 LLC Maintenance
Montana requires that every business in the state have a physical presence - a registered agent - residing in Montana. Without a registered agent, you cannot legally maintain your LLC or renew your Montana license plates.
- Our fee for this service is $100 annually. The service is included in an email bill sent January 1st of every year and has an April 15th deadline.
- Since you don't reside in Montana we act as that physical presence for you and serve as a local contact point for your company. We forward official, government documents to you at no additional charge.
- Your Montana company address is our address: 1500 Virginia Dale, Helena MT 59601.
- Learn more about Registered Agents.
- To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.
The Annual Report confirms the details of your LLC, like addresses and member's names and if filed with the Montana Secretary of State.
Once a year an Annual Report must be filed. The deadline is April 15th. The filing can be done online and can be paid with a credit card. The fee is $15.
 To do it yourself:
- Click on the Business Annual Report link: https://app.mt.gov/bear/ (or copy and paste the URL into your web browser).
- Enter your Folder ID# into the “Folder ID Number” box, click on “Submit” and follow the instructions.
- Your folder ID can be found on your Articles of Organization. It's typically a letter followed by several numbers, e.g. C078343
If you want us to do it for you:
- Just pay your Annual $150 fee (emailed to you Jan.1st)
- For that fee we file the report and prepare a draft copy of the required Disregarded Entity informational form (DER-1) for you.
- The $150 also includes our Registered Agent services for the current year.
To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.
Each year all Montana business entities must file a return with the Montana Dept. of Revenue.
- If your LLC has no business activity, a "Disregarded Entity" informational form (DER-1) may be filed in lieu of a income tax return.
- Just pay your Annual $150 fee (emailed to you Jan. 1st). For that fee we prepare a draft copy of the required DER-1 for you.
- The $150 also includes our Registered Agent services for the current year and your Annual Report filing.
- Tax questions? Call the Montana Dept. of Revenue: 406-444-6900
To see all LLC annual requirements (with relevant links and forms) click here.
Vehicle Licensing
We only need two documents to obtain your plates:
- The vehicle's title or MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin) for new, untitled vehicles.
- The MV-1 (Montana Application for Certificate of Title)
- After you submit your vehicle information online, we'll prepare the Montana MV-1 for you, then email you a copy to print, sign and return to us.
- For a brief overview of the entire process, see the Vehicle Licensing Guide.
Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller
Each year the registration fee for a vehicle will change. Since there are no published sources of vehicle fees, inquiries must be made by phone or email.
- To find out vehicle registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369
- To find out vehicle registration fees by email:
- Trailer registration is a flat fee of $180 and it's permanent.
- Motorcycle registration is a flat fee of $89.25 and it's permanent.
All processing begins as soon as we receive data from you. The quicker you get us the data, the faster you'll have your plates. Here are the tasks required and the approximate time each task takes us:
- Form your LLC: 24-hours
- Prepare vehicle documents: 24-hours
- Get your plates and FedEx them to you: 24-hours
The record is three days from LLC submission to receipt of plates by client.
After your initial vehicle has been licensed, any subsequent vehicles can be licensed for $195 plus the State of Montana registration fee. There are no additional LLC fees
- Each year the registration fee for a vehicle will change. Since there are no published sources of vehicle fees, inquiries must be made by phone or email.
- To find out vehicle registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369
- To find out vehicle registration fees by email:
- Trailer registration is a flat fee of $180 and it's permanent.
- Motorcycle registration is a flat fee of $89.25 and it's permanent.
Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller
Ready to license another vehicle now? click here
Vanity plates with numbers or text of your choice, special interest plates that benefit local, Montana organizations and membership plates such as veterans are available. Costs vary.
Detailed information on special plates can be found here.
How to order: when entering vehicle information, note your plate selection and/or vanity text in the "Special Instructions" area.
Once a year you must renew your Montana plates. The Motor Vehicle Department will send us a reminder about 30-days before your plates expire and we will forward it to you.
- If you do not get a reminder, you'll need your license plate number or a prior registration slip.
- Determine renewal registration fees by phone: 406-447-8328 or 406-447-8369.
- If you want us to do it for you: Call us at 888-442-8069 or
- Our fee is $25 plus the registration fee.
If the person to whom you sell your vehicle wants to maintain Montana plates, they will need to "start over" by forming their own LLC and re-licensing the vehicle.
Tip: if they use us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $100 referral credit. Refer them to this website www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.
If you have an Operating Agreement that lists the vehicle as an asset of the LLC you'll need to amend it and any other article in the Operating Agreement that may be affected by the sale.
For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here
Financing
If your vehicle is going to be financed, check with your lender to confirm they will loan to an LLC. Remember, your LLC - not you personally - will own the vehicle.
If your lender has a problem with loaning to your LLC, click here to see other lenders that are "LLC friendly".
Some lenders may require an Operating Agreement or other supporting documents be part of your LLC structure. We can assist you with these requirements.
Tip: see How to Deal with a Seller
Your lender may require your LLC have a federal EIN (Employer Identification Number) rather than - or in addition to - your social security number.
You can apply online for one here or call us if you want us to get one for you ($50 fee).
Insurance
Montana does not require proof of insurance to license a vehicle.
When you do insure your vehicle, speak with your insurance agent and make sure he or she understands it will be licensed in Montana through your LLC but may be domiciled elsewhere.
If your insurer has a problem with that situation, click here to see other insurance companies that are "LLC friendly".
Mail Forwarding
- Official government documents and packages
- Service of process / legal papers
- Documents and packages that appear to be important and legitimate*
*Examples of mail we assume to be important include recall notices, insurance papers, vehicle parts, and bank statements.
- Official government documents and service of process are forwarded automatically at no charge.
- Documents that appear to be important and legitimate are forwarded for a $5.00 charge per mailing plus postage.
- Junk mail is discarded.
- If you only want official government documents and service of process forwarded, let us know and we'll flag your account as requested.
- If you elect this option, all but official government mail and service of process will be returned to sender.
- A PMB will give you a Montana address for your member(s). Click here for more details.
Sell or Buy a Vehicle
If the person to whom you sell your vehicle wants to maintain Montana plates, they will need to "start over" by forming their own LLC and re-licensing the vehicle.
Tip: if they use us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $100 referral credit. Refer them to www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.
If you have an Operating Agreement that lists the vehicle as an asset of the LLC you'll need to amend it and any other article in the Operating Agreement that may be affected by the sale.
For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here
If the person to whom you sell your vehicle wants to maintain Montana plates, they will need to "start over" by forming their own LLC and re-licensing the vehicle.
Tip: if they use us to re-license the vehicle, you'll get a $100 referral check. Refer them to www.MontanaCorporate.com and tell them to mention your LLC as the referral source.
If you're not licensing another vehicle, you can simply let your LLC be involuntarily dissolved. Let us know if you do this and we'll take you off our auto-billing cycle.
For help in signing over the vehicle to the new owner, click here.
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