$BillOfSale.app

Free Montana Motorcycle Bill of Sale

What you negotiate is what you pay in Montana — the state has no sales tax, so a motorcycle purchase carries zero tax whether it's a $1,500 dirt bike or a $30,000 tourer. The transfer itself runs through the county treasurer in the buyer's home county: the MV1 title application plus the seller-signed title, filed within Montana's roomy 40-day window, with only title and registration fees due at the counter. There's no inspection for a Montana-to-Montana sale; a bike arriving from out of state may need a VIN check before titling. The bill of sale earns its keep here as the record of price and date — not for a tax office, but for the ownership chain.

Montana Requirements: Transfer title within 40 days.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Motorcycle Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

Free PDF includes a small watermark at the bottom. Go Pro to remove it. Already subscribed? Sign in.

Motorcycles are stolen and cloned more than any other vehicle type. Before completing this form, our guide shows you how to verify a VIN on the frame, what a frame/engine number mismatch means, and how to close a safe deal. Read: Motorcycle Bill of Sale: Complete Guide

Montana Motorcycle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
MV1
Application for Certificate of Title
Agency
Montana Department of Justice – Motor Vehicle Division
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
Exempt
Title Required
Yes
Same 40-day county treasurer transfer for motorcycles.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

No sales tax in Montana — applies to motorcycles too.

Montana Motorcycle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Verify the frame VIN against the Montana title before paying.
  2. Complete the MV24 bill of sale with VIN, year, make, model, odometer, price, date, and both signatures.
  3. Seller signs the title over with the odometer disclosure.
  4. Buyer files at the county treasurer of their home county within 40 days.
  5. Buyer pays title and registration fees only — Montana collects no tax on the purchase.
  6. Bike coming from another state? Plan for a VIN verification before the treasurer issues the Montana title.
  7. Buyer: hold Montana's motorcycle endorsement before riding.

Common Pitfalls

  • Waiting for a tax bill that never comes — and therefore skimping on the bill of sale; with no tax filing, that document is the deal's primary record.
  • Treating the 40 days as infinite — Montana's window is generous, but late-title penalties exist and start on day 41.
  • Going to an MVD office — Montana vehicle transfers happen at the county treasurer.
  • Forgetting the out-of-state VIN check — a bike with non-Montana paperwork needs verification before titling.

Pro Tip

MT motorcycle: MV24 + MV1 + county treasurer + 40-day + NO sales tax.

Montana Motorcycle Bill of Sale — FAQs

Is there sales tax on a motorcycle in Montana?
No — Montana has no state sales tax, so a private motorcycle purchase is completely tax-free. The buyer pays only title and registration fees at the county treasurer. (Out-of-state buyers note: your home state will collect its own use tax when you register there.)
How long do I have to title a motorcycle in Montana?
40 days from the sale — longer than the 30-day standard used by most states. File the MV1 title application with the seller-signed title at the county treasurer of your home county. After the window closes, late fees apply.
Does Montana inspect motorcycles?
Not for in-state transfers — no safety or emissions inspection exists. A motorcycle being titled in Montana from another state may require a VIN verification first, which the treasurer's office can direct you through.