Montana VIN Check
How to Perform a VIN Lookup in Montana?
A Montana VIN lookup refers to a process in which you search for motor vehicle records for a Montana-registered vehicle using the vehicle's identification number (VIN). This lookup can be done offline by making a request to the Motor Vehicle Division in Montana or online via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website or third-party VIN check services like GoodCar.
To perform a Montana VIN check using the GoodCar VIN check service, visit the GoodCar website. From the homepage, you can conduct a VIN lookup. On the search bar in the upper section of the homepage, you will find a placeholder labeled "Enter VIN Number." Input your VIN number in the field and select the search button. Within a few seconds, you will be able to view vehicle specifications and a link to a detailed vehicle history report.
How to Find Your Car's VIN Number?
Depending on the manufacturer, the VIN can be found in different places. Some of the commonest places are in the engine compartment on the firewall, on the steering column, on the inside edge of the driver door jamb where it latches to the frame, where the windshield meets the dash in front of the driver, and on the glass of some vehicles.
Also, VINs can be located on the vehicle title records, registration card, and insurance records. Each digit of the 17-character VIN is coded with a unique meaning. You can use the GoodCar VIN decoder to correctly interpret the meaning of each character in a VIN serial.
Why Should I Run a mt VIN Check?
Purchasing a used vehicle in Montana can come with many uncertainties and multiple challenges. Some vehicle sellers in the state hide issues with their cars to catch buyers unaware. The following data available from a VIN check can help you make a decision when buying a used car:
Vehicle History
You can verify the features advertised for a used car sold by any used car dealer in Montana. There are 121 used car dealers in the state as of 2021. A vehicle history report obtained from aVIN check will show car history information.
Title Verification
If you run a VIN check, you can ensure that the used vehicle you want to buy does not have flood damage, hail damage, or lemon title. You can get this data for any of the about 1 million vehicles registered in Montana, an average of 5.1 cars per household.
Accident History
With approximately 200 vehicle crashes recorded yearly in Montana in recent times, it would be wise to run a VIN lookup before buying a used vehicle in the state. Vehicles with damages not reported by the seller may put the life of the buyer at risk.
Mileage Verification
More than 10,000 cars are reported to have inaccurate mileage in Montana due to rolled-back odometer readings. A VIN check can protect you from falling victim to the odometer rollback scam. The state DOJ’s Division of Criminal Investigation oversees odometer fraud.
Recalls and Safety Standards
Up to 50,000 registered motor vehicles in Vermont have been recalled on “Do-not-Drive” or “park-outside” orders since 2023. A good number of these cars have yet to be repaired. In order to avoid buying a car with an open recall, run a VIN check. A VIN report will indicate any open recalls on a vehicle.
Theft Check
Conducting due diligence is required when purchasing a vehicle to avoid losing your money and your car. In 2022, 2,512 cars were reportedly stolen in Montana, per an NICB report. A VIN check can verify whether a vehicle has been reported stolen by law enforcement.
Natural Disaster-Related Reasons
Tornadoes, winter storms, and floods are common natural disasters in Montana that can impact the safety conditions of Montana cars. From the vehicle history report obtained from a VIN check, you can determine if the vehicle has structural or significant damages.
Montana Lemon Laws
and How They Relate to VIN Checks
The New Motor Vehicle Warranty Act, also called the Lemon Law in Montana, protects vehicle buyers from financial loss in cases where they purchase "lemon" cars. A vehicle is tagged as a lemon car if it has significant defects, so much so that repeated repair attempts have been unsuccessful. In such a case, the manufacturer may be required to replace or repair the defective vehicle.
The scope of the Montana Lemon Law covers vehicles owned or leased in the state as long as they are under two years old and have not more than an 18,000-mile reading on the odometer. The Lemon Law does not cover defects arising from abuse, accident, neglect, alteration, or modification by anyone other than the manufacturer or approved dealer.
A VIN check can save you from purchasing a lemon car. If a car has significant damage that has led to a change in its title brand to a lemon, you can find the change in title status in the vehicle history report.
The Title Transfer Process
Montana is a title-holding state. In Montana, if you buy a car that still has an outstanding loan on it, the vehicle title (with your name and the lienholder's name on it), will be given to you to hold. In most other states, the lienholder will hold the title until you have paid off the lien.
After you have fully paid the loan on a vehicle, and you want the lien removed from the motor vehicle records, you must submit a completed Form MV37A to:
The Montana Department of Justice
Motor Vehicle Division
Vehicle Services Bureau
PO Box 201431
302 North Roberts Street
Helena, MT 59620-1431
If you want to request a title from an out-of-state lienholder, send the MV63 - Request for Foreign Title Transfer to your lender. The lender will submit the completed form, a filing of $8.24, with the title to your county treasurer. When the office of the county treasurer receives the request and the out-of-state title, you can complete a title and registration in your county treasurer’s office.
Montana Insurance and Registration Requirements
A motor vehicle operated on Montana public roads must be insured by a liability insurance policy meeting the state's minimum coverage limit in accordance with Section 61-6-103 of the Montana Code Annotated.
Montana's minimum coverage limits for auto insurance are:
- $20,000 for injury to or destruction of property of others in any one accident
- $25,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person in an accident and subject to the limit for one person
- $50,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or more individuals in an accident
Montana Titling Requirements and Sales Tax
To title a vehicle in Montana, you must complete the MV1 - Application for Certificate of Title for a Motor Vehicle. If you purchased a used vehicle from the owner, the previous owner must sign over the current title to you. If your purchase happened at a dealership, the dealer will send the paperwork to your County Treasurer's office. You may call your county treasurer's office to confirm that they have the appropriate paperwork before scheduling an appointment or visiting. The MV-1 includes the appropriate fee and supporting documentation that will be required. Montana does not place a state sales tax on vehicle purchases. Therefore, you can expect to buy a used car in the state sales tax-free.
If you have purchased a car in Montana, a VIN check can help confirm the title history of the vehicle which will be useful for titling purposes at your local county treasurer’s office.
Montana-Assigned VINs
You can apply for a State of Montana-assigned VIN if the vehicle manufacturer-assigned VIN was altered, removed, or cannot be located. You can also request a Montana-assigned VIN if your vehicle is homemade.
To apply for a Montana-assigned VIN, you must submit a completed MV10B-Request for State-Assigned VIN and the fees and documentation indicated on the form to:
Montana Department of Justice
Motor Vehicle Division
Vehicle Services Bureau
P.O. Box 201431
302 N Roberts
Helena, MT 59620-1431
Why Choose GoodCar for Montana VIN Lookup?
GoodCar is the one-stop shop for comprehensive vehicle history reports and contains everything from ownership data, vehicle specifications, fire damage, and accident history to the title history of the vehicle. The data provided is of the highest industry standards, placing customers in the best position to make informed decisions.
Montana Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
about Montana VIN Checks
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Who Issues A Vehicle's Vin Number In Montana?
VIN numbers are issued and printed on vehicles by their manufacturers. The Montana Vehicle Services Bureau only assigns VINs to homemade vehicles and vehicles that have had their VINs removed, altered, or removed.
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How do I verify a VIN number in Montana?
You can verify a VIN number in Montana by running a Montana VIN check on the GoodCar website. If the result of the report from the check matches the vehicle with the VIN, you have successfully verified a VIN.
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Is it safe to check a Montana VIN online?
Yes, checking Montana VIN online is safe for the requester and the owner of the vehicle with the VIN. Montana laws do not restrict the public from running VIN checks. Also, in compliance with the federal Driver’s Privacy and Protection Act (DPPA), personal vehicle owner information is not revealed in VIN checks.
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Do I need a VIN inspection in Montana?
Montana requires a VIN inspection in order to obtain a title or a vehicle if the previous title has been lost, damaged, or is invalid. It may also be required if the identity of the vehicle is in question or when a Canadian vehicle registration or a bonded application is submitted.
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Are Montana VIN checks necessary for out-of-state vehicles brought into Montana?
Montana requires Stage III VIN inspections for all vehicles with an out-of-state or Montana salvage certificate.
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What does a Montana VIN check reveal?
A Montana VIN check reveals vehicle specifications (trims, color, model, year of manufacture, engine size, transmission type) and vehicle history. The vehicle history information available via a VIN check includes accident history, mileage, title history, lien records, recall information, and stolen vehicle alerts.
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Can you ask for the VIN from a Montana seller?
Yes, you can ask for the VIN of a vehicle from a Montana vehicle seller. Since VIN is not sensitive information, Montana vehicle sellers do not hesitate to provide it to requesters who may want to run a check before purchasing from them.