Montana Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator
Montana gives the buyer a 40-day grace period — and charges for missing it. Under MCA §61-3-220, the new owner must apply for a title and register “within 40 days after the interest in the motor vehicle … was transferred,” and if not, “a late penalty of $10 must be imposed against the transferee.” A dated bill of sale fixes the day that clock starts.
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How it works
- 01 Montana is already selected
The governing-law clause names the state; change it only if the sale happens elsewhere.
- 02 Enter the item and the parties
Vehicle, boat or general item — VIN and odometer, or HIN — plus price, payment method, seller and buyer.
- 03 Review clause by clause
The as-is terms, the seller’s title warranty and, for vehicles, the federal odometer statement.
- 04 Download, then file Montana’s paperwork
Word & PDF on your device; the state steps and forms are listed below, each cited to the source.
What Montana actually requires
Montana rules for a private sale
Last verified September 30, 2026- Seller’s duties Assign the title and deliver it with the vehicle
On a voluntary transfer the owner shall either authorize, on a department form, the transfer on the electronic record of title, or “execute a transfer in the appropriate space provided on the certificate of title issued to the owner and deliver the assigned certificate of title to: (i) the transferee at the time of delivery of the motor vehicle.”
- Buyer’s deadline 40 days, then a $10 penalty
The transferee must, “within 40 days after the interest … was transferred,” apply for a certificate of title and register the vehicle. “If the person … fails to comply with the requirements described in subsection (2) within the 40-day grace period, a late penalty of $10 must be imposed against the transferee,” payable before the vehicle is registered.
- Odometer disclosure On the title, or a signed written statement
Before executing any transfer document, the seller records the odometer reading on the title or, if the title has no space for it, furnishes the purchaser a signed written statement giving the reading, the date of transfer, both parties’ names and addresses, the vehicle’s year, make, model, body style and VIN, and a certification that it is actual mileage, over the mechanical limit, or not actual. “The purchaser shall acknowledge receipt of the disclosure statement by signing it.”
- Who is exempt from disclosure 2010 and earlier; 2011+ once 20 years old
The seller need not disclose the odometer reading for, among others, “(a) a motor vehicle with a 2010 model year or earlier; (b) a motor vehicle with a 2011 model year or later that is 20 years old or older,” vehicles that are not self-propelled, and vehicles with a gross weight rating of more than 16,000 pounds.
How this document fits Montana’s paperwork
Official form: The Montana MVD website was not reachable from our host, so this page cites only the Montana Code Annotated (2025). The statute transfers ownership through the certificate of title, assigned and delivered with the vehicle, or through an authorized entry on the electronic title record. A bill of sale records the date, price, odometer and terms beside it.
The assigned title transfers the vehicle; the bill of sale records the date the 40-day clock starts, the price, the odometer reading and the terms. If the title has no odometer space, the generated bill of sale’s odometer line, signed by both of you, covers the written statement MCA §61-3-206 describes. The seller assigns the title and hands it over with the vehicle. The buyer has forty days to title and register before the $10 penalty applies. We could not reach the MVD’s own pages, so confirm its current forms too.
FAQ
Montana bill of sale questions
- Is a bill of sale required in Montana?
- The Montana Code transfers ownership through the assigned certificate of title (or an authorized electronic record entry), not a bill of sale. A bill of sale is still the record of the transfer date that starts the buyer’s 40-day period, and of the price and terms.
- How long does a Montana buyer have to title a car?
- 40 days after the interest in the vehicle was transferred, under MCA §61-3-220. After that, a late penalty of $10 is imposed and must be paid before the vehicle is registered.
- What odometer disclosure does Montana require?
- The seller records the reading on the title, or, if the title has no space, gives the buyer a signed written statement with the reading, the date, both parties’ names and addresses, the vehicle details and a certification of whether the mileage is actual. The buyer signs to acknowledge it.
- Which vehicles are exempt from odometer disclosure in Montana?
- Among others, vehicles of model year 2010 or earlier, vehicles of model year 2011 or later that are 20 years old or older, vehicles that are not self-propelled, and vehicles with a gross weight rating over 16,000 pounds, per MCA §61-3-206(4).
- Does the Montana seller have to hand over the title on the spot?
- Under MCA §61-3-220, the seller executes the transfer on the title and delivers it to the buyer at the time the vehicle is delivered — or to the department with the buyer’s completed application — unless the transfer is made on the electronic title record instead.
- Is this legal advice?
- No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Vehicle-transfer rules are set by each state and change; confirm the current rule with the agency cited and consult a licensed attorney for advice about your situation.