Registration renewal

Introduction

Sometimes, you just want to let the good times roll.

If you want to keep your vehicle for more than a year, in most cases you’ll need to renew its registration.

This guide walks you through the process of renewing your vehicle’s registration.

Table of Contents

What vehicles require registration renewals?
When is a vehicle’s registration renewal due?
Step 0: Order vehicle registration renewal
Step 1: Registration renewal
Step 2: Registration renewal by mail
Step 3: Replacing your old registration document and decal

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What vehicles require registration renewals?

Montana registrations for all vehicle types, except motorcycles and trailers, are valid for one year, by default.

Registrations for motorcycles and trailers are Permanent by default, meaning that they never have to be renewed.

Vehicles that are 11 years old and older are eligible for Permanent registration.  Since Permanent registration causes Montana to forego future registration revenue, the up front cost of Permanent registration is slightly higher.

If you order a Permanent registration with visitor.us, your vehicle’s registration does not need to be renewed annually.

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When is a vehicle’s registration renewal due?

Montana annual vehicle registrations are valid through the last day of the month, twelve months after the vehicle was last registered.

For example, if a vehicle was registered on July 10, 2024, its registration will be valid through July 31, 2025.

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Step 0: Order vehicle registration renewal

Within the Vehicles tab of autos.visitor.us, you can order your vehicle’s registration renewal by clicking the Renew button.

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Step 1: Registration renewal

After placing your registration renewal order, the State of Montana will send a new registration document and decal to our office by post.

Registration renewals arrive at our office about 7-10 business days after your order.

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Step 2: Registration renewal by mail

When your registration renewal and decal arrive at our office, we’ll contact you to coordinate a delivery at a location that’s convenient to your travels.

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Step 3: Replacing your old registration document and decal

When you receive your registration renewal document and decal, both items should replace the old item.

Keep your vehicle’s new registration document in your vehicle’s glove box. You can throw your old registration document away.

Place the new decal on your vehicle’s rear license plate, over the old decal, so that only the new decal is visible (it’s ok if a little bit of the old decal is showing).

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