61-3-201. Certificate of title required -- exclusions. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), the owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile that is in this state and for which a certificate of title has not been issued by or an electronic record of title has not been created by the department shall apply to the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer for a certificate of title for the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile.

(2) The following motor vehicles, trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, campers, motorboats, personal watercraft, sailboats, or snowmobiles are exempt from the requirements of this part:

(a) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile owned by the United States, unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile is registered in this state;

(b) except as required in 61-4-111, a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile that is:

(i) owned by a manufacturer, a dealer, a wholesaler, or an auto auction; and

(ii) held for sale, even though incidentally moved on the highway, used for purposes of testing or demonstration, or used solely by a manufacturer for testing;

(c) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile owned by a nonresident or a nonresident who has an interest in real property in Montana who chooses not to register a motor vehicle in this state as provided in 61-3-303;

(d) a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, camper, motorboat, personal watercraft, sailboat, or snowmobile regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property and:

(i) for which a currently effective certificate of title has been issued in another state or jurisdiction; or

(ii) that is properly registered under the provisions of Title 61, chapter 3, part 7;

(e) a vehicle moved solely by human or animal power;

(f) an implement of husbandry;

(g) special mobile equipment or a motor vehicle or trailer designed and used to apply fertilizer to agricultural land;

(h) a self-propelled wheelchair or tricycle used by a person with a disability;

(i) a dolly or converter gear;

(j) a mobile home or housetrailer;

(k) a manufactured home declared to be an improvement to real property under 15-1-116; or

(l) a golf cart unless it is operated by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license.

History: (1) thru (6)En. Subd. 3, Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1758.2, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 72, L. 1937; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 148, L. 1943; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 63, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 191, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 213, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 399, L. 1977; Sec. 53-109, R.C.M. 1947; (7)En. Subd. 2, Sec. 2, Ch. 159, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1758.1, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 244, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 146, L. 1957; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 100, L. 1959; amd. Sec. 25, Ch. 121, L. 1965; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 116, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 127, L. 1969; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 138, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 214, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 74, L. 1975; Sec. 53-108, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 53-108(part), 53-109; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 203, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 324, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 358, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 104, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 363, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 604, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 724, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 16, Ch. 13, Sp. L. August 2002; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 209, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 370, L. 2013.