In a typical vehicle transfer, the owner signs the seller's section of the vehicle's title and hands it to the buyer. The buyer then signs the buyer's section of the title and sends it to visitor.us for registration.
But in some situations, logistics prevent the buyer, the seller, and the vehicle's title from being in the same place at the same time.
In situations where the buyer and seller can't both sign a vehicle's title, the vehicle's title, accompanied by a bill of sale signed by both parties, can substitute for a signed title.
This article explains when a bill of sale can be used, what it must contain to be accepted, and how to submit it to visitor.us for review.
When a bill of sale can be used
The vehicle's title, accompanied by a bill of sale signed by both parties, can substitute for a signed title.
This option is useful when:
You can't physically sign the title yourself - for example, the title is being shipped directly from the seller to visitor.us and won't pass through your hands, or
The seller has shipped you the prior title without signing the seller's section.
What the bill of sale must contain
For Montana to accept your bill of sale, it must include all of the following:
The vehicle's year, make, and model
The vehicle's VIN
Buyer's name: your name, exactly as it appears on your passport
Buyer's address: 544 E Main St Suite B, Bozeman, MT 59715
Seller's name*
Seller's address as it appears on the title
Buyer's signature
Seller's signature
*If the title lists multiple sellers, and their names are not separated by the word "or", then both sellers' names must appear on the bill of sale, and both must sign the bill of sale.
A standard bill-of-sale form from your dealership, private seller, or a reputable online source usually covers these elements. If the form you're given is missing any of the items above, you can add them by hand before signing.
The document must be an actual bill of sale. Other DMV forms — even those signed by both buyer and seller and containing similar fields (for example, California's Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title form) are not acceptable as substitutes.
If you have a document and you're not sure whether it qualifies as a bill of sale, email a photo to [email protected]. We'll confirm whether Montana will accept it.
Odometer disclosure (required for vehicles model year 2011 and newer, except trailers)
If your vehicle is model year 2011 or newer and is not a trailer, U.S. federal law also requires a signed odometer disclosure. The disclosure can appear on the bill of sale itself or on a separate document.
The odometer disclosure must include:
The vehicle's current odometer reading,
An indicator of whether the reading reflects actual mileage, exceeds the mechanical limit of the odometer, or is not the actual mileage,
Specific certification language from the seller regarding the accuracy of the mileage,
The date the odometer was read, and
Both signatures - yours and the seller's.
Older vehicles (2010 and earlier) and trailers are exempt from this requirement.
Where to find bill of sale and odometer disclosure forms
If you don't already have a bill of sale, Montana publishes its own forms, both of which are acceptable for registration:
If either link is broken, search the Montana MVD Forms page website for "MV24 Bill of Sale" or "MV90A Odometer Disclosure Statement" - those are Montana's official form names.
Does the bill of sale need to be notarized?
It depends on the state that issued your vehicle's prior title.
If your vehicle's prior title was issued by a state that requires the seller's signature on the title to be notarized, the seller's signature on the bill of sale also needs to be notarized.
If the title's issuing state does not require notarization of the seller's signature on the title, then the seller's signature on the bill of sale also does not need to be notarized.
The buyer's signature on the bill of sale never needs to be notarized, regardless of the state that issued the prior title.
See our Notarization article for the current list of states that require seller-signature notarization.
How to submit your bill of sale
Take a clear photo or scan of the signed bill of sale (and odometer disclosure, if it's a separate document).
Email the image(s) to [email protected]
A visitor.us admin will review the document(s) for the required elements listed above.
If the bill of sale is acceptable, we'll upload it to your visitor.us dashboard and send you an email to confirm.
If any required elements are missing, we'll reply with what's needed and how to correct it.