Montana title guide

Selling a junk car without a title in Montana

The short answer

In Montana, you'll usually need the title to sell or scrap a car. If it's lost, apply for a duplicate from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division before you book a pickup.

First published November 4, 2026. Rules checked against official Montana sources on November 6, 2026 and reviewed by Paola Reniery, Operations Manager (see the sources).

What does Montana ask of sellers?

In Montana, a replacement title costs $5. Each card links to the official page it came from.

Replacing a lost title: Replacement of Certificate of Title Application. Fee: $5.; Official source
After the sale: Remove the plates: if you don't, you may be liable for parking or traffic tickets the buyer gets. The MVD's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.; Official source

Montana's official guide to selling a vehicle

What do you do if you have the title?

Sign and print your name where the seller signs, fill in the odometer reading if there's a space for it, and leave the buyer section blank. If your title has a notary section, the signatures have to be notarized. If it doesn't, you sign in front of the driver at pickup. Don't sign the title until the driver is there and you've agreed the price.

What if the title is lost or damaged?

Montana replacement titles come from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division, using the Replacement of Certificate of Title Application, for a fee of $5. You'll need the VIN, which is on the dashboard by the windshield, on the driver's door jamb and on your registration. If you're in a hurry, tell our buyer partner when it contacts you: it can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for your car in Montana.

Where to find a car's VIN: (1) on the dashboard on the driver's side, read through the windshield, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration or insurance card — The 17-character VIN appears in the same places on almost every car made since 1981: (1) on the dashboard, read through the windshield on the driver's side, (2) on the label on the driver's door jamb, and (3) on the title, registration and insurance card.

For the full walkthrough, including the states that exempt older cars and what to avoid, read how to sell a junk car without a title.

What if there's a loan, or the owner has died?

If a lender is still listed on the title, you'll need its lien release, or the loan gets paid off as part of the sale. If the owner has died, only someone with legal authority, usually the executor, can sell the car, and the Montana Motor Vehicle Division can tell you which estate papers Montana accepts.

What do you do after the sale?

Remove the plates: if you don't, you may be liable for parking or traffic tickets the buyer gets. The MVD's seller steps don't include a separate notice of sale.
Keep a photo of the signed title, and cancel the insurance once the car has been picked up.

Title rules change, so confirm them with the Montana Motor Vehicle Division before you sell; this page is general information, not legal advice.

Can you junk a car without a title in Montana?

Usually not. In Montana you'll normally need the title or a duplicate from the Montana Motor Vehicle Division. Our buyer partner can buy some cars without a title, so ask whether that works for yours in Montana when you get your offer.

How do I get a duplicate title in Montana?

Apply to the Montana Motor Vehicle Division with Replacement of Certificate of Title Application, and have a photo ID and the VIN ready. The fee is $5, according to the agency.

Can I sell a car in Montana with just a bill of sale?

A bill of sale on its own usually isn't proof of ownership for a titled vehicle. It's a useful record of the sale, but buyers will normally want the title or a duplicate.