MVD Title Paperwork Instructions

1. Fill out the Out-of-State Title
   • Please refer to that state’s requirements for any notarization requirements
2. Fill out the appropriate application form - View forms at https://mvdmt.gov/forms-manuals-vehicle-title-registration/

            For Motor Vehicles including motorcycles, quadracycles, and trailers

MV1 – Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle

• Section A (Applicant Information)
• Section B (Vehicle Information)
• Section C (Security Interest/Lien information)
• Section D (For dealer use only)
• Section E (Applicant’s Acknowledgement)

For detailed information on how to complete a MV1 form, please refer to the State of Montana’s Title Manual at https://mvdmt.gov/forms-manuals-vehicle-title-registration/  You will search “MT Title Manual 2026” in the search bar and look under the “Form MV1, Application for a Montana Title – How to Complete” section of the manual.

For Vessels (watercraft)

 MV1A – Application for Certificate of Title for a Vessel

• Section A (Applicant Information)
• Section B (Watercraft Information)
• Section C (Security Interest/Lien information)
• Section D (For dealer use only)
• Section E (Applicant’s Acknowledgement)

For detailed information on how to complete a MV1A form, please refer to the State of Montana’s Title Manual at https://mvdmt.gov/forms-manuals-vehicle-title-registration/  You will search “MT Title Manual 2026” in the search bar and look under the “Form MV1A, Application for Vessel Title – How to Complete” section of the manual.

3. Payment – Please provide our office with a personal check, money order, or cashier’s check made out to FLATHEAD COUNTY TREASURER or FCT. You can use a debit card or credit card. Please note that there is a 3% convenience fee associated with any card transaction.

• To calculate fees, go to https://cars.dojmt.gov/app/_/  – once on the State of Montana site, scroll down to “Payment and Fees” and click on “Vehicle Fee Estimator”
  • Note: There is an additional $1.00 postage fee for us to mail registration items and a $6.10 postage fee for mailing registration items and plates.

3. Plate Choice - If applicable, on a separate piece of paper, include your plate choice.

• For a list of available plates, go to https://mvdmt.gov/license-plate-lookup/
• To use an existing plate, the plates must be already registered in name that is going onto the new vehicle as owner and be less than 5 years old. 
• Please Note: fees for a "Personalized Plate" vary.

5. Mail in, drop off, or pull a number in office to process your title work
   • Mail in:
     Department of Motor Vehicles
     290 A North Main
     Kalispell, MT 59901
     ***Make sure to include your completed application, vehicle title, plate style, and payment.

• • Drop off at address above
    Drop box is next to the information window
    Envelopes are available at the drop box
    ***Make sure to include your completed application, vehicle title, plate style, and payment.
     
• • Pull a Number at address above
    Numbers are in the dispenser next to the information window
    This is an example of a Feature Block.

• • Montana Dealer Purchase – it is state law that Montana dealers send all title work to the county treasurer. You can go to https://flatheadcounty.gov/ , click on “Vehicle Licensing”, scroll down and click on “Online Title Paperwork Status Search”, enter your information, and click search.
    • If there is a date, then your title work is in our office, and you can come into the office to process your title work.
    • We will notify you by mail or email that your title work is here and anything else we might need from you.
    • If we have an email address and all title work is complete, we will send you a payment link to pick out your plate, pay and complete your title work online.

• • Out-of-State Dealer Purchase - You will want to contact your dealer to find out how the title work is getting to the county treasurer. If they are mailing it to us, you can follow the steps above to see if your title work is here.

1. Front of Title:
   • SELLER must complete the section marked as “SELLER COMPLETES IN INK”
     • Be sure to read where the seller’s name goes and where the buyer’s name goes.
     • If the vehicle has an odometer and is a 2011 or newer, the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MILEGE DISCLOSURE” must be filled out.

• SELLER must sign where it says “ALL OWNERS MUST SIGN”
  • Seller(s) will sign and then print their names in the respective sections.
  • Seller’s signature NO LONGER REQUIRE A NOTARY, even if there is a notary block, the sellers DO NOT have to get their signatures notarized
  • If the vehicle has an odometer and is a 2011 or newer, the “ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MILEGE DISCLOSURE” must be filled out.
• BUYER must sign and print their name in the section marked “BUYER” which is acknowledging the mileage.

2. Back of Title – Section D: Title Application
   • Section D is the only section that needs to be completed
   • If there is NOT a lien holder, then write “NONE” where indicated.
   • If there is a lien, fill in the appropriate information for “First Secured Party” and if it applies, the “Second Secured Party” section.
   • Print primary purchasers name on the lined labeled “Printed or typed name of purchaser/owner/business (1)”.
   • If applicable, print name of second purchaser on the line labeled “Printed or typed name of purchaser/owner/business (2)”.
   • Fill out the mailing and residential address of purchaser on the line labeled “Mailing address – purchaser 1” and “Residence address – purchaser 1”.
   • If applicable, fill out the mailing address and residential address of purchaser 2 on the line labeled “Maling address – purchaser 2” and “Residence address – purchaser 2”.
   • On the bottom line labeled “Legal Signature of Purchaser/Owner”, only one owner needs to sign in ink.
   • Next to the signature, “DL/FEIN/Tribal ID/Corp ID purchaser 1” and, if applicable, “DL/FEIN/Tribal ID/Corp ID purchaser 2”, will need to be completed.
     • DL = Driver’s license number
     • FEIN = Tax ID number for businesses
   • After signing and putting identification number, you will put the date above the “Date” designation.

3. Payment – Please provide our office with a personal check, money order, or cashier’s check made out to FLATHEAD COUNTY TREASURER or FCT. You can use a debit card or credit card. Please note that there is a 3% convenience fee associated with any card transaction.

• To calculate fees, go to https://cars.dojmt.gov/app/_/ – once on the State of Montana site, scroll down to “Payment and Fees” and click on “Vehicle Fee Estimator”.
  • Note: There is an additional $1.00 postage fee for us to mail registration items and a $6.10 postage fee for mailing registration items and plates.

4. Plate Choice - If applicable, on a separate piece of paper, include your plate choice.
   • For a list of available plates, go to https://mvdmt.gov/license-plate-lookup/
   • To use an existing plate, the plates must be already registered in name that is going onto the new vehicle as owner and be less than 5 years old. 
   • Please Note: Fees for a "Personalized Plate" vary.

5. Mail in, drop off, or pull a number in office to process your title work
   • Mail in:
     Department of Motor Vehicles​​​​​​​
     290 A North Main
     Kalispell, MT 59901
     ***Make sure to include your completed application, vehicle title, plate style, and payment.

• • Drop off at address above
    Drop box is next to the information window
    Envelopes are available at the drop box
    ***Make sure to include your completed application, vehicle title, plate style, and payment.
     
• • Pull a Number at address above
    ​​​​​​​Numbers are in the dispenser next to the information window

To calculate fees, go to https://cars.dojmt.gov/app/_/ – once on the State of Montana site, scroll down to “Payment and Fees” and click on “Vehicle Fee Estimator”

• Note: There is an additional $1.00 postage fee for us to mail registration items and a $6.10 postage fee for mailing registration items and plates.

• Standard Plate Options – No annual Fee

• Organizational/Sponsor Plates – Annual Fee
  •  For a list of available plates, go to https://mvdmt.gov/license-plate-lookup/