Montana Code 61-3-312. Renewal of registration — exceptions — grace period
61-3-312. Renewal of registration — exceptions — grace period. (1) Except as provided in 61-3-313 and 61-3-721, the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter must be renewed on or before the last day of the month of the motor vehicle‘s registration period following the expiration of the motor vehicle’s registration.
Terms Used In Montana Code 61-3-312
- Authorized agent: means a person who has executed a written agreement with the department and is specifically authorized by the department to electronically access and update the department's motor vehicle titling, registration, or driver records, using an approved automated interface, for specific functions or purposes on behalf of a third party. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Certificate of title: means the paper record issued by the department or by the appropriate agency of another jurisdiction that establishes a verifiable record of ownership between an identified person or persons and the motor vehicle specifically described in the record and that provides notice of a perfected security interest in the motor vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Department: means the department of justice acting directly or through its duly authorized officers or agents. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Grace period: The number of days you'll have to pay your bill for purchases in full without triggering a finance charge. Source: Federal Reserve
- Motor vehicle: means :
(i)a vehicle propelled by its own power and designed or used to transport persons or property on the highways of the state;
(ii)a quadricycle if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9; or
(iii)a golf cart only if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9 and is operated pursuant to 61-8-391 or by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Owner: means each person who holds the legal title to a vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, state agency, local government unit, another state government, the United States, a political subdivision of this or another state, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202
- Registration receipt: means a paper record that is produced and issued or, if authorized by the department, an electronic record that is transmitted by the department, its authorized agent, or a county treasurer to the owner of a vehicle that identifies a vehicle, based on information maintained in the electronic record of title for the vehicle, and that provides evidence of the payment of all fees required to be paid for the registration of the vehicle for the registration period indicated in the receipt. See Montana Code 61-1-101
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Montana Code 1-1-201
- Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, except devices moved by animal power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Montana Code 61-1-101
(2)A person may renew a motor vehicle’s registration by submitting full payment for the fees or taxes required under 61-3-303 and 61-3-321(13) to the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer in any county of this state.
(3)The department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer shall use the online motor vehicle liability insurance verification system provided in 61-6-157 to verify proof of compliance with 61-6-301.
(4)The registration period originally assigned under 61-3-311 must be retained and the duration of the renewed registration is determined in accordance with 61-3-311. A registration receipt is valid for the registration period for which it is issued.
(5)The owner of a motor vehicle subject to registration renewal under the provisions of this section is considered to have renewed the motor vehicle’s registration in a timely manner if the owner submits full payment for the required fees or taxes, as prescribed in the mail renewal notice from the department, to the department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer on or before the last day of the month of the motor vehicle’s registration period.
(6)The department, an authorized agent, or a county treasurer may not renew the registration of a motor vehicle for which ownership has been transferred and that was originally registered without being titled under the provisions of 61-3-303(4)(b) unless:
(a)the previously issued certificate of title has been surrendered to the department, an authorized agent, or the county treasurer and the process for issuing a certificate of title has been completed; or
(b)the person to whom ownership of the motor vehicle has been transferred presents an affidavit and bond in support of the application for a certificate of title as permitted in 61-3-208.