Help and Support

Montana requires that every business in the state have a physical presence - a registered agent - residing in Montana. Without a registered agent, you cannot legally maintain your LLC or renew your Montana license plates.

• Our fee for this service is $115 annually. The service is included in an email bill sent January 1st of every year and has an April 15th deadline.
• Since you don't reside in Montana we act as that physical presence for you and serve as a local contact point for your company. We forward official, government documents to you at no additional charge.
• Your Montana company address is our address: 55 W. 14th St. Suite 101, Helena MT 59601.
• Learn more about Registered Agents.
• To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.
• We can do this for you automatically every year (AutoPay). Click here for details

The Annual Report confirms the details of your LLC, like addresses and member's names and if filed with the Montana Secretary of State.

Once a year an Annual Report must be filed. The deadline is April 15th. The filing can be done online and can be paid with a credit card. The fee is $20.

• To do it yourself
• Click on the Business Annual Report link: https://app.mt.gov/bear/ (or copy and paste the URL into your web browser).
• Scroll down and click on File an Annual Report.
• Your folder ID can be found on your Articles of Organization. It's typically a letter followed by several numbers, e.g. C078343
• Want us to do it for you?
• Just pay your Annual $225 fee (emailed to you Jan.1st)
• For that fee we file the report and prepare and file a copy of the required Disregarded Entity informational form (DER-1) for you.
• The $225 also includes our Registered Agent services for the current year
• We can do this for you automatically every year (AutoPay). Click here for details. .
• To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.

Each year all Montana business entities must file a return with the Montana Dept. of Revenue.

• If your LLC has no business activity, a "Disregarded Entity" informational form (DER-1) may be filed in lieu of a income tax return.
• Just pay your Annual $225 fee (emailed to you Jan. 1st). For that fee we prepare and file the required DER-1 for you.
• The $225 also includes our Registered Agent services for the current year and your Annual Report filing with state fees paid.
• We can do this for you automatically every year (AutoPay). Click here for details.
• Tax questions? Montana Dept. of Revenue: 406-444-6900
• To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.

1. The vehicle's title or MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin) for new, untitled vehicles.
2. The MV-1 (Montana Application for Certificate of Title. We fill this out for you.)
3. Any accompanying support documents (bills of sale, lien releases, financing information, etc.) We will return to you any documents we don't submit to the MVD.
4. Check with us for additional documents needed for a foreign vehicle registration.

• After you submit your vehicle information online, we'll prepare the Montana MV-1 for you. For important shipping and mailing tips click here.
• We'll put you in the queue for registration
• For a brief overview of the entire process, see the Vehicle Licensing Guide.
• For important shipping and mailing tips click here.

Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller

Each year the registration fee for a vehicle will change. Since there are no published sources of vehicle fees, inquiries must be made by phone.

• To find out vehicle registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369
• Trailer registration is permanent.
• Motorcycle registration is permanent
• We will remind you by email when your renewal is due. Respond to our email and we'll renew it for you.

All processing begins as soon as we receive data from you. The quicker you get us the data, the faster you'll have your plates. Here are the tasks required and the approximate time each task takes us:

• Form your LLC: 24-hours
• Prepare vehicle documents: 24-hours
• Get your plates and Priority Mail them to you: 8-12 weeks
• For important shipping and mailing tips click here.

After your initial vehicle has been licensed, any subsequent vehicles can be licensed for $250 plus the State of Montana registration fee. There are no additional LLC fees

• Each year the registration fee for a vehicle will change. Since there are no published sources of vehicle fees, inquiries must be made by phone.
• To find out vehicle registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369
• Trailer registration is permanent.
• Motorcycle registration is permanent.

Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller

Ready to license another vehicle now? click here.

Click here to license a vehicle now

Click here to license a boat now

Click here to license a aircraft now

Vanity plates with numbers or text of your choice, special interest plates that benefit local, Montana organizations and membership plates such as veterans are available. Costs vary.

• Detailed information on special plates can be found here.
• How to order: when entering vehicle information, note your plate selections and/or vanity text in the "Special Instructions" area.

Once a year you must renew your Montana plates. We will send us a reminder about 30-days before your plates expire with an option to have us do it for you.

• If you do not get a reminder, you'll need your license plate number or a prior registration slip.
• Determine renewal registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369.
• If you want us to renew your plates for you: Email or call us at 888-442-8069
• Our fee is $45 plus the registration fee, includes shipping.
• You may renew online here.

If the person to whom you sell your vehicle wants to maintain Montana plates, they will need to "start over" by forming their own LLC and re-licensing the vehicle.

Tip: if they use us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $200 referral credit. Refer them to this website www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.

If you have an Operating Agreement that lists the vehicle as an asset of the LLC you'll need to amend it and any other article in the Operating Agreement that may be affected by the sale.

• For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here

If your vehicle is going to be financed, check with your lender to confirm they will loan to an LLC. Remember, your LLC - not you personally - will own the vehicle.

If your lender has a problem with loaning to your LLC, click here to see other lenders that are LLC friendly.

Some lenders may require an Operating Agreement or other supporting documents be part of your LLC structure. We can assist you with these requirements.

Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller

Your lender may require your LLC have a federal EIN (Employer Identification Number) rather than - or in addition to - your social security number.

• You can apply for one yourself here or have us do it for you here for a $50 fee.

When you do insure your vehicle, speak with your insurance agent and make sure he or she understands it will be licensed in Montana through your LLC but may be domiciled elsewhere.

• If your insurer has a problem with that situation, click here to see other insurance companies that are "LLC friendly".

• Official government documents and packages
• Service of process / legal papers
• Documents and packages that appear to be important and legitimate*

*Examples of mail we assume to be important include recall notices, insurance papers, vehicle parts, and bank statements.

• Official government documents and service of process are forwarded automatically at no charge.
• Documents that appear to be important and legitimate are forwarded for a $5.00 charge per mailing plus postage.
• With a PMB (Privacy Mailbox) All 1st Class mail is forwarded at no charge
• Junk mail is always discarded.

• If you only want official government documents and service of process forwarded, let us know and we'll flag your account as requested. If you elect this option, all but official government mail and service of process will be returned to sender.
• A PMB will give you a Montana address for your member(s). Click here for more details.
• 1st Class mail is forwarded at no charge.

Tip: if your buyer uses us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $200 referral credit. Refer them to www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.

If you have an Operating Agreement that lists the vehicle as an asset of the LLC you'll need to amend it and any other article in the Operating Agreement that may be affected by the sale.

For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here

If the person to whom you sell your vehicle wants to maintain Montana plates, they will need to "start over" by forming their own LLC and re-licensing the vehicle.

For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here.

Tip: if they use us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $200 referral check. Refer them to www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.

We can wind-up & close-out your LLC for you. This is the safest manner. It limits any potential issues by immediately terminating your legal obligations as an LLC member. Without a formal closing, a State-mandated involuntary dissolution won't occur for up to 8 months. We also keep your LLC data secure and available for you at no charge. To submit a LLC close request, click here.