Sell a Car for Cash in Montana
As of October 2025, Montana no longer requires a notary to witness a title signature for a private vehicle sale. If you sold a car here a few years ago, or read an older guide online, you may still expect to hunt down a notary before you can hand over a title. That step is gone now. It is one of several details about selling a car in Montana that are worth getting right, especially since some information floating around online has not caught up with the change.
Sell Your Vehicle for Cash, Anywhere in Montana. No Matter the Condition This page explains what changed, how Montana’s county treasurer system works, and what to expect when you sell to us.
What Montana Weather and Distance Do to a Vehicle
- Harsh, long winters stress batteries, seals and fluids, especially in the eastern plains and mountain valleys.
- Winter road treatments speed up rust on frames, floors and brake lines.
- Extreme temperature swings between summer heat and winter cold are hard on rubber and plastic components.
- Long distances between towns push mileage up quickly for anyone commuting across the state.
- Gravel and unpaved roads, common in rural Montana, wear suspensions and crack windshields.
- Hail and severe storms can total a vehicle in minutes.
None of this rules a vehicle out. Got a car, truck, SUV, or van to sell in Montana? We’ll pay you cash for it. Running or not, you get a fair quote based on its current condition.
No More Notary Required
This is the headline change. Montana titles used to require notarized signatures from all registered owners before a transfer could be completed. As of October 2025, that requirement has been eliminated. You still need to sign the title correctly, in blue or black ink only, with no white-out or scratched-out entries, but you no longer need to track down a notary to witness it.
If you have sold a vehicle in Montana before and remember the notary step, you can skip it now. If you are working from an older guide or a form that still mentions notarization, that information is outdated.
Cities We Serve in Montahana
- Anaconda
- Baker
- Belgrade
- Big Timber
- Billings
- Boulder
- Bozeman
- Bridger
- Broadus
- Broadview
- Butte
- Chester
- Chinook
- Choteau
- Circle
- Colstrip
- Columbia Falls
- Columbus
- Conrad
- Culbertson
- Cut Bank
- Deer Lodge
- Dillon
- East Helena
- Ekalaka
- Ennis
- Eureka
- Fairfield
- Forsyth
- Fort Benton
- Fort Peck
- Fort Shaw
- Frenchtown
- Fromberg
- Geraldine
- Glasgow
- Glendive
- Great Falls
- Hamilton
- Hardin
- Harlowton
- Havre
- Helena
- Hingham
- Hot Springs
- Huntley
- Joliet
- Jordan
- Kalispell
- Laurel
- Lewistown
- Libby
- Livingston
- Malta
- Manhattan
- Miles City
- Missoula
- Moore
- Philipsburg
- Plains
- Plentywood
- Polson
- Red Lodge
- Ronan
- Roundup
- Scobey
- Shelby
- Sidney
- Stevensville
- Thompson Falls
- Three Forks
- Townsend
- Troy
- Virginia City
- Warm Springs
- West Yellowstone
- White Sulphur Springs
- Whitefish
- Whitehall
- Wibaux
- Winnett
- Wolf Point
No Sales Tax, But a Small Local-Option Fee May Apply
Montana has no general sales tax, so a private, individual-to-individual vehicle sale does not generate state sales or use tax on the price you agree to. This is a genuine benefit compared to most states, though it matters more for a higher-value vehicle sale than for a typical junk or damaged car.
Counties can levy a separate local-option vehicle tax based on the vehicle’s depreciated value, which is different from a sales tax on your agreed price. This is handled at the county treasurer’s office as part of registration, not something you calculate yourself as the seller.
Everything Runs Through the County Treasurer
Montana does not have a single central DMV counter for most vehicle transactions. Title applications, registrations and plate services are handled through your county treasurer’s office. A few practical points that follow from this:
- Lost title? Apply for a replacement (Certificate of Title Replacement Application) through the county treasurer’s office or the Vehicle Services Bureau.
- Plates. Montana plates belong to you, not the vehicle. Always remove them before the buyer takes possession. If you do not remove them, you could remain liable for parking or traffic issues connected to the vehicle.
- Lien release. If a lender was ever listed, get a Release of Security Interest or Lien document from them to give the buyer along with the title.
- Buyer’s deadline. The buyer has 40 days from the sale date to title and register the vehicle in their name at their county treasurer’s office.
Rules and fees change, so confirm current details with the Montana MVD or your county treasurer before you begin.
A Practical Tip Montana's Own MVD Suggests
Because a sold vehicle will not have plates once you remove yours, and the buyer needs plates to legally drive it, Montana’s MVD suggests going to the county treasurer’s office together with your buyer when possible. This lets the title and registration happen on the spot, rather than leaving the buyer to sort things out on their own over the following weeks. When we buy your vehicle, we handle the ownership transfer and paperwork on our end, so you do not need to coordinate this step with us.
Selling a Vehicle Without a Title
Montana does not allow a vehicle to be sold without the seller having a title in hand. Don’t have your title? No problem, but we’ll need a duplicate before we can complete the purchase. A bill of sale on its own doesn’t legally transfer ownership, so the replacement title has to come first. Tell us your situation, and we will explain what documentation is typically needed to get a replacement started.
Salvage-Titled Vehicles
Montana issues salvage titles for vehicles that are badly damaged or otherwise written off. If you are selling a salvage-titled vehicle, the buyer needs to be notified of that status before the sale. A vehicle can later be retitled as “rebuilt salvage” once it passes reinspection. If your car already carries this brand, tell us, and we will explain what applies.
What If the Vehicle Does Not Run?
A vehicle does not need to start for us to make an offer. A dead battery, a seized engine, or a car that has been parked through a Montana winter or two? We see these all the time, and none of them rules your vehicle out. If it’s sitting there, we’ll still make you an offer. We bring the equipment needed to load a non-running vehicle, so there is no need to arrange your own tow.
How We Work Out Your Offer
We consider:
- Year, make and model
- Mileage and mechanical condition
- Storm, hail or collision damage
- Missing parts
- The value of usable parts and scrap metal
- How easy the vehicle is to reach and load
- The state of your title and lien paperwork
Send us the details and we will give you a number based on your actual vehicle.
Three Steps to Cash
- Tell us about the vehicle. Use the form or call us.
- Get your instant cash offer. Accept it or decline, no pressure either way.
- Choose a time. Our driver checks the vehicle against your description, sorts out the title paperwork with you (no notary needed now) and pays you when it is loaded. The tow is free. Remove your plates before we arrive.
Seden
Cabrio
Hatchback
Pickup
Bus
Rv
Suv
Van
Truck
Wagon
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need a notary to sign my title?
No. As of October 2025, Montana no longer requires notarization for a private title transfer.
Do I pay sales tax when I sell my car?
No. Montana has no general sales tax on the sale price. A separate, county-level vehicle tax may apply to the buyer at registration, based on depreciated value.
What happens to my plates?
They belong to you, not the vehicle. Remove them before the buyer takes possession.
What if my title is lost?
Apply for a replacement through your county treasurer’s office or the MVD’s Vehicle Services Bureau before selling.
Can I sell a car with a salvage title?
Yes, but you must disclose the salvage status to the buyer as part of the sale.
Can you buy a car that has been sitting all winter and won't start?
Yes. A dead battery or seized engine after a cold winter is common, and it does not stop us from making an offer.
Can I sell a truck or SUV instead of a car?
Yes. We buy kinds of vehicles. These include pickup trucks, SUVs and vans.
What paperwork is needed to sell my car?
Most transactions need a photo ID. You also need to prove that you own the item. If we need documents we will tell you what is required before you pick it up.