61-3-701. Out-of-state vehicles used in gainful occupation to be registered -- reciprocity -- decal fee. (1) A person may not operate a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer that is registered in another jurisdiction on the highways of this state if the vehicle is used for hire, compensation, or profit or if the person is engaged in gainful occupation or business enterprise in the state, including highway work, unless the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is registered at the office of a county treasurer or an authorized agent of the department. Upon satisfactory evidence of ownership submitted to the county treasurer or the department's authorized agent and the payment of fees in lieu of taxes or registration fees, if appropriate, as required by 61-3-321, 61-3-529, or 61-3-537, the treasurer or authorized agent shall enter the vehicle for registration purposes only on the electronic registry maintained by the department under 61-3-101. One-fourth of the annual fees or taxes due on the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer subject to registration under this section must be paid for each calendar quarter or portion of a calendar quarter for the year that the vehicle will be located or operated in Montana.

(2) Upon payment of the fees or taxes, the treasurer or the department's authorized agent shall issue to the owner of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer a registration receipt and a registration decal indicating the calendar quarter and year for which the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is registered. The registration decal must at all times be displayed on the rear of the motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer when operated or driven upon roads and highways of this state during the registration period indicated on the receipt and may not be obstructed from plain view.

(3) The registration receipt does not constitute evidence of ownership but may be used only for registration purposes. A Montana certificate of title may not be issued for a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer registered under this section.

(4) This section is not applicable to:

(a) a motor vehicle covered by a valid and existing reciprocal agreement or declaration entered into under Montana law; or

(b) a motor vehicle that is:

(i) registered in another jurisdiction by an insurance company licensed to conduct business in this state;

(ii) being used by an employee of the insurance company to assist residents of this state with insurance claims; and

(iii) operated on the highways of this state for no more than 90 consecutive days.

(5) In addition to the fees and taxes required for registration, a fee of $10 must be collected when a decal required under subsection (2) is issued. For each $10 fee collected, $8 must be deposited in the account established under 61-6-158 and $2 must be deposited in the general fund.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 121, L. 1929; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 126, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 1760.7, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 93, L. 1939; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 296, L. 1947; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 195, L. 1953; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 143, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 206, L. 1963; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 290, L. 1967; R.C.M. 1947, 53-129; amd. Sec. 46, Ch. 421, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 35, Ch. 614, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 140, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 503, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 26, Ch. 516, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 611, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 37, Ch. 496, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 515, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 72, Ch. 477, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 125, Ch. 542, L. 2005; amd. Secs. 99, 157, Ch. 596, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 153, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 323, L. 2017.