Montana license plate and LLC
- Thread starter MUDCAT
- Start date
Dirt Legal is one particular company that I know of that does this. I haven’t used them so I can’t give a review of their services, but their website is pretty informative.
Dirt Legal - Car Vehicle Registration | Register Any Vehicle Nationwide
The only time I’ve heard of someone I know with Montana registrations being harassed by law enforcement it was a Utah DNR officer claiming it wasn’t a valid registration, and that Utah residents registering their vehicles in Montana were defrauding the state of Utah. The judge dismissed the case said there was nothing wrong with the registration.
Basically, it’s good to have an understanding of what LLCs do and your own State’s Reciprocity Laws. It won’t stop overeager Revenue Generation Officers from harassing you, but you should be able to get whatever they do, registration wise, dismissed.
Dirt Legal - Car Vehicle Registration | Register Any Vehicle Nationwide
The only time I’ve heard of someone I know with Montana registrations being harassed by law enforcement it was a Utah DNR officer claiming it wasn’t a valid registration, and that Utah residents registering their vehicles in Montana were defrauding the state of Utah. The judge dismissed the case said there was nothing wrong with the registration.
Basically, it’s good to have an understanding of what LLCs do and your own State’s Reciprocity Laws. It won’t stop overeager Revenue Generation Officers from harassing you, but you should be able to get whatever they do, registration wise, dismissed.
B B
Active member
I just read through the Dirt Legal website and although it wasn't the first time I read it, it still seems too good to be true. I've only "heard" of one person doing this and it was a friend of a friend in PA and of course they got stopped, ticketed and vehicle towed however, they won in court. My biggest question is why aren't more people doing it if in fact it's legit? I ain't being the guiniea pig on this one. I'll wait and see what happens.
It is fully legal… the problem is that cops generally don’t know all the laws. And the ones that are just there to fill quotas and generate revenue will jump at anything that boosts their status. Reciprocity laws basically allow a vehicle to operate as it would in its registered State so long as that state reciprocates with them. The problem is that few cops have ever had to bother with those particular laws until street legal SxSs came along. Because many states don’t allow SxSs to register as street legal, a cop is naturally going to assume it’s operating illegally on public roads. So whoever does the Montana registration should expect to be pulled over frequently if their state doesn’t allow street legal.
There are other benefits to the Montana LLC and license. There’s the asset protection of the LLC. SxSs, motorcycles, trailers, etc. get a permanent registration. And There’s no sales tax on vehicles.
I know some Utah people who go that route, simply for the other benefits, since Utah does allow street legal SxSs.
Overall, it might not be worth the hassle if the only reason is to operate ones SxS where it normally isn’t allowed.
There are other benefits to the Montana LLC and license. There’s the asset protection of the LLC. SxSs, motorcycles, trailers, etc. get a permanent registration. And There’s no sales tax on vehicles.
I know some Utah people who go that route, simply for the other benefits, since Utah does allow street legal SxSs.
Overall, it might not be worth the hassle if the only reason is to operate ones SxS where it normally isn’t allowed.
Registration in Montana is legal however doing it to avoid your state tax is not. Only way to be truly legal is to have a residence in Montana. Some states won’t hassle you but others like CA will. You are defrauding them of their tax revenue. This is coming from myself who has a LLC in Montana.
Some auto and rv dealerships won’t even do it any longer because they can be liable for the taxes.
If you already own it and want to register it in Montana that would be mostly ok. In CA you would most likely need to prove you paid your local sales tax. I’m in WA and the only real benifit of the Montana LLC is sales and registration taxes. We can street legal them here.
Some auto and rv dealerships won’t even do it any longer because they can be liable for the taxes.
If you already own it and want to register it in Montana that would be mostly ok. In CA you would most likely need to prove you paid your local sales tax. I’m in WA and the only real benifit of the Montana LLC is sales and registration taxes. We can street legal them here.
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I did. No problems. I set up the MT llc well prior to purchasing my Xpedition. My MT llc purchased the Xpedition and paid no sales tax. My Xpedition was registered, titled and plated in MT. I drive all over MI with it and wave at the cops...absolutely no issues. I used this place to set up the MT llc. Welcome to $49 MONTANA REGISTERED AGENT
That’s who I use also. Super easy.
That’s the point of the LLC. You don’t own the vehicle, the LLC does. Also the LLC is the legal resident of Montana.
You are just allowed to use the vehicle by the LLC, with the stipulation that you provide insurance.
I know some states will try coming after people for the taxes, but legally, if the LLC purchased the equipment, it’s a separate entity and under the jurisdiction of the state it resides in.
It’s the same as if your relative in Montana bought the vehicle, registered it, and then lets you use it. You wouldn’t be responsible for taxes and such. California or Washington trying to collect taxes from you for something your uncle purchased would be ridiculous.
I’m not going to argue the point. I have an LLC in Montana and spend time in Glamis with my RV and Sandcar. I’ve had experience with the issues as well as others. You can fight the fight if you want but in my experience you won’t win in either of those states.
B B
Active member
No reason why all states shouldn't pass legislation and legalize them. You'd think they would see the $$$ signs and jump on board. What state isn't all about taking their residence money.
Okay who on here is an attorney? Lets get the ball rolling. Better yet maybe I'll give TRUMP a call!!!!
Okay who on here is an attorney? Lets get the ball rolling. Better yet maybe I'll give TRUMP a call!!!!
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johndeerefarmer
Well-known member
Colorado will not recognize an out of state plate on a SXS or "dune buggy" or whatever you register it as
Yeah, Colorado is one of the Non-reciprocity states. Even with a street legal Utah or Montana registration they still require a non-resident OHV permit.
In Utah, if your vehicle is registered as off-highway, they require non-resident OHV permit but if it’s registered as street legal, they don’t.
Arizona requires a non-resident OHV permit but they’re bypassing the reciprocity thing by going through the Fish and Game department instead of the MVD.
Nevada is a little weird. They don’t do Street legal OHVs at all, and they don’t have non-resident OHV permit, but all the small towns I know of have city ordinances allowing OHVs to operate on their streets. I’ve even heard of some people driving their SxSs in to stay at the major casinos in Las Vegas.
In Utah, if your vehicle is registered as off-highway, they require non-resident OHV permit but if it’s registered as street legal, they don’t.
Arizona requires a non-resident OHV permit but they’re bypassing the reciprocity thing by going through the Fish and Game department instead of the MVD.
Nevada is a little weird. They don’t do Street legal OHVs at all, and they don’t have non-resident OHV permit, but all the small towns I know of have city ordinances allowing OHVs to operate on their streets. I’ve even heard of some people driving their SxSs in to stay at the major casinos in Las Vegas.
johndeerefarmer
Well-known member
As you said you need the non-resident OHV permit in Colorado. More importantly being street legal does nothing as far as allowing you to ride on the streets. Only certain counties and cities in CO allow you to drive on the streets. Our place is in Custer County which does allow driving on the streets with the exception of hwys 69 and 96. Having said that since main street is hwy 69 in one direction and hwy 96 the other direction, I see SXS's on both frequently. I have also saw SXS's at the ACE hardware store on 69 south of town. I think the town cops are apt to ignore you but if a state trooper sees you on 69 you will be stopped.
Ryan
Active member
I started with Dirt Legal for the ease but their prices are high in comparison (LLC fee's and adding vehicles). Once I started moving all my trailers and motorcycles for the permanent tag aspect it was going to get expensive, so I switched to Welcome to $49 MONTANA REGISTERED AGENT. No issues here with them, everything is done online and the status of everything is posted in their portal. If you look around, you can find slightly cheaper but I like that I'm dealing with people I can reach out to with questions. I drive my Xpedition on the street in Charles County Maryland and have been pulled over. Once I handed them the registration and insurance card there were no issues. I rolled off.. That's my experience.
DallasO
Member
MV-70 form in Montana does not require DOT approved tires.
Ryan
Active member
There is no way for Montana to check and they don't have any type of inspection or emissions. That said, if you get pulled over, a local officer may check. Note, you also should have other req items. Horn, blinkers, seat belts, etc..
There are many You Tube videos on this, watch them before you decide. I was thinking about going this route for my truck and 5th who toy box, but after watching a few of these videos done by attorneys or lawyers, I decided it's not worth the risk. At least for being in California.
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