Free Montana Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale
Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 32705, Truth in Mileage Act) requires sellers to provide a written odometer disclosure on every qualifying vehicle transfer. Vehicles of model year 2010 or older are exempt (model year 2011 and newer stay covered until they are 20 model years old, so a 2011 vehicle becomes exempt in 2031), as are vehicles with a GVWR over 16,000 lbs and new vehicles prior to first retail sale. In Montana, the seller records the disclosure on the certificate of title. If the title has no place for it, the seller gives the buyer a signed written statement; Montana's form for this is the Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A). The county treasurer's office handles title transfers.
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Odometer disclosure is a federal requirement under 49 CFR §580, not just a best practice — and falsifying mileage is a federal crime. Our guide explains exactly what each field requires, which model years are exempt, and what to do if the odometer has rolled over. Read: Odometer Disclosure Statement: What It Is & What to Write →
Montana Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
MVD
Montana Motor Vehicle Division
Primary ID Field
VIN
Sales Tax
0%
Title Required
Yes
Inspection
Not required
Montana Odometer Disclosure Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Locate the odometer disclosure section on the Montana certificate of title and record the exact mileage at the time of sale.
- Select the correct certification: 'Actual mileage,' 'Exceeds mechanical limits (odometer rollover),' or 'Not actual mileage (discrepancy known).'
- Both seller and buyer must sign and date the title in the designated odometer disclosure area.
- Present the completed title to the county treasurer's office in the buyer's county of residence to transfer ownership.
- Retain a copy of the completed title for your records for at least five years.
- Remember: Montana has no sales tax, so no tax calculation is required at transfer.
- The buyer titles and registers at their county treasurer within 40 days of the sale. After that, Montana adds a $10 late penalty (Montana Code 61-3-220).
Common Pitfalls
- Selling 'as-is' does NOT waive the federal odometer disclosure requirement — TIMA applies regardless of any disclaimer in the bill of sale.
- Choosing 'not actual mileage' when the odometer has simply rolled over is wrong; use 'exceeds mechanical limits' for a rollover situation.
- Leaving the odometer section blank or writing 'unknown' on a vehicle that is not exempt exposes the seller to federal criminal fines and up to three years in prison.
- Recording false mileage with intent to defraud can trigger civil liability for treble damages with a minimum of $10,000.
- Out-of-state titles may have the odometer disclosure on a different section; match your entry exactly to the field labeled on that title.
- Using white-out or scratching out a mistake in the title's mileage area. Montana MVD says white-out, erasing or scratching out an entry voids the title. Use blue or black ink only, and write the buyer's name and address on the title, which Montana law requires.
Montana Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale — FAQs
Where does the odometer disclosure go on a Montana title?
Montana prints an odometer disclosure section on the certificate of title. Both buyer and seller complete and sign this section before presenting the title to the county treasurer for transfer.
Is my 1999 pickup truck exempt from odometer disclosure?
Yes — the federal rule exempts every vehicle of model year 2010 and older, so a 1999 truck is far inside the exemption. Only 2011-and-newer vehicles disclose, until they reach 20 model years.
Does Montana have a separate odometer disclosure form?
Yes. The usual place is the odometer section of the title. But Montana MVD also has its own Odometer Disclosure Statement (MV90A) for 2011-and-newer vehicles, and its bill of sale (MV24) tells sellers to use the MV90A for those model years. The seller fills in the reading and signs, and the buyer signs to acknowledge it.
What penalties apply if I falsify an odometer disclosure in Montana?
Under federal law, criminal penalties include fines and up to three years imprisonment. Civil liability is treble the buyer's actual damages, with a minimum of $10,000 per violation. Montana law adds its own penalty for a purposeful or knowing violation: a fine of up to $5,000, up to 10 years in state prison, or both (MCA 61-3-607).
What is Montana Form MV90A?
MV90A is the Montana MVD Odometer Disclosure Statement. MVD says it is required for model year 2011 and newer vehicles. A vehicle with a gross weight rating over 16,000 pounds is exempt. The seller checks whether the odometer has five or six digits, writes the reading with no tenths, and adds the date it was read. Then the seller and the buyer each print a name and street address and sign. The form asks for dates as day/month/year.
Do I need MV90A if I sell with the Montana bill of sale (MV24)?
Yes, for a 2011 or newer vehicle. The MV24 bill of sale has no box for the mileage. It tells you to use MV90A for model years 2011 or newer. The buyer also signs MV24 to say they know about the seller's odometer statement. MV24 needs a notary only when it is used for an electronic title transfer or with a bond title application (MV10).
What does Montana law say the odometer statement must include?
Montana Code 61-3-206 says the seller writes the reading on the title. If the title has no space for it, the seller gives the buyer a signed written statement. It must list the reading, the sale date, both names and current addresses, and the year, make, model, body style and VIN. It must also say whether the miles are actual, past the odometer's mechanical limit, or not the actual mileage. The buyer signs to show they got it. The statement may be signed electronically.
What is Montana's own penalty for odometer fraud?
Montana has a state penalty on top of federal law. Under Montana Code 61-3-607, a person who purposely or knowingly breaks the odometer statement rules, or rolls back an odometer, can be fined up to $5,000, sent to state prison for up to 10 years, or both. A dealer who does this also loses its dealer license.
Can someone sign the Montana odometer statement for the seller under a power of attorney?
Not on MV90A. The form says that when a power of attorney signs for the registered owner, a secure power of attorney form must be used to state the mileage. MV90A cannot be used in that case.