Montana Car Sales Tax Calculator
Montana charges no state sales tax on a used car purchase, verified September 15, 2026. There is no local tax on top. Private-party sales are not taxed.
Figures verified September 15, 2026; sources linked per row. Re-checked quarterly, next due December 15, 2026.
Montana charges no state sales tax on a vehicle purchase.
Taxable amount: $25,000. Tax only; dealer doc fees, title and registration are separate, and some states tax the doc fee as part of the price. The local figure is an estimate from the state's published range unless you entered your own rate.
The Montana numbers, with sources
Each figure below was checked on September 15, 2026 against the page linked in the source column, and the wording the state uses is quoted so you can confirm it yourself.
| Item | Montana | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State rate (None; Montana's sales tax statute applies only to accommodations, campgrounds and rental vehicles) | None | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “A sales tax of the following percentages is imposed on sales of the following property or services: (a) 4% on accommodations and campgrounds; (b) 4% on the base rental charge for rental vehicles.” |
| Local tax range | None | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “A sales tax of the following percentages is imposed on sales of the following property or services: (a) 4% on accommodations and campgrounds; (b) 4% on the base rental charge for rental vehicles.” |
| Trade-in credit | No state tax to credit | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “A sales tax of the following percentages is imposed on sales of the following property or services: (a) 4% on accommodations and campgrounds; (b) 4% on the base rental charge for rental vehicles.” |
| Dealer doc fee | No cap (typically $318) | caredge.com(secondary, cites the statute)As published: “Montana: $318. This report is based on 93,200 verified out-the-door (OTD) price quotes collected between July 2025 and September 2026.” |
| Title fee | $12 | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “$12 if the vehicle for which application is made is a light vehicle or a truck or bus that weighs 1 ton or less” |
| Registration (by age) | $28 to $217 | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “if the vehicle is 4 or less years old, $217; if the vehicle is 5 through 10 years old, $87; if the vehicle is 11 or more years old, $28” |
| Private-party sale taxed | No | mca.legmt.gov(state source)As published: “A sales tax of the following percentages is imposed on sales of the following property or services: (a) 4% on accommodations and campgrounds; (b) 4% on the base rental charge for rental vehicles.” |
- Local tax: No state or local sales tax on a vehicle purchase; counties instead levy a value-based county option tax of up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value at registration (MCA 61-3-537), captured under registration.
- Trade-in: Not applicable: there is no sales tax on vehicle purchases, so a trade-in has no tax effect.
- Doc fee: No statutory cap. Cars.com (January 31, 2018): 'Montana has no cap'. CarEdge, as of September 2026: average $318 from 209 verified out-the-door quotes across 82 dealers, range $25 to $849. CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Montana at $318.
- Registration: Annual light-vehicle registration fee under MCA 61-3-321(2)(a): $217 if 4 years old or less, $87 if 5 through 10 years, $28 if 11 years or more; vehicles with an MSRP over $150,000 that are 10 years old or less pay an extra $825 per year (61-3-321(2)(b)). On top of this the county option tax is up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value as determined under 61-3-503 (MCA 61-3-537), plus other small statutory fees. Permanent registration for vehicles 11 years or older is offered by the MVD but its fee could not be verified.
Next steps
- Out-the-door price calculator: adds the Montana doc fee, title and registration to the tax for the full figure.
- Dealer doc fees by state and registration and title fees by state: see how Montana compares.
- All states: the full sales tax table.
Tax is fixed. The price is not.
CarWorthIt prices a specific VIN at its mileage against cars actually for sale near your ZIP code from $2.99. The $9.99 Negotiation Bundle adds an opening offer and a walk-away figure, so the number Montana taxes is the right one.
Montana car tax questions
Does Montana charge sales tax on a private-party car sale?
No. No sales tax is due on a private-party purchase; the buyer pays only the title fee, registration fees and the county option tax when registering.
Does Montana give a trade-in credit on car sales tax?
We could not verify the trade-in rule against a Montana state page on September 15, 2026. Check the state DMV or revenue department before you sign.
What is the dealer doc fee cap in Montana?
Montana sets no legal cap on dealer doc fees. Dealers typically charge $318. No statutory cap. Cars.com (January 31, 2018): 'Montana has no cap'. CarEdge, as of September 2026: average $318 from 209 verified out-the-door quotes across 82 dealers, range $25 to $849. CarEdge's report of 93,200 verified quotes (July 2025 to September 2026) puts the average doc fee in Montana at $318. If the dealer will not drop the fee, ask for the same amount off the price.
Do local sales taxes apply to car purchases in Montana?
No. No state or local sales tax on a vehicle purchase; counties instead levy a value-based county option tax of up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value at registration (MCA 61-3-537), captured under registration.
How much does a car title cost in Montana?
$12 (flat). Statutory fee under MCA 61-3-203 until June 30, 2028; it drops to $7 from July 1, 2028. The MVD fee page (unreachable, 403) is reported in search snippets to show $12.36 including a 3% administration fee under MCA 61-3-111; that figure was not verified.
How much is annual car registration in Montana?
$28 to $217 a year for a passenger car, by age. Annual light-vehicle registration fee under MCA 61-3-321(2)(a): $217 if 4 years old or less, $87 if 5 through 10 years, $28 if 11 years or more; vehicles with an MSRP over $150,000 that are 10 years old or less pay an extra $825 per year (61-3-321(2)(b)). On top of this the county option tax is up to 0.7% of the vehicle's value as determined under 61-3-503 (MCA 61-3-537), plus other small statutory fees. Permanent registration for vehicles 11 years or older is offered by the MVD but its fee could not be verified.
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