lien should be satisfied before transfer or released with the transfer documents. Montana uses MV37A when a security interest has been paid in full.

Step 4 — Complete Odometer Disclosure When the Vehicle is Subject to the Rule A model year 2011 or newer vehicle requires mileage disclosure under Montana's current forms. The state's odometer statement is the official form when a separate disclosure is needed.

Step 5 — Remove the Seller's License Plates Montana treats the plates as the seller's property. The buyer obtains title, registration, and replacement plates through the county treasurer's office.

Step 6 — Submit the Buyer's Application The buyer files the assigned title and completed title application with the county treasurer's motor vehicle office in the county of residence.

Step 7 — Pay the Applicable State and Local Charges Montana's published materials do not describe a general family-sale exemption based on relationship alone. The charges identified by MVD are title fees, registration fees, county option tax for light vehicles, lien fees when applicable, and other vehicle-class charges collected with registration.

Step 8 — Complete the Filing Within 40 Days Montana's seller guidance states that the buyer has 40 days from the transfer date to apply for title and registration and that a $10 late fee is charged after that deadline.

What Documents Are Needed To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Montana

• Current Montana certificate of title — This ownership document must be reassigned to the new owner. All owners listed on the title must sign it. Effective October 2, 2025, notarization is no longer required for vehicle title transfers between individuals in Montana (per HB 165).
• Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle (MV1) — This form is completed by the new owner and includes owner identification, residential address, vehicle details, lien information, and signature. The official form is MV1.
• Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A), if required — Montana's odometer form applies to vehicles with a model year of 2011 or later, and it states that vehicles with a GVWR over 16,000 pounds are exempt. The official form is MV90A.

Additional Documents for Sale Transfers

• Bill of Sale (MV24) — This document records the seller, the purchaser, the vehicle description, the amount paid, and the date of sale. It may be used for a private-family sale, although the assigned title remains the primary transfer document. The official form is MV24.

Documents Required in Specific Circumstances

• Release of Security Interest or Lien (MV37A) — This form is used when a lien shown on the vehicle record has been paid and must be cleared before or with the transfer. The official form is MV37A.
• Application for Replacement Certificate of Title (MV7) — If the original title is lost, mutilated, or illegible, the titled owner may need a replacement title before the vehicle is reassigned. The official form is MV7.

Montana's public forms library does not identify a separate ordinary gift-transfer affidavit for a family transfer on the forms page. The transaction is instead supported by the title, the title application, and any lien or odometer documents required by the specific vehicle record.

How To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member Online in Montana

Montana requires that most motor vehicle forms be printed, completed manually, and delivered or mailed. For that reason, a standard family title transfer cannot be completed online. An assigned title, title signatures, lien releases, and odometer documents often require paper review by the county office. In practice, a routine private-family transfer is generally completed through the county treasurer's motor vehicle office, and online services should be treated as limited support tools rather than substitutes for the standard document review process.

What's the Cost To Transfer a Car Title to a Family Member in Montana?

The official Montana forms and fee pages separate title charges from registration charges.

For standard passenger vehicles, Montana's age-based registration rates for light vehicles are listed on the light vehicle fee page:

Montana also states that light-vehicle registration may include county option tax, special plate fees, and other charges. The county option tax is based on the manufacturer's suggested retail price and the depreciation schedule referenced by MVD. For some other vehicle classes, the state uses fees in lieu of taxes.

Contact Information

Montana Motor Vehicle Division
302 North Roberts St, Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 444-3933
Official Website: Montana Motor Vehicle Division