61-3-320. Registration -- custom vehicle, street rod, originally equipped older vehicle, kit vehicle, or specially constructed vehicle. (1) (a) A custom vehicle or street rod:

(i) that is more than 30 years old may be registered under 61-3-411 as a collector's item; or

(ii) may be registered, depending on the vehicle type, as a motor home, a bus, a truck having a manufacturer's rated capacity of more than 1 ton, a truck tractor, or a light vehicle upon payment of the registration fee required in 61-3-321, the applicable fee or fee in lieu of tax provided for in 61-3-529 or 61-3-562, and, if applicable, any local option tax or fee under 61-3-537 or 61-3-570.

(b) The owner of a custom vehicle or street rod that is originally registered under subsection (1)(a) or that was registered prior to January 1, 2006, may be authorized to operate the custom vehicle or street rod while displaying only one license plate on the rear exterior of the vehicle if the owner certifies that the custom vehicle or street rod is not used for general transportation purposes and pays an additional $10 fee, to be deposited in the state general fund.

(c) (i) Upon original registration of a custom vehicle or street rod under subsection (1)(a)(i), a custom vehicle or street rod must be assigned a set of pioneer or vintage license plates, as described in 61-3-411(2), or a set of original Montana license plates or collector reproduction license plates, as allowed under 61-3-412.

(ii) Upon original registration of a custom vehicle or street rod under subsection (1)(a)(ii) and unless the owner has applied for personalized license plates, special license plates for military personnel, veterans, or spouses, collegiate plates, or generic specialty license plates or has met the requirements of subsection (1)(b), a set of standard license plates must be assigned to the vehicle under 61-3-331.

(iii) Upon original registration of a custom vehicle or street rod under subsection (1)(a)(ii) and if the owner of a custom vehicle or street rod has met the requirements of subsection (1)(b), a single license plate, including a personalized standard license plate, special license plate for military personnel, veterans, or spouses, collegiate plate, or generic specialty license plate, if otherwise available to the vehicle owner or vehicle type, may be issued for the custom vehicle or street rod.

(d) The owner of an originally equipped motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, that is more than 30 years old and that is not registered as a collector's item under 61-3-411 may be authorized to operate the motor vehicle while displaying only one license plate on the rear exterior of the vehicle, as if it were a custom vehicle or street rod, if the owner:

(i) certifies that the originally equipped motor vehicle is not used for general transportation purposes;

(ii) pays any fees required under 61-3-321, 61-3-529, or 61-3-562 and, if applicable, a local option tax or fee under 61-3-537 or 61-3-570, plus an additional $10 fee, to be deposited in the state general fund; and

(iii) is otherwise eligible, based on the owner's status and the vehicle type, for one of the single license plate options available to an owner of a custom vehicle or street rod under this subsection (1).

(2) (a) The owner of a kit vehicle shall pay the registration fees provided for in 61-3-321 and, if applicable, any local option tax or fee under 61-3-537 or 61-3-570.

(b) Upon original registration of a kit vehicle and unless the owner has applied for special license plates, collegiate plates, or generic specialty license plates, standard license plates must be assigned and issued to the kit vehicle under 61-3-331.

(3) (a) Depending on whether the specially constructed vehicle is a motor home, bus, truck having a manufacturer's rated capacity of more than 1 ton, truck tractor, or light vehicle, the owner of a specially constructed vehicle shall pay the registration fees provided for in 61-3-321, any registration fee or fee in lieu of tax provided for in 61-3-529, and, if applicable, any local option tax or fee under 61-3-537 or 61-3-570.

(b) Upon original registration of a specially constructed vehicle and unless the owner has applied for special license plates, collegiate plates, or generic specialty license plates, standard license plates must be assigned and issued to the specially constructed vehicle under 61-3-331.

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 458, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 329, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 295, L. 2019.