Does the vehicle that you purchased have a Montana title? If so, read on, this article will help you ensure that it is signed over, or "assigned," to you properly.
Title assignment can be complex. To fully understand the process, we strongly recommend consulting our Prior Title Assignment Guide alongside this one.
This is a guide for clients that have hired visitor.us to register a Montana-titled vehicle for them in Montana.
If you are not a visitor.us client, please consult the Montana DMV website.
Before you write on any title
Write-overs, cross-outs, and white-outs may create the need for additional paperwork, delays and fees. Write on titles only after practicing on a separate piece of paper.
While it's important to be careful when writing on a title, mistakes sometimes happen.
If you make a mistake on a title, these are the steps that can be taken to correct an error.
The Montana vehicle title
Below is an example of a Montana vehicle title document (with some fields blurred out):
Front
Rear
The front of the title
Lien release
A lien is a loan against a vehicle, and the lender is called the lienholder. If there is a loan against the vehicle, its lienholder will be listed here:
Lienholder section
This title's lienholder section is empty - the vehicle does not have any loans against it.
If a lienholder is listed, the lienholder's authorized agent must sign Form MV37A Release of Security Interest or Lien, and Form MV37A must be submitted with the title, in order for the vehicle's ownership to be transferred:
Form MV37A
Buyer's information
The title instructs the seller to write the buyer's information in ink, here.
Your information should be written in the blue area as follows:
Print name of buyer: Your name (note: "print" means handwrite, not sign - a printer or typewriter is not required)
Date of Transfer: Date of sale
Street: 544 E Main St. Suite B
City: Bozeman
State: MT
Zip: 59715
Odometer disclosure
If the vehicle is 2011 and newer (and is not a trailer), the seller must write the current odometer reading in the area marked in orange.
If the vehicle is 2010 and older, these fields can be left blank.
Seller's signature
In order to release ownership interest in a vehicle titled in Montana, the seller's signature must be notarized UNLESS:
The seller is a licensed auto dealer, or
The registered owner is a Montana LLC or other Montana company.
If the seller is a licensed auto dealer or the registered owner is a Montana LLC, the seller's signature does not need to be notarized.
When the seller is in front of a notary public AND NOT BEFORE THAT, the seller must sign and handwrite the seller's name (as it appears in the Registered Owner section of the title) in the red area.
The notary must complete the section in yellow.
IMPORTANT: Signing the title NOT in front of a notary public may cause it to become void, requiring a replacement title to be issued.
IMPORTANT: the name of the vehicle's SELLER should be written in the field within the notary block labeled "by (Clearly print name of person requesting notary service".
Buyer's signature
Finally, the buyer should sign and handwrite his or her name in the Buyer's section:
The rear of the title
Dealer reassignments
If you buy your vehicle from a dealership, the dealer will use this section to assign the vehicle to you. Only licensed auto dealers can use this section. Sign, date, and write your name where the dealer instructs.
Next Steps
When your Texas title assignment is complete, send the authentic, assigned title document to visitor.us for registration by following these steps.