Registering vehicles in Montana, anyone doing it?

[n2horns]

Has or is anyone registering their vehicles in Montana?  Looking at this from cost reasons.

[yotebuster]

Seems like when I lived down there I saw a lot of SD plates that were people that had post office boxes and registered their vehicles in SD for whatever reason.  Not sure why I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️

[maximus]

one of our customers had his cars with Montana Plates but 2 years ago he bought a house there. i don't know how that works , will love to register and also buy there no sales tax.

[Jimmer Negamanee]

I have not done this but to legally do it you would likely need to be a resident of the state where you will be registering the vehicle.  Every state that I can think of requires this. Arizona law requires that a vehicle be registered with ADOT or registered in the state and county where the owner is a resident. Even if the vehicle is owned by an out of state person or entity, it must be registered with ADOT if it is primarily under the control of an AZ resident for more than 7 months.

This is not legal advice by any stretch and I could be completely wrong but it is something to research and consider before you decide what to do. It could enter into your cost/benefit analysis.

Here's an Arizona statute that seems to apply (I bolded the part that looked important to me):

Arizona Revised Statutes section 28-2153. Registration requirement; exceptions; assessment; violation; classification

A. A person shall not operate, move or leave standing on a highway a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer unless the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer has been registered with the department for the current registration year or is properly registered for the current registration year by the state or country of which the owner or lessee is a resident.

B. A resident shall not operate, move or leave standing on a highway a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer that is:

1. Owned by a nonresident and that is primarily under the control of a resident of this state for more than seven months unless the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer has been registered with the department for the current registration year.

2. Leased by the resident for more than twenty-nine days unless the motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer has been registered with the department for the current registration year.

C. This section applies to a trailer or semitrailer without motive power unless the vehicle is disabled or is being towed as an abandoned vehicle at the direction of a law enforcement agency.

D. This section does not apply to:

1. A farm tractor.

2. A trailer used solely in the operation of a farm for transporting the unprocessed fiber or forage products of a farm or any implement of husbandry designed primarily for or used in agricultural operations and only incidentally operated or moved on a highway.

3. A road roller or road machinery, including a power sweeper, that is temporarily operating or moved on the highway.

4. An owner permitted to operate a vehicle under special provisions relating to lienholders, manufacturers, dealers and nonresidents.

5. Motorized or nonmotorized equipment designed primarily for and used in mining operations and only incidentally operated or moved on a highway.

6. A motor vehicle that is being towed by a tow truck that has been registered and for which a permit has been obtained pursuant to section 28-1108.

7. A golf cart used in the operation of a golf course or only incidentally operated or moved on a highway.

8. Wheeled equipment. For the purposes of this paragraph, "wheeled equipment" means:

(a) A compressor.

(b) A forklift or a hay squeeze machine that is designed to load hay in an off-road situation.

(c) A portable cement mixer.

(d) A single axle tow dolly.

(e) A tar pot.

(f) A water trailer used for watering livestock or for agricultural or domestic purposes.

(g) A welder.

(h) Any other similar item designed and used primarily for construction or building trade purposes.

9. An all-terrain vehicle or an off-road recreational motor vehicle operating on a dirt road that is located in an unincorporated area of this state.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "dirt road" means an unpaved or ungraveled road that is not maintained by this state or a city, town or county of this state.

10. A person operating an off-highway vehicle who is participating in an off-highway vehicle special event as defined in section 28-1171.

11. An all-terrain vehicle or an off-highway vehicle as defined in section 28-1171 that is only incidentally operated or moved on a highway.

E. A person who owns or operates a trailer that is exempt from registration pursuant to subsection D, paragraph 2 of this section shall notify the county assessor of the exemption, and the assessor shall assess the trailer.  A person who violates this subsection is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.

[forepaw]

13 hours ago, n2horns said:

Has or is anyone registering their vehicles in Montana?  Looking at this from cost reasons.

This scam has been around for years.  There used to be a website, something like www.taxcheat.com to report these people.  Montana had, or maybe still has, vehicle and business laws that allow folks to start a phony business with nothing but a P.O. box and name, then buy vehicles (mostly high dollar RVs) with no sales tax, and low vehicle registration fees.  Reprehensible.

[wildwoody]

Seems like alot to save a little. Just me

[maximus]

i see a lot of high end cars with Montana plates around.

[maximus]

15 minutes ago, forepaw said:

This scam has been around for years.  There used to be a website, something like www.taxcheat.com to report these people.  Montana had, or maybe still has, vehicle and business laws that allow folks to start a phony business with nothing but a P.O. box and name, then buy vehicles (mostly high dollar RVs) with no sales tax, and low vehicle registration fees.  Reprehensible.

if there is a way people will find it, everybody tries to get advantages on everything , taxes, wellfare, health insurance, is human nature to try to cheat the system, it is unfortunate but is there.

[JSR]

3 minutes ago, maximus said:

if there is a way people will find it, everybody tries to get advantages on everything , taxes, wellfare, health insurance, is human nature to try to cheat the system, it is unfortunate but is there.

 

Well, to be fair, the system SUCKS

We pay something like 36 cents per gallon in taxes on top yearly registration fees and emission testing and the roads are still terrible. 

[Non-Typical Solutions]

People register vehicles in Navajo county all the time because they don't want to have to deal with emission testing in the valley...........maybe that was a long time ago?

[yotebuster]

3 hours ago, forepaw said:

This scam has been around for years.  There used to be a website, something like www.taxcheat.com to report these people.  Montana had, or maybe still has, vehicle and business laws that allow folks to start a phony business with nothing but a P.O. box and name, then buy vehicles (mostly high dollar RVs) with no sales tax, and low vehicle registration fees.  Reprehensible.

What’s reprehensible is taking 40-45 cents of every dollar I earn with little to show for it in return.  

[maximus]

if you are in that bracket in between earnings, i thinks around 200 grand a year or lower you are screwed with taxes, Warren Buffet said that he pays less taxes than his secretary, billionares or that 1% always find a way.

[forepaw]

8 hours ago, yotebuster said:

What’s reprehensible is taking 40-45 cents of every dollar I earn with little to show for it in return.  

I couldn't agree more.  The problem is, in many states, we have too many people who are not paying their share.  This shifts the burden to other residents, but also to other US taxpayers in the form of federal funding that could otherwise have been generated locally.

Nevada has a much fairer system IMO.  There is no personal income tax, but fuel taxes are very high.  Everybody bitches about it, but it causes the pain to be spread to everyone who drives (except for EVs).  And NV has nicer roads and infrastructure, so at least you feel like you are seeing some results for the higher fuel costs.

 

[wildwoody]

19 hours ago, Non-Typical Solutions said:

People register vehicles in Navajo county all the time because they don't want to have to deal with emission testing in the valley...........maybe that was a long time ago?

Gila County has no emissions. Still around

[n2horns]

I started this mess, so EV cars are part of the problem with being taxed at the pump, they are not. They weigh more than my truck, and mess up roads faster and with taxes going up and up, why not look for solutions to help yourself out.

People avoid emissions by going to different counties, hunting guides the unscrupulous kind seem to do all kinds of harm and nothing really happens to them. But this is all interesting view points to consider and decide what is best for you.

Vote for Steve Garvey only R running in kalifuknia for Senate, vote early, often and harvest